By Will Gregory
USW were edged out by Bath in a hot-tempered clash at the Sport Park.
The hosts got off to a bright start when a whipped cross from Freddie Stevens was hit just wide by striker Hushashi Kuwahara.
Bath came close to the opening goal but were denied by goalkeeper Shaun Gardiner who pulled off a solid save to help keep his side in the game.
Not long after, Tristan Jenkins came close to putting USW ahead with a tremendous curled effort that was only just palmed away by Bath ‘keeper Harrison.
Then, on the half hour mark, Bath took the lead.
Centre-back Dylan Plenty mis-placed a back pass and watched it roll into the back of the net for what was a bizarre first goal.
Before the half was out, Gardiner came to USW’s rescue with two consecutive saves from two dangerous looking Bath attacks that completely caught the defence off guard.
Pic: Marcus Williams
Soon after it was Bath’s defenders who looked half asleep when Gorman brought down Taylor Marsh in the area to give USW a fair penalty shout which was denied.
In the second half, USW playmaker Marsh scored a bottom corner effort that would have made the game level before the referee blew his whistle for offside.
USW looked a lot more competent defensively in the second half with Adam Kaplan making some superb tackles and important interceptions and Plenty made up for his first half error with an integral block that stopped the opposition from doubling their lead.
But it was Bath who extended their lead in the closing stages.
Their midfield maestro Hegarty made a powerful run and played a brilliant through ball to super sub Banks who whipped the ball out of Gardiner’s reach and into the corner of the net in what was a sensational effort that came from a USW error.
However things quickly turned sour for Banks. Two minutes later he pushed Stevens and was sent off for what was a silly episode that tarnished his involvement.
It got worse for the away side as Bath captain Chetwynd was given a straight red right at the death after clashing with Stevens on the touchline.
Pic: Marcus Williams
That left Bath down to nine men with USW only trailing by a goal.
The away side’s substitute striker Oyebola was booked for time wasting and not giving the ball back to the home side so they could try and push for an equaliser.
In a last ditch effort, USW marksman Kuwahara received the ball on the edge of the area but put it just wide of the post before the full time whistle blew.
USW will be disappointed to have got nothing from the game, even though on the overall balance of play they were second best.
They now face a vital clash away to Swansea next week in their bid to preserve their Premier status.
Bath on the other hand will go away from this match feeling lucky that they were able to maintain their lead after losing their discipline late on.