Bath City secured a late 2-1 victory over Sholing in a tightly contested season opener on Saturday. The decisive moment came in the 86th minute when Harry Parsons scored with a lob from just outside the penalty area, leaving Sholing goalkeeper Jack Turner unable to respond.

The match, held at Sholing’s home ground, featured limited clear-cut chances for either side in the first half. Bath’s most dangerous attacks developed from the right wing, with Michael Folivi on the left providing a crucial assist for the opening goal, which gave Bath an early lead. Sholing’s defense remained resilient, and just after the break, they equalized after a well-timed save by Bath’s goalkeeper Plumley from Jackson’s effort.

In the closing stages of the game, moments after Parsons’ winning goal, Bath was denied a penalty. Matt Bowman, who had collected the ball deep in midfield, went down under a standing challenge from Byron Mason, but the referee dismissed Sholing’s appeals.

Sholing struggled to find an effective response in the final minutes, with their attempts to break down Bath’s defense proving unsuccessful. The late concession highlighted a recurring issue for the home side, who have previously been prone to conceding late goals. Bath’s victory ended Sholing’s season on a disappointing note, echoing similar struggles they faced toward the end of last season.

The result granted Bath City their first points of the campaign and handed Sholing a challenging start as they search for consistent form moving forward.