National League South Preview

By Mark Stillman

It’s a Somerset Derby at Twerton Park this weekend as Bath City will look to return to winning ways against Weston-super-Mare.

Bath City v Weston-super-Mare

City’s goal difference of +85 is their biggest in matches against any current National League South opponent, as they held a real stranglehold over their North Somerset rivals between 1912 and 2010, winning 32 of 34. The last 20 have been more balanced with City winning eight and Weston nine across all competitions.

Dan Greenslade, Scott Wilson, Jordan Tillson and Sol Wanjau-Smith were formerly on Weston’s books. Greenslade will make his 100th league appearance for City should his feature while Tillson was part of Weston’s winning side over Bath City in March 2015, where current Aston Villa and England star Ollie Watkins was on target.

Manager Jerry Gill was also on Weston’s books before joining Bath City as a player in 1990. His team have lost their last three and sit four points above the relegation zone.

Weston-super-Mare, managed by former City midfielder Scott Bartlett, are currently third and unbeaten in their last 12 in the league. On Tuesday night they drew 1-1 with Weymouth, a side they host again next Saturday in the FA Trophy. Their FA Cup run ended in round one at Bristol Rovers last week in their first outing at that stage since 2018.

Their midweek point was rescued with a late goal from Reuben Reid, the eighth they’ve scored from the 76th minute onwards, a record only bettered by Chelmsford City and Chesham United.

At the other end, goalkeeper Max Harris is one of six ex-Bath City players at Weston, the most recent of them being Sam Pearson, who signed from Yeovil Town last month.

With Yeovil Town’s promotion and Taunton Town’s relegation last April, this is the only Somerset Derby left in the division. A bumper crowd is expected at Twerton Park.

Saturday’s fixtures (all games KO 3pm):
Aveley v Boreham Wood
Bath City v Weston-super-Mare
Chelmsford City v Dorking Wanderers
Chesham United v Worthing
Chippenham Town v Eastbourne Borough
Enfield Town v Salisbury
Farnborough v Slough Town
Hemel Hempstead Town v Hampton & Richmond Borough
Maidstone United v Hornchurch
Torquay United v Tonbridge Angels
Welling United v Truro City
Weymouth v St Albans City

Read up on all the weekend’s National League South matches in Sunday’s NLP!