Saturday 16 August 2025
Twerton Park Stadium
Full-time: Bath City 1–2 Dover Athletic
Attendance: 976

Dover Athletic bounced back from their opening-day defeat with a determined 2-1 win at Bath City, but it was far from straightforward as the Romans dominated large spells of the contest and struck the woodwork twice. Goals from Ruben Soares-Junior and birthday boy Francis Mampolo early in the second half proved decisive, with Alex Fisher’s late reply not enough for the home side.

Bath came into their first home game of the season full of intent, pinning Dover back in the early exchanges. The Romans saw a penalty shout waved away inside two minutes when Roman Charles-Cook blocked a cross, and they repeatedly found space down both flanks.

Elliott Clark was lively on the left, tormenting the Dover back line, while Scott Wilson’s pace caused problems throughout the half. The best chance arrived on 20 minutes when Joe Raynes drilled a shot towards the bottom corner, only for Mitch Walker to fingertip it wide. Clark soon followed with a close-range strike that the Dover captain gathered at the second attempt.

Dover, by contrast, offered little going forward aside from brief moments when Alfie Matthews found space to feed Soares-Junior, only for the offside flag to intervene. A Cocoracchio drive over the bar in stoppage time was their only real effort of note before the interval, and they went in fortunate to be level after Wilson had fired agonisingly wide when through on goal.

The contest turned dramatically just four minutes into the second half. Francis Mampolo, celebrating his 22nd birthday, did brilliantly down the left to whip in a cross which Soares-Junior met with a deft header, guiding the ball beyond Harvey Wiles-Richards to put Dover in front.

Bath immediately pressed for an equaliser. Will Jenkins Davies forced Walker into another sharp stop at his near post, and Kieran Parselle’s header was cleared off the line in a frantic spell. Yet Dover weathered the storm and then punished the hosts again on 61 minutes. A deep Walker kick was misjudged by Luke Russe, allowing Mampolo to race through and lift a composed finish over Wiles-Richards, doubling the advantage and sparking wild celebrations among the travelling Whites fans.

Bath, to their credit, refused to buckle. They struck the underside of the bar from a tight angle before Raynes came within inches of pulling one back, his rasping drive cannoning off the post on 73 minutes. Their pressure was finally rewarded with ten minutes left when substitute Alex Fisher converted a low cross from Jenkins Davies to set up a grandstand finish.

With the Romans pushing everything forward, Dover were forced into defensive reshuffles, bringing on Henry Lukombo, Decarrey Sheriff and Kenny Coker to add energy and legs. Seven minutes of added time brought further waves of Bath attacks, but Walker and his defence held firm to secure a first three points of the season.

Bath will feel hard done by after dominating possession, creating the clearer chances and twice striking the woodwork. But Dover’s defensive resilience, clinical finishing and Walker’s heroics between the posts ultimately made the difference.

It was a day to remember for Mampolo, who marked his birthday with a goal and an assist. After leaking three goals in the first half last weekend, Dover showed their steel here, the performance may not have been free-flowing, but the character and work-rate earned a vital three points on the road.

Teams

Bath City XI: Wiles-Richards, Raynes, Greenslade, Tomlinson, Batten, Parselle (C), Jenkins Davies, Wilson, Clark, Tillson, Russe.
Subs: Horsell, Matthews, Fisher, Sweeten, Beardmore, Ash.
Scorer: Fisher 80.

Dover Athletic XI: Walker (C), Charles-Cook, Sesay (Lukombo 81), Jones, Mensah; Cocoracchio, Matthews, Hanson, Nikaj (Coker 90), Soares-Junior, Mampolo (Sheriff 82).
Subs (not used): Tennent, Baptiste, Wilkinson, Gillmore.
Scorers: Soares-Junior 49, Mampolo 61.
Booked: Soares-Junior 37.