Richard Augarde sent this image of some of the travelling fans at Weston Super Mare last week.
30 December 2011
28 December 2011
Welling United - 7th January - advert
Ray Jennings will be taking names for the game away at Welling on 7th Jan. Details are shown within the banner.
27 December 2011
Tisa Fans at Weston
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| Rayvon and Reet' with Tigeral, Broady and Dave Ash |
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| Grimmers and Danny |
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| Alan, Bob, Tom, GTH, Mark, Tim and Brenty |
A proud manager shows his appreciation
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| Lee gives the thumbs-up to the Tisa massive |
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| Between 60 and 70 fans travelled to Weston |
Appreciation from the players
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| Massive show of appreciation from all the players after the match |
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| Lee leads the team to the Tisa faithful |
Images from the Weston game
Build up and action images from the Weston Super Mare game.
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| Scotty Walker and Jake Ash |
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| Normal pre-match formalities |
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| Bas McConell in front of some partisan flags |
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| Dan Smith |
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| Les Afful |
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| Cody Cooke with some Truro fans in background |
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| Superman ponders on where the game is going |
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| Cody Cooke and Arran Pugh |
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| Cody Cooke |
Monsieur Marky Mark in fancy dress at Weston
Monsieur Mark Tregunna sporting his gendarmerie headgear at Weston yesterday :-)
23 December 2011
White Riot now published
The fanzine also includes trip reports from Bulgaria, Germany, Dartford, Chelmsford et al plus player profiles, a bit of history about our club and an evocative discussion on chanting at a football match!
It's well worth a read and for just £2, will rekindle fond memories and raise more than a private chuckle over Christmas.
Dave will be at both the Weston games, so collar him and buy one!
22 December 2011
Travel arrangements to Weston - update
Please note that we have confirmation that we will be taking a 50 seater coach with toilet on board.
The coach will be leaving at 10:00 not 09:00 as previously stated, from Treyew Road.
There are still seats available so contact Ray Jennings 07854 473596 if you want to go.
Cost £20 for TISA members, £22 for non-members.
The coach will be leaving at 10:00 not 09:00 as previously stated, from Treyew Road.
There are still seats available so contact Ray Jennings 07854 473596 if you want to go.
Cost £20 for TISA members, £22 for non-members.
21 December 2011
Sutton United match report and comments
Full Sutton FC match report from last night's thrilling game can be found here > LINK HERE
Images from the game due here shortly: IMAGES
Sutton forum comments :
Frakey:
Hats off to Truro, who's sqaud was decimated and they came so close to the win. Ok, not our best prformance and I'm not sure why we played just one up front tonight but as someone else has said on here 4 pts out of 6 is a good return.
Great goals by Harry, the free-kick was exceptional, lighting up an indifferent performance.
As for the bottle throwing incident - I'm sorry but if these cretins don't get a bit of stick from the regulars they will think it is fine & dandy to do it again. By reacting strongly & with no holds barred we make them aware of how unacceptable what they did is. As for only one throwing it, well their collective silence when challenged puts them all in the same boat as far as I'm concerned. They were bloody teenagers who should know better than to endanger those on the playing field.
No doubt we will get a fine now & the reputation of the club maybe a tad tarnished. If it happens again & I'm close, I'l react exactly the same. None of this namby pamby pussying around; tell them how it is.
Finally well done to the Truro fans for making the journey - a fantastic effort.
Amber Aleman:
That was a draw snatched from the jaws of defeat! On paper this looked one of our easier tasks of the season, with Truro so depleted by injuries that they could only name one substitute. But things are rarely that simple in football!
Truro came with a game plan to defend in numbers and frustate our attacks, and for most of the match those tactics were successful. Although we had more of the play in the first half, our forwards were unable to find much space with several shots blocked in the area. Truro's best chance of scoring looked to be from free kicks, and it may be no coincidence that their players seemed to go down under the slightest challenge in the Sutton half. But their opening goal came from a long ball out of defence and a cross which found us short of cover at the back.
