There were nearly more celebrations four minutes later via the opposite flank, as Craske beat his man down the right before delivering a curling cross onto the head of Seymour, however the striker – who has also represented City in the past – could only steer his glancing header wide of the far post. In the 21st minute, another foray down the left nearly paid dividends again, with Carson again feeding Cooke – however, this time the United forward’s downward header was comfortably gathered by Bath glovesman Harvey Wiles-Richards. With United’s former Bath contingent causing early havoc against their former employer, an ex-Gull in the home line-up tried to do likewise on 25 minutes. A deep ball into the Torquay penalty area picked out the rising Alex Fisher, however James Hamon was alert to the threat, and was well placed to palm the ball over the crossbar. City took some heart from that opportunity, however it wasn’t long before Wotton’s side regrouped and took charge again. The men in yellow and blue hoops continued to enjoy themselves down the wings, and although Bath’s goalkeeper wasn’t called into serious action during the remainder of the half, United looked good value for their lead as they headed towards the break. Seconds before the interval though, it was so nearly all-square. Bath striker Scott Wilson did well to take the ball down inside the penalty area before dinking it past Dreyer, however with the goal at his mercy, Wilson fluffed his shot from ten yards out, and allowed the relieved United defenders to mop up the danger. 
1-0 to United at the change of ends. After the restart, the hosts went about their business in a way you would expect of any team chasing a game in their own back yard. City certainly did enough limit United’s excursions into opposition territory, however a header from substitute Ruben Davies on the hour-mark – which was well held by Hamon – was the only real chance of note. Torquay soaked up the pressure well, and in the 63rd minute, they doubled their lead by making a set-piece count. Another former Twerton Park favourite, Dan Hayfield, sent a delicious right-footed ball to the back post, and with Wiles-Richards deciding against claiming the hanging cross, Palmer made him regret his decision with a powerful header back across the ‘keeper, and into the back of the net to make it 2-0. It seemed United now had their opponents exactly where they wanted them. 
It did take a superb back-post interception from Carson to prevent Louis Sweeten’s right-footed left wing cross reaching its intended target, but in the main, The Gulls’ well-marshalled backline showed little sign of being breached until twelve minutes from time, when Bath found a passage back into proceedings. In a move similar to United’s first, Keiren Parselle’s raking ball over the top gave Scott Wilson something to chase, and with his cut-back laid into the path of Sweeten, his goal-bound effort was poked home at close range by Wanjau-Smith to make sure, and duly halve the deficit. Game on. With the home crowd sensing a grandstand finale, The Romans certainly had the but between their teeth in the closing stages. A combination of determined and resolute defending, and the backing of the magnificent travelling Yellow Army, saw The Gulls home though, although it did take a marvellous tip over the ‘bar from Hamon to prevent Parselle’s back-post header from a corner quelling some hearty celebrations all the way home the English Riviera. Early stages, of course. But already plenty of reasons to be cheerful ahead of United’s return to Plainmoor this weekend. BATH: 1. Harvey Wiles-Richards, 4. Nick Grimes (20. Jordan Alves, HT), 5. Jack Batten, 6. Keiren Parselle (c), 7. Sol Wanjau-Smith, 8. Latrell Humphrey-Ewers (15. Louis Sweeten, 71′), 9. Scott Wilson, 10. Ewan Clark, 14. Alex Fisher (17. Ruben Davies, HT), 16. Jordan Tillson, 22. Ben Morgan. SUBS NOT USED: 13. Massimo Sardo. Yellow Card: Grimes 39′, Davies 57′, Wilson 90+4′ UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske (17. Finn Tonks, 71′), 3 Jay Foulston, 5. Sam Dreyer, 7. Lirak Hasani (8. Roddy Collins, 71′), 9. Ben Seymour (11. Brad Ash, 54′), 14. Matt Carson, 16. Ed Palmer, 18. Oscar Threlkeld (c), 19. Cody Cooke, 20. Dan Hayfield. SUBS NOT USED: 10. Omar Mussa, 15. Jadyn Crosbie. Yellow Card: Cooke 17′, Dreyer 29′, Threlkeld 52′ Attendance: 2,259 (675 away)The post REPORT: Bath 1 – 2 United first appeared on Torquay United.Source: https://torquayunited.com/report-bath-1-2-united/
