BASHLEY goal-getter Richard Gillespie was again the star turn as his hat-trick stole the show on a night of high drama at the Recreation Ground.

Gillespie was in sensational form as he guided Steve Riley's side to victory after an absorbing seven-goal thriller.

The lively clash kept everyone on their toes until the final whistle, none more so than home hero Gillespie, who admitted afterwards to being a worried watcher as his team-mates defended their lead late on.

"I was a bag of nerves watching some of the things going on," he confessed.

"You can't do much when you're up front and it's getting knocked around your own penalty area.

"They've got good strikers so every time they got the ball in around our area made it a bit nervy.

"But everyone was up for it, we looked sharp and I think we did well."

Bashley's master marksman Gillespie set the hosts on their way in last night's clash when he capitalised on a Bath mistake to open the scoring after 12 minutes.

Ollie Barnes and visiting stopper Jake Meredith got involved in a terrible mix-up and, when Barnes put the ball past his advancing keeper, Gillespie pounced to score from close range.

The lead was short-lived, however, as right-back Adi Adams cut in from the flank before firing a left-foot shot low past Bash keeper David Elm four minutes later.

Pete Castle went close with a header before the half ended on a nasty note when Students skipper Sami El-Abd was fortunate to escape with just a caution after a dangerous challenge on Bashley's outstanding ex-Cherries midfielder Danny Smith.

Gillespie wasted no time in restoring the hosts' lead two minutes after the interval with a crisp finish, having used his lightning pace to break clear of the visiting defence.

The forward then turned provider in the 62nd minute for Ryan Moss to give Bash a two-goal cushion.

Joe Arnold's close-range finish gave the visitors a glimmer of hope with 17 minutes remaining but Gillespie again proved a thorn in Bath's side as he rose highest to head Chris Ferrett's cross home for his hat-trick.

But title contenders Bath refused to lie down and Arnold handed them another lifeline when his ambitious 35-yard drive caught Elm flat-footed.

Arnold again beat Elm from distance in injury-time, but the woodwork came to the keeper's rescue as Bash held on for a memorable victory to boost their play-off hopes.

Bashley: Elm, Gazzard, Ferrett, Castle, Middleton, Smith, Knowles (Keeler, 19), Davis, Moss, Gillespie, Town (Sainsbury, 90). Unused subs: Harper, Burch, Brock.