After that we really struggled to regain the initiative, and although Harry did eventually head us level we conceded again within a few minutes after a cleared corner was lobbed back in to the far post. We might have lost 3-1 as Les Afful lobbed Scrivs only to see the ball rebound off the bar, but a last gasp attack earned us a free kick of our own which Harry dispatched with aplomb.
Images from the game due here shortly: IMAGES
Sutton forum comments :
Frakey:
Hats off to Truro, who's sqaud was decimated and they came so close to the win. Ok, not our best prformance and I'm not sure why we played just one up front tonight but as someone else has said on here 4 pts out of 6 is a good return.
Great goals by Harry, the free-kick was exceptional, lighting up an indifferent performance.
As for the bottle throwing incident - I'm sorry but if these cretins don't get a bit of stick from the regulars they will think it is fine & dandy to do it again. By reacting strongly & with no holds barred we make them aware of how unacceptable what they did is. As for only one throwing it, well their collective silence when challenged puts them all in the same boat as far as I'm concerned. They were bloody teenagers who should know better than to endanger those on the playing field.
No doubt we will get a fine now & the reputation of the club maybe a tad tarnished. If it happens again & I'm close, I'l react exactly the same. None of this namby pamby pussying around; tell them how it is.
Finally well done to the Truro fans for making the journey - a fantastic effort.
Amber Aleman:
That was a draw snatched from the jaws of defeat! On paper this looked one of our easier tasks of the season, with Truro so depleted by injuries that they could only name one substitute. But things are rarely that simple in football!
Truro came with a game plan to defend in numbers and frustate our attacks, and for most of the match those tactics were successful. Although we had more of the play in the first half, our forwards were unable to find much space with several shots blocked in the area. Truro's best chance of scoring looked to be from free kicks, and it may be no coincidence that their players seemed to go down under the slightest challenge in the Sutton half. But their opening goal came from a long ball out of defence and a cross which found us short of cover at the back.
After that we really struggled to regain the initiative, and although Harry did eventually head us level we conceded again within a few minutes after a cleared corner was lobbed back in to the far post. We might have lost 3-1 as Les Afful lobbed Scrivs only to see the ball rebound off the bar, but a last gasp attack earned us a free kick of our own which Harry dispatched with aplomb.
City Alerts: message from Chairman Mr Heaney
FROM KEVIN HEANEY:--
First of all, I would like to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, and to thank you all most sincerely for all your help and support in 2011.
Last night, at Sutton, was amazing. We had an incredibly depleted squad, so much so that we had to get special permission from the League to sign two reserve players, and unfortunately even then one of them could not travel with us because of work commitments. Our squad for this game was down to just 12 players. Young Tim Nixon, from the reserves, cut a lonely figure on the substitutes' bench. I asked Lee if, in all his 20-odd years in the game, he had ever seen a team in action with just one sub before and he agreed he hadn't!
I have seen some fantastic performances and results for Truro City in my seven years as chairman, but I have to say this was right up there with the very best of them. Lee got his tactics spot-on, and the spirit, work rate, application and energy levels that the players showed were just phenomenal; it made you feel that everything we all do on and off the pitch is so worthwhile.
I was so proud of the players and the management team and the supporters who made the long journey. On the night, we could have ended up with three goals and all three points. Sutton equalised in the dying seconds with a goal from a somewhat controversial free-kick, but only a few minutes earlier Les Afful had hit the bar with an absolutely brilliant lob from 40 yards. If that had gone in, it would have been game over.
All this was achieved against a very good Sutton team who I confidently expect to finish in the top five and who had the luxury of being able to put on three substitutes, all of them over six foot! I'm bound to say I feared the worst at the start, but it all turned out so very differently. Cody Cooke scored a terrific brace and really "arrived" in this match. He's a genuine local lad who's come in via Truro College and our reserves, and he's precisely the sort of local product from the community that we want to produce more of. We now start looking for the next Cody!
