Bath City 0-1 Bristol Rovers
Pre-Season Fixture, Twerton Park, Wednesday 16 July
Bryant Bilongo’s second-half finish from close range was the difference as Bristol Rovers continued pre-season with a 1-0 win away to Bath City.
The versatile defender turned in Josh McEachran’s free-kick a little over 20 minutes from full-time in a challenging pre-season contest for the Gas.
Shaq Forde went close on multiple occasions in the first half while Ruel Sotiriou should have done better from close range early in the second, while Bath’s chances on goal were limited.
Warm, still conditions greeted the Gas at their former home, Twerton Park, with plenty of supporters making the short trip to see Wednesday’s pre-season clash.
A slow start from both teams meant opportunities were limited but the first real chance was a big one for Rovers. Promise Omochere’s run was found by Sotiriou, with the No10’s fizzing cross finding Forde. The attacker’s first time effort was over the bar.
Another Forde effort was then blocked by Jack Batten after the 21-year-old cut inside onto his favoured left boot, but the industrious attacker kept finding himself with chances to net, seeing a header go over the bar from Bilongo’s cross.
Bath City sought to test new Rovers shot-stopper Luke Southwood on his first outing for the Pirates on British soil. Jordan Alves fired a powerful effort wide of the near post just after the half-an-hour mark.
The front three Rovers started Wednesday’s match with continued to click, and again Forde went close for the Gas only for his low strike to be kept out by Harvey Wiles-Richards.
With no changes at half-time, the same side began the second half and almost got a finish just moments in; Jack Sparkes’ curling effort just clearing the cross-bar.
A massive opportunity fell Sotiriou’s way on 55 minutes when Omochere’s shanked shot spilled into the Cypriot’s path. Although he tried to react, the No10 could only shin his close-range effort wide too.
Macauley Southam-Hales’ low cross caused chaos in the box just before the hour, prompting a goalmouth scramble, but once Bath did clear their lines Head Coach Darrell Clarke responded with seven changes to his team; freshening up the line-up with minutes for the likes of Brad Young, Kofi Shaw, Ollie Dewsbury and midfielder McEachran.
A few minutes later and the latter was involved in what would be the only goal of the game. McEachran’s pinpoint delivery was turned home by Bilongo at the far post, giving the EFL side the advantage.
With more minutes under the belt, and the full-time whistle confirming a first victory in pre-season in the new 2025/26 Home Kit, Rovers set themselves up for a busy two final weeks of pre-season in fine style.
Bath City: Wiles-Richards, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Batten (Forkou 80), Parselle (c) (Fisher 70), Alves, Jenkins Davies, Wilson (Clark 56), Ash (Fleming 70), Beardmore (Tillson 56), Russe
Subs not used: Sweeten, Mabika, Pritchard, Horsell, Sardo
Bristol Rovers: Southwood (Young 62), Sparkes (Thomas 62), Kilgour, Forde, Omochere, (Dewsbury 62) Sotiriou (Shaw 62), Taylor (c), Conteh (McEachran 62), Southam-Hales (Senior 62), Howley (Hutchinson 62), Bilongo
Subs not used: Moore, Ellison, Anthony
Goals: Bilongo 69,
Match Official: Sam Read
Attendance: 2,205
