Hampton and Richmond Borough fell to a wonder-strike in the dying moments against Bath City on Saturday. With the game level, midfielder Jordan Tillson caught the ball on the half volley just on the edge of the box and it flew into the top corner, winning the game for the visitors in the 93rd minute.  

In miserable weather, the contest was hard fought. Bath opened the scoring through defender Kieran Parselle with an assertive header. The returning Nathan Paul-Lavaly thought he salvaged a point for the Beavers with a moment of magic, just before the winner was scored.  

Eight minutes in, Harry Gardner’s corner created the first chance of the game, when Davide Rodari met the ball at the back post, hitting the woodwork. He was unlucky not to score, and Bath City scrambled the ball clear for another corner. 

Craig Fasanmade won HRBFC a corner from a blocked shot. Gardner’s cross led to more chaos in the box, with Bath City blocking three attempts before eventually getting it cleared to safety. 

Both teams battled the torrid conditions as well as their opponents, and the open-play fight only worsened as the rain continued to pour. As a result, set pieces became a key outlet to create chances.

Hampton and Richmond Borough had two back-to-back corners, but both swung too deep to find a teammate and trouble Bath City. 

Bath City had the best chance of the opening third, with their player heading a cross on target, but Rodari was on hand to make a goal line clearance to keep it scoreless. 

Rodari responded with a header of his own at the other end, forcing a great save from the ‘keeper Charlie Binns.  

His save fell back to the striker who sent his bicycle kick effort wide.

Ronan Silva drove through the middle but went down, despite HBRFC appeals the referee decided no foul was committed. The ball pin-balled around the edge of the box before wing-back Kai Innocent struck the bouncing ball and forced Binns to make a top save.  

Bath City then had their turn to have two back-to-back corners, both leading to miscues from HRBFC.  

 Firstly, Mike Atkinson headed the ball back over his own goal; despite looking like he was aiming for the halfway line. Then, a miss-kick at the front post required goalkeeper Matt Rowley to collect the ball.  

 Rain continued to prove a factor the heavier it got, with defender Danny Greenslade being lucky not to score an own goal after a cross from Gardner proved difficult to deal with, bouncing up fast off the wet surface. Greenslade would have known little about it, but his keeper Binns made a good save to keep it out.  

 Bath City broke the deadlock through their captain Parselle, who headed home the cross at the back post to give the visitors the lead from a corner. All the players rushed to their travelling supporters behind the goal, embracing each other in the cold.  

 Owen Windsor had a chance to double their lead having broken through the midfield, carrying the ball at pace. His shot was timid in the end, leading to a routine save for Rowley. 

 The ball spent less-and-less time on the floor as the weather worsened. Bath City earned themselves a good opportunity playing multiple crosses across the face of goal, but they were only met by HRBFC players.  

 Paul-Lavaly received the ball in the midfield, turned, drove through the defence and shot powerfully towards the bottom corner which required a great save to prevent him levelling the scoreline. 

 Coming off the bench looked to have lit a fire under Paul-Lavaly, who dinked the ball from just outside the box, lofting it into the top left corner and kissing the post on its way in. Everyone in attendance, including the goalkeeper, was too mesmerised by the shot to react.  

 Romans' striker Brad Ash had a golden opportunity inside the box to put his side back into the lead but squandered the chance and put it just wide.  

 The returning Beavers captain Alan Massey had two chances at the death to put HRBFC in the lead, but Binns kept out both the header and the following shot to keep his side level. 

 Then, tragedy struck. Tillson caught the ball on the edge of the box, and it flew like a bullet straight into the top corner in the dying moments of the game, meaning the visitors would be leaving with all three points.  

The Beavers are back at the Bev next Tuesday November 25th against Tonbridge Angels and will look to get back to winning ways in front of home support. Be there to help the lads and make your voice heard!

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 By Jake Holmes.