There had been serious concerns that this match might not have gone ahead at all. We had eight out of our 19 players unavailable. The outcome tells me a great deal about the group of players we've got now, along with the outstanding leadership qualities.
I hope this is a clear message to everyone in Truro and Cornwall. This club is well worthy of support; it is a club the county can be proud of. We now turn our attention to the upcoming "local derby" matches over the festive period, with the visit to Weston-super-Mare on Boxing Day and especially the return fixture at Treyew Road on New Year's Day, when we hope to welcome a big crowd for some first class entertainment. We also hope to have at least three of our absentee players back in action by Boxing Day, incidentally.
It is worth noting that not so many years ago Weston were five levels above us, and now they are our local derby opposition. Seven years ago, we were lying 11th in the South Western League - today we are 11th in the southern Conference. What an amazing achievement that is.
I personally have in mind four matches as the all-time greatest achievements during my period as chairman. The FA Vase, obviously, has to be No. 1. I also recall our 2-1 win at Tavistock that secured promotion to the Western League, plus last season's six goals at Salisbury, which was just like a dream.
And then, without hesitation, I choose last night. What an achievement, in the face of such adversity. Well done, Lads; well done, everyone.
End of Chairman's Message.
UPCOMING FIXTURES (all League, k/o's 3 pm), Mon Dec 26, Weston-super-Mare, away; Sun Jan 1, Weston-super-Mare, home; Sat Jan 7, Welling away; Sat Jan 14, Chelmsford, home; Sat Jan 21, Bromley away; Sat Jan 28, Staines Town, home.
First of all, I would like to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, and to thank you all most sincerely for all your help and support in 2011.
Last night, at Sutton, was amazing. We had an incredibly depleted squad, so much so that we had to get special permission from the League to sign two reserve players, and unfortunately even then one of them could not travel with us because of work commitments. Our squad for this game was down to just 12 players. Young Tim Nixon, from the reserves, cut a lonely figure on the substitutes' bench. I asked Lee if, in all his 20-odd years in the game, he had ever seen a team in action with just one sub before and he agreed he hadn't!
I have seen some fantastic performances and results for Truro City in my seven years as chairman, but I have to say this was right up there with the very best of them. Lee got his tactics spot-on, and the spirit, work rate, application and energy levels that the players showed were just phenomenal; it made you feel that everything we all do on and off the pitch is so worthwhile.
I was so proud of the players and the management team and the supporters who made the long journey. On the night, we could have ended up with three goals and all three points. Sutton equalised in the dying seconds with a goal from a somewhat controversial free-kick, but only a few minutes earlier Les Afful had hit the bar with an absolutely brilliant lob from 40 yards. If that had gone in, it would have been game over.
All this was achieved against a very good Sutton team who I confidently expect to finish in the top five and who had the luxury of being able to put on three substitutes, all of them over six foot! I'm bound to say I feared the worst at the start, but it all turned out so very differently. Cody Cooke scored a terrific brace and really "arrived" in this match. He's a genuine local lad who's come in via Truro College and our reserves, and he's precisely the sort of local product from the community that we want to produce more of. We now start looking for the next Cody!
There had been serious concerns that this match might not have gone ahead at all. We had eight out of our 19 players unavailable. The outcome tells me a great deal about the group of players we've got now, along with the outstanding leadership qualities.
I hope this is a clear message to everyone in Truro and Cornwall. This club is well worthy of support; it is a club the county can be proud of. We now turn our attention to the upcoming "local derby" matches over the festive period, with the visit to Weston-super-Mare on Boxing Day and especially the return fixture at Treyew Road on New Year's Day, when we hope to welcome a big crowd for some first class entertainment. We also hope to have at least three of our absentee players back in action by Boxing Day, incidentally.
It is worth noting that not so many years ago Weston were five levels above us, and now they are our local derby opposition. Seven years ago, we were lying 11th in the South Western League - today we are 11th in the southern Conference. What an amazing achievement that is.
