Tigers dig deep in thriller at Treyew

Source: Western Morning News
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Truro City 2 Eastleigh 1

CITY'S dream start to life in Blue Square Bet South continued as they won a hugely entertaining match at Treyew Road on Tuesday evening thanks to Scott Walker's second half penalty.

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Watched by a crowd of more than 700 on their home bow in the league, City may have been slightly fortunate to take all three points against the attack-minded visitors, but that won't worry them too much or the home faithful.

It was a night rich in entertainment and the only real surprise was that there weren't more goals.

Both sides carried a real threat in attack with the Hampshire visitors often committing four men up front.

City had to dig deep and their famous togetherness helped carry them through to a nerve jangling win.

Strangely, City looked nervy in defence at the start and could well have conceded an early goal before they took the lead after 10 minutes.

The goal came from Andy Watkins, after he had just been denied by a tremendous save from Eastleigh keeper Gareth Barfoot, who flung himself to his right to turn away Watkins's powerful header.

But the visitors failed to clear the danger completely and when the ball fell to Watkins just outside the area his dipping effort gave Barfoot no chance.

Skipper Jake Ash might have made it 2-0 almost immediately but headed wide from Andy Taylor's corner.

Eastleigh though were a real handful, with Andrew White and Jordace Holdser-Spooner a constant danger.

A fantastic goalline clearance by Walker denied White an equaliser and City keeper Tim Sandercombe then produced a great close range save to keep out White's header.

Eastleigh were lucky however, not to be down to ten men when midfielder Jamie Brown escaped a second yellow for a foul on Watkins after earlier being booked for a lunge on Ash.

But just when it looked as if City would go in at half time 1-0 up Jamie Slabber crossed from the right to the far post where White rose to head a deserved equaliser.

And early in the second half only the post denied White with Sandercombe beaten.

It was City though who took the lead just before the hour when Hayles was adjudged to have been fouled by keeper Barfoot as they challenged for the ball and Walker's penalty gave City a precious 2-1 advantage. And it was a lead City just managed to preserve with the woodwork again coming to their rescue when substitute Sam Wilson's header hit the bar.

The visitors threw everything at City, but the home defence, led by central defenders Arran Pugh and Steve Adams, refused to buckle under the onslaught.

It was a great result for the Tigers on a night which showed just how tough a season it is going to be and the standard they will have to achieve week after week.