Brad Dolaghan gave the Rebels a first half lead, before skipper Joel Colbran was sent off just before the break. A resolute defensive performance from the Reds looked to have sealed the points, however a late equaliser by Bath City’s Mitch Beardmore ensured the Romans would head back to Somerset with a point.

Alongside MK Dons loanee Seb Stacey making his first league start in goal for the Club, Chris Agutter handed debuts to Toby Byron and Harry Ransom in the centre of defence, while Brad Dolaghan made his second debut for the Club following his return from West Ham United.

The first effort on goal for the Rebels came just after ten minutes played as a  flowing move through midfield eventually found Jack Spong in a pocket of space just outside the box, who was brought down for a free-kick in a promising position.  Up stepped Sam Packham, whose effort curled just over the bar from 25 yards out.

While clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides through the opening 45 minutes, it was the hosts who looked the most threatening with the ball at their feet.

The majority of attacking threat posed by Darren Way’s side came from set-pieces, with Dan Greenslade calling Stacey into action on several occasions with a number of quality corner deliveries.

Worthing took the lead in the 29 h minute, with Dolaghan marking his return by getting the Rebels off the mark for the 2025/26 campaign. Typically assertive play from Temi Babalola to hold off Ollie Tomlinson allowed Worthing to get bodies inside the box.

Babalola shifted the ball to Spong, who played into the feet of Dolaghan from 10 yards out. The young striker let the ball roll across his body onto his right foot, before firing low across goal beyond the reach of Harvey Wiles-Richards in the visiting net.

Despite his side having enjoyed a period on top towards the interval, Agutter was forced to shuffle his pack with five minutes to play in the first half as captain Joel Colbran was shown a straight red card.

A loose ball in midfield was contested by Colbran and Bath’s Luke Russe, with the Worthing skipper’s challenge deemed to be dangerous by referee Charlie Martland.

Dolaghan had two chances in as many minutes for the hosts to double their advantage after the break. The first came after Babalola once again held off his marker to release Dolaghan, whose run on goal from just inside the Bath City half resulted in a left-footed strike being blocked.

Moments later, a looping ball towards the visitors’ penalty area was misread by Romans defender Jack Batten, with Dolaghan unable to keep his effort on target with Wiles-Richards away from his goalline.

Bath City’s first opening of note since gaining a man-advantage fell to striker Scott Wilson with just under 20 minutes of normal time to play, with the experienced striker seeing an effort charged down by an onrushing Stacey on the right side of the box.

Joe Cook came within inches of doubling Worthing’s advantage in the 75th minute, with the fill-in right back crashing a free header against Wiles-Richards left-hand upright following a corner.

With 90 minutes having just expired, Worthing suffered heartbreak as Bath substitute Mitch Beardmore headed home an equaliser from close-range following a sweeping cross from the right flank.

A gutting ending for the Rebels defence and Stacey in particular, who could not get his whole body
in front of Beardmore’s headed effort.

Late drama almost ensued at the death as Razzaq Coleman De-Graft turned a delivery back across goal with the last action of the half, however the Romans were able to clear to ensure the points were shared.

A disappointing outcome for the Rebels, who dominated the contest in large even with a man down, holding Bath to a limited number of openings throughout the game.

Worthing are back in National League South Action next weekend, as we travel to the Fusion Aviation Stadium to take on Horsham in a West Sussex Derby (Saturday 16th August, 3pm K.O).

Match Report by Finn Honeywood

Worthing: Stacey, Colbran, Ransom, Byron, Cook, Packham; Rea, Odei (Frimpong 85’); Spong (C. De-Graft 81’), Babalola (Odokonyero 67’), Dolaghan (Smith 65’)

Subs not used: Wheeler, Chukwu, Burgess

Scorers: Dolaghan (29’)

Attendance: 2,028