I personally have in mind four matches as the all-time greatest achievements during my period as chairman. The FA Vase, obviously, has to be No. 1. I also recall our 2-1 win at Tavistock that secured promotion to the Western League, plus last season's six goals at Salisbury, which was just like a dream.
And then, without hesitation, I choose last night. What an achievement, in the face of such adversity. Well done, Lads; well done, everyone.
End of Chairman's Message.
UPCOMING FIXTURES (all League, k/o's 3 pm), Mon Dec 26, Weston-super-Mare, away; Sun Jan 1, Weston-super-Mare, home; Sat Jan 7, Welling away; Sat Jan 14, Chelmsford, home; Sat Jan 21, Bromley away; Sat Jan 28, Staines Town, home.
The "Wall of Sound" from our balding conductor
Forum comments from acraig8875:
Really good night - good to see how the City players came over to the tiny knot of Truro fans after the game.
Special mention to the Truro City 'Wall Of Sound' - Steve & Sean who gave it plenty throughout the match.
I did fear the worst before kick-off , so many injuries and just one on the bench - but what a performance.
All the City players were magnificent.
Spent first half near the wall of sound with kids- big thank you for modifying the song about Les!
Second half in the stand- kids were tired and needed to sit !
I agree, after city players went to fans in far side they also spoke and acknowledged fans near tunnel. Great humility and generosity from exhausted players.
The Code breaker
Sutton United 2 Truro City 2
Cody Cook scored a cool brace last night, away to top outfit Sutton United.
In a game which many considered impossible to gain anything, Cody twice took the lead with syle.
The south London side beat us at home with ease and many considered them the best team to visit Treyew Road this season. Perhaps arrogance, complacency or over-confidence let them down last night?
More likely, though, is the never-say-die attitude that Lee Hodges has instilled into this depleted side. We have witnessed some incredible games this season. Given that we travelled with just 12 available men, it's the last game before Christmas, a 600 mile round trip on a damp Tuesday night....etc etc. But the fifteen or so intrepid TISA supporters last night witnessed what surely must be one of the best performances this year?
And for Cody, his brace will be just reward for his perserverance and a welcome early Christmas present. For sure, he's Cook-ing on gas at the moment.
And the song for Boxing Day?
There's only one Cody Cook?
Singing a song
Walking along,
Playing in a Cody Wonderland.
20 December 2011
Hodges Forced to Don the Boots
Source Western Morning News
Truro City manager Lee Hodges is set to make his first Blue Square Bet South start in tonight's match at high-flying Sutton United.
The 37-year-old play-anywhere City boss replaced on-loan Torquay United defender Ed Palmer during the second half of last Saturday's 3-3 home draw with Hampton & Richmond Borough. With Palmer ruled out of tonight's match at Gander Green Lane, Hodges is set to make his first start of the season for injury-hit City.
The experienced former Torquay and Plymouth Argyle player said: "One of the reasons for replacing Ed on Saturday was because I knew he had the suspension coming up. It also gave me the opportunity to get out there."
Hodges, who had not planned to start this side of Christmas, has had his arm forced by a spate of injuries.
Although skipper Jake Ash made a triumphant return to the starting XI last Saturday, top and tailing the scoring with a seventh-minute opener and a last-minute leveller, Hodges had to select from a squad of fourteen.
On the eve of tonight's game at fourth-placed Sutton, 4-3 home winners over second-placed Welling United last Saturday, Hodges admitted: "We are down to bare bones and I am just hoping that we get some of the injured players back soon."
City are set to travel to Surrey without up to six of their squad, five of them on the injury list.
Although Stewart Yetton has completed his one-match suspension, the former Plymouth striker is struggling with a knee injury.
Target man Barry Hayles – ruled out since the FA Trophy draw at Gloucester City – is recovering from a knee injury but is more likely to feature in the trip to Weston-super-Mare on Boxing Day than at Sutton tonight.
