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Steve Harris – @steveharris84

MATCH DETAILS

Match details: Torquay United vs Bath City – National League South

Venue: Plainmoor

Date: Saturday 22nd March 2025

Kick-off: 3pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 5

Draw: 0

Bath: 2

RECENT FORM (LAST 6)

Torquay – W3 – D3 – L0

D 1-1 Weston SM A

D 2-2 Boreham H

W 3-1 Chippenham A

W 1-0 Tonbridge A

D 2-2 Salisbury H

W 1-0 Dorking A

Bath – W3 – D2 – L1

W 2-1 Salisbury A

D 0-0 Eastbourne Borough H

L 1-2 Worthing A

D 0-0 Weston Super Mare A

W 2-0 Slough Town H

W 2-0 Tonbridge Angels H

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Cody Cooke (13)

Bath: Scott Wilson (9)

BATH FACT FILE

Year founded: 1889

Nickname: The Romans

Last season’s league finish: 6th in National League South

Notable Honours:

Southern League:

Champions: 1959-60, 1977-78, 2005-06

THE MANAGER – DARREN WAY

Darren Way was appointed as Romans manager in December 2024. After coming up through the youth ranks with Norwich City he spent the majority of his playing career with Yeovil Town. He was a vital part of the Glovers side who won promotion to the Football League in 2005. In January 2006, he joined Swansea City, but his time in Wales was beset with injuries and he returned to Somerset in the summer of 2008. However, in December that year he was involved in a serious car accident and in February 2010 he announced his retirement having made well over 250 appearances for the club. During his recovery he had carried out coaching and scouting roles for Yeovil and he was appointed officially to the coaching staff after hanging up his boots.

After five years as first team coach, during which team the team climbed to the Championship, in December 2015 he was put in temporary charge of the side then, after six games, made the permanent manager. He spent three years in charge at Huish Park but in March 2019, with the club facing relegation, he was sacked. In December 2019 he joined Plymouth Argyle as Under-18 manager and would spend three and half years with the Devon club before joining Fleetwood Town as assistant to former Yeovil teammate Lee Johnson. Johnson was sacked in December 2023 whereupon Darren also departed the League One club.

PLAYER TO WATCH – JORDAN TILLSON

The son of former Bristol Rovers midfielder Andy Tillson, Jordan Tillson started in the Pirates youth set-up before switching to Exeter City in 2012. During his early years at St James Park, he spent loan spells with Gloucester City, Chippenham Town and Weston Super Mare before going on to make over 100 appearances for the Grecians.

After another loan during the second half of the 2018-19 season at Cheltenham Town, he moved north of the border in January 2020 to join Scottish Premiership side Ross County on a permanent basis. He was a regular for the Staggies over the next two seasons before joining Dundee United on loan for the 2023-24 campaign. Whilst at Tannadice, he helped the Tangerines lift the Championship title and secure promotion back to the Scottish top-flight.

With the expiration of his Ross County contract he choose to return south and join his hometown club.

TILLSON STATS – Position: Midfield – Date of Birth: 05/03/93 – Height: 1.83m – Former Clubs: Bristol Rovers, Exeter, Gloucester, Weston-super-Mare, Cheltenham, Ross County, Dundee United – 24/25 NLS Stats: Appearances 36, Goals 0, Yellow/Red Cards 11/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: Jordan Dyer, Dan Hayfield, Cody Cooke

Bath: Alex Fisher, Ollie Tomlinson, Brad Ash, Martin Horsell

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Torquay United (4-2-3-1): James Hamon; Jay Foulston, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Finley Craske; Oscar Threlkeld, Dan Hayfield; Will Jenkins Davies, Jordan Young, Matt Jay; Offrande Zanzala

Bath City (4-2-3-1): Harvey Wiles-Richards; Joe Raynes, Ollie Tomlinson, Kieran Parselle, Danny Greenslade; Russe, Jordan Tillson; Jesse
Nwabueze, Alex Fisher, Jordan Alves; Mitch Beardmore

LAST MEETING

Last meeting: Tuesday 20th August 2024, Bath City 1 Torquay United 2

United claimed their first away win of 2024/25 on Tuesday evening, as they secured victory at Twerton Park. After former Bath target man Cody Cooke came back to haunt his old club with an early goal, Ed Palmer doubled United’s advantage in the second half, and although Sol Wanjau-Smith pulled one back for City late on, the Gulls held on for a fully-merited victory on the road.