Hodges will also call on reserve goalkeeper Tom Brooks, as City number one Tim Sandercombe (knee) is still ruled out, while midfielder Marcus Martin failed a fitness test before the draw with Hampton and is unlikely to feature tonight.
Hodges said: "The lads did brilliantly to get something from Saturday's game and we will be looking for another special effort tonight.
"It doesn't need me to tell anyone it is not going to be easy, all anyone has to do is look at Sutton's result against Welling on Saturday and that says it all.
"But we won a hard-earned point on Saturday – Hampton won four in a row before playing us and had just come off the back of beating a Conference Premier team in the FA Trophy.
"They were the in-form team and expected to win again as well. We are still ten points clear of the bottom three and every point we pick up takes us further away from the bottom. This season was always going to be about finding out about the league – and ourselves – and where we fit in."
18 December 2011
City Alerts - Christmas Special by Mike Truscott
AFTER what Jake did for the club yesterday, the least I can do is break into my Christmas slumber to ensure he gets the public tribute he deserves, with this "unscheduled" City Alert. Actually, it's not so much a City Alert, as in officially authorised club news; it's more a personal piece from Yours Truly. But somehow I don't think the powers-that-be will object.
DIDN'T THE BOY DO WELL! Okay, the whole, savagely depleted team deserve the highest praise for their heroic, never-say-die attitude that earned them yet another point of the desperately hard-earned variety. But what a show from Captain Marvel in particular, eh? Has there ever been a greater, more inspiring "captain's performance," leading from the top, than Jake Ash's yesterday in our 3-3 home League draw against Hampton & Richmond?
The wonder of it all, for starters, was that Jake was playing at all. I won't go into detail, but let's suffice to say that by all "normal", conventional standards, you wouldn't even have expected him to have been on the pitch. But what did we see? This injury-carrying captain first gave us a great start with his early goal, then typically worked like a Trojan throughout an energy-sapping encounter, and finally - in the fifth and last minute of stoppage time - snatched the most dramatic of equalisers when all seemed well and truly lost.
No wonder Lee Hodges makes no secret of his admiration for Jake and the immense value Lee places on his role as captain. Agreed, Jake has long since given new meaning to loyalty, and he has done many a fine deed for City over the years, but surely yesterday's has to top the lot? Can you think of a better example of a true captain's performance?
Me, neither. It was real Roy of the Rovers stuff, wasn't it? I first read about Roy, incidentally, in the old Tiger comic in the mid-1950s, when I was a lad of five or six. Had the fictitious Roy done what Jake did yesterday, I would have been inclined to hurl that comic into the fire (assuming Dad could afford coal that week) and complain: "For goodness sake, old man, this is rubbish; can't you buy me a comic with a more credible story line?" Well, maybe you COULD make it up, but you get my drift. Surely, few would dispute that Jake has long since become a "legend in his own lifetime" so far as Truro City is concerned.
All of which set me thinking. Is there any other player, in the club's 122-year history, more deserving of the title All-Time Greatest Truro City Legend? Arguably, by definition there cannot be, given the club's unprecedented high level of competition at the moment. But all things are relative, as they say, and maybe supporters can think of some other contenders from years gone by.
So, if you have time to spare and fingers to twiddle this Christmas, why not send me your own contenders. Create your own criteria for the title, list your boxes, see how many of those boxes get ticked for each contender, and then email me your choice with, say, anything up to 400 words on your reasoning and recollections. I will then issue each offering with the next City Alert, and I'll keep you posted of the final "results." It's just the germ of an idea for now, and you never know what might develop from it. (You know the sort of thing - maybe parade a line of legends on the pitch in an end-of-season grand finale.) Maybe the club would also like to post all the submissions on the website.
And if Jake is your first choice for the "title," let's hear it for your second choice, anyway. And if I get no responses, I will draw one of two conclusions:-- a) no-one reads City Alerts; or b) Jake is duly confirmed as All-Time Greatest Truro City Legend, with no-one else coming even close!
End of personal MT piece.
UPCOMING FIXTURES (all League, Sat k/os 3 pm, midweek 7.45 pm): Tues Dec 20, Sutton United, away; Mon Dec 26, Weston-super-Mare, away; Sun Jan 1, Weston-super-Mare, home; Sat Jan 7, Welling away; Sat Jan 14, Chelmsford, home; Sat Jan 21, Bromley away; Sat Jan 28, Staines Town, home.
CITY ALERTS is the official Truro City Football Club news service for supporters and media. It is sponsored and operated by Mike Truscott of Golden Replay Biographies
(www.goldenreplay.com)
DIDN'T THE BOY DO WELL! Okay, the whole, savagely depleted team deserve the highest praise for their heroic, never-say-die attitude that earned them yet another point of the desperately hard-earned variety. But what a show from Captain Marvel in particular, eh? Has there ever been a greater, more inspiring "captain's performance," leading from the top, than Jake Ash's yesterday in our 3-3 home League draw against Hampton & Richmond?
The wonder of it all, for starters, was that Jake was playing at all. I won't go into detail, but let's suffice to say that by all "normal", conventional standards, you wouldn't even have expected him to have been on the pitch. But what did we see? This injury-carrying captain first gave us a great start with his early goal, then typically worked like a Trojan throughout an energy-sapping encounter, and finally - in the fifth and last minute of stoppage time - snatched the most dramatic of equalisers when all seemed well and truly lost.
No wonder Lee Hodges makes no secret of his admiration for Jake and the immense value Lee places on his role as captain. Agreed, Jake has long since given new meaning to loyalty, and he has done many a fine deed for City over the years, but surely yesterday's has to top the lot? Can you think of a better example of a true captain's performance?
Me, neither. It was real Roy of the Rovers stuff, wasn't it? I first read about Roy, incidentally, in the old Tiger comic in the mid-1950s, when I was a lad of five or six. Had the fictitious Roy done what Jake did yesterday, I would have been inclined to hurl that comic into the fire (assuming Dad could afford coal that week) and complain: "For goodness sake, old man, this is rubbish; can't you buy me a comic with a more credible story line?" Well, maybe you COULD make it up, but you get my drift. Surely, few would dispute that Jake has long since become a "legend in his own lifetime" so far as Truro City is concerned.
All of which set me thinking. Is there any other player, in the club's 122-year history, more deserving of the title All-Time Greatest Truro City Legend? Arguably, by definition there cannot be, given the club's unprecedented high level of competition at the moment. But all things are relative, as they say, and maybe supporters can think of some other contenders from years gone by.
So, if you have time to spare and fingers to twiddle this Christmas, why not send me your own contenders. Create your own criteria for the title, list your boxes, see how many of those boxes get ticked for each contender, and then email me your choice with, say, anything up to 400 words on your reasoning and recollections. I will then issue each offering with the next City Alert, and I'll keep you posted of the final "results." It's just the germ of an idea for now, and you never know what might develop from it. (You know the sort of thing - maybe parade a line of legends on the pitch in an end-of-season grand finale.) Maybe the club would also like to post all the submissions on the website.
And if Jake is your first choice for the "title," let's hear it for your second choice, anyway. And if I get no responses, I will draw one of two conclusions:-- a) no-one reads City Alerts; or b) Jake is duly confirmed as All-Time Greatest Truro City Legend, with no-one else coming even close!
End of personal MT piece.
UPCOMING FIXTURES (all League, Sat k/os 3 pm, midweek 7.45 pm): Tues Dec 20, Sutton United, away; Mon Dec 26, Weston-super-Mare, away; Sun Jan 1, Weston-super-Mare, home; Sat Jan 7, Welling away; Sat Jan 14, Chelmsford, home; Sat Jan 21, Bromley away; Sat Jan 28, Staines Town, home.
CITY ALERTS is the official Truro City Football Club news service for supporters and media. It is sponsored and operated by Mike Truscott of Golden Replay Biographies
(www.goldenreplay.com)
Truro City v Hampton images and forum comments
A series of excellent photos by Richard Augarde from the match can be found via this link : Richard Augarde There is also one superb image of the Superman strike to make the game 3 - 3.
Tiger Talk forum comments:
PUDDY:
Much of the game saw the ball in the air and with Watkins and Afful up front it generally came straight back.
Ash was immense but the whole team never gave up and the last couple of minutes said it all with the missed penalty( great save!) and the equaliser direct from the corner.
Smith had a good game especially in the second half playing on the right wing. Lee Hodges passed some great balls as well. Everyone played their hearts out.
Overall very good entertainment in difficult conditions from both sides.
I hope Hayles is back soon, we need him up front to make the ball stick, too many long balls to our forwards just invited pressure on ourselves. I would also like to see Dan Smith working harder to close players down, defending is everyones job, but i am pleased to see him get a run of games and i think he can develop into a good player, we forget that some players are not the finished article.
i hope we get a bumper crowd on new years day and the players can give them something to cheer about.
Tiger Talk forum comments:
PUDDY:
Another tough game..they were no walkover whatever their league position might be and had several very useful players. They'd won six of their last eight games.
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| Tom Brooks started in place of the injured Tim Sandercombe |
Much of the game saw the ball in the air and with Watkins and Afful up front it generally came straight back.
Ash was immense but the whole team never gave up and the last couple of minutes said it all with the missed penalty( great save!) and the equaliser direct from the corner.
Smith had a good game especially in the second half playing on the right wing. Lee Hodges passed some great balls as well. Everyone played their hearts out.
Overall very good entertainment in difficult conditions from both sides.
DUTY281:
What a strange game.
Truro played a decent passing game for the opening 20 minutes or so, taking a 1-0 lead and we looked very comfortable.
Then we changed tack, and begin hoofing it up the field for the rest of the half. Net result was that H&R took a 2-1 lead at HT.
We hit back well, Walker converting yet another penalty this season, 2-2. We pushed on and could have had another penalty (not given) and Superman narrowly missed a half-volley.
Hampton and Richmond hit us on the counter attack and worked their way into a 2-3 lead. I don't know how - their attack was pretty poor throughout the game. I reckon if we had Sandercombe, who must have been injured, and not Brooks we wouldn't have let in the 3 goals that we did.
The time wore on, the referee gave us 3 very strange and questionable free kicks all around the halfway line. From a corner we won a penalty which Walker missed. From the resultant corner we managed to lash in a very late - Fergie late - equaliser. 3-3 but I felt we should have won.
Lee Hodges played well again coming off the bench, so did Dan Smith who is improving all the time but the star was clearly Jake Ash.
Truro played a decent passing game for the opening 20 minutes or so, taking a 1-0 lead and we looked very comfortable.
Then we changed tack, and begin hoofing it up the field for the rest of the half. Net result was that H&R took a 2-1 lead at HT.
We hit back well, Walker converting yet another penalty this season, 2-2. We pushed on and could have had another penalty (not given) and Superman narrowly missed a half-volley.
Hampton and Richmond hit us on the counter attack and worked their way into a 2-3 lead. I don't know how - their attack was pretty poor throughout the game. I reckon if we had Sandercombe, who must have been injured, and not Brooks we wouldn't have let in the 3 goals that we did.
The time wore on, the referee gave us 3 very strange and questionable free kicks all around the halfway line. From a corner we won a penalty which Walker missed. From the resultant corner we managed to lash in a very late - Fergie late - equaliser. 3-3 but I felt we should have won.
Lee Hodges played well again coming off the bench, so did Dan Smith who is improving all the time but the star was clearly Jake Ash.
 |
| Lee Hodges came off the bench and made an immediate impact |
IMC:
A decent save to keep a Scott Walker penalty out, the poor guy was distraught after we equalised!! I didn't think we played that well but the guys dug in and battled and deserved to be applauded off the pitch like last week. There certainly aren't any push overs in this league.
I hope Hayles is back soon, we need him up front to make the ball stick, too many long balls to our forwards just invited pressure on ourselves. I would also like to see Dan Smith working harder to close players down, defending is everyones job, but i am pleased to see him get a run of games and i think he can develop into a good player, we forget that some players are not the finished article.
i hope we get a bumper crowd on new years day and the players can give them something to cheer about.
15 December 2011
Absence of key players costly as Hodges' men exit Trophy
Source: This Is Cornwall LINK
Truro City 2 Ebbsfleet Utd 5
EVEN with a full strength side City would have had their hands full against the 2008 FA Trophy winners.
But without several key players it was asking too much to expect a shock win against their Conference Premier opponents in the first round on Saturday.
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| Jo Broad before the Ebbsfleet game |
Missing through injury were skipper Jake Ash, Barry Hayles and Marcus Martin, who was named on the original team sheet but then failed a fitness test giving Cody Cooke a first start.
Stewart Yetton was one of only four substitutes, including reserve keeper Tom Brooks, but was not fit enough to start.
And their first half performance looked like even they did not believe they could shock the Kent visitors as they trailed 3-1 at the break.
After conceding a fourth at the start of the second period they did lift their game and finished the stronger side but it was all too late and Ebbsfleet were worthy winners.
And it left City player-manager Lee Hodges frustrated.
He said: "I am bitterly disappointed. I just do not think we believe in ourselves."We paid them too much respect in the first half. We let them play and did not get in their faces and that cost us.
"There was some bad defending and again we gave away simple goals.
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| Dan Smith started the game up front |
"But we did rally in the second half and with a bit more Lady Luck and some refereeing decisions going our way it might have been different.
"We are down to bare bones, but we have to go with what we have got at the moment."
Again City started slowly and conceded a goal after only two minutes when they allowed Liam Enver-Marum to head home at the near post from Michael West's right wing corner.
And the confident visitors looked likely to add to their tally before against the run of play Les Afful's powerful drive from the edge of the area defeated Preston Edwards.
But the Kent side hit back almost immediately when West finished off a powerful run with a clinical finish past a helpless Tim Sandercombe.
Ebbsfleet's third though had a large element of good fortune as Ranbir Marwa's cross from the left appeared to be handled by Nathan Pinney before he netted.
But City's appeals were ignored by referee Chris Powell and at 3-1 down with less than half an hour gone it looked like a long afternoon for the White Tigers.
But they hung on until half-time without conceding further and might even have pulled a goal back when Afful forced a fine save from Edwards right on half-time.
City began the second half with more purpose but went 4-1 down with a well taken goal from Enver-Marum.
To their credit City kept pushing forward and were soon rewarded when Dan Smith's clever pass gave Afful the chance to flick the ball past Edwards from close range.
And if Andy Watkins had headed either side of Edwards, rather than straight at the Ebbsfleet keeper from Smith's cross, it might have been a different story.
Truro though continued to press with Scott Walker's free kick forcing Edwards into a smart save.
Lee Hodges, who had come on for Cooke, headed against the top of the bar from a Walker free-kick and Watkins had claims for a penalty turned away by referee Powell.
It was Ebbsfleet though who had the last word when Enver-Marum completed his hat-trick right on time following a quick counter-attack.
City, though, could take plenty from their second half performance as they concentrate on their number one priority – Blue Square Bet South survival.
12 December 2011
City Alerts: Team news by Mike Truscott
TEAM NEWS: Jake Ash (ankle), situation still unclear, best hope seems another fortnight out. Ditto Stewart Yetton (knee), who is suspended for this Saturday's match anyway. Barry Hayles (knee) hoping to be fit for Saturday, but still doubtful at this stage.
LEE'S VIEW on Truro City 2 Ebbsfleet United 5:
"I was disappointed, obviously, but not too much in all the circumstances. I just feel we showed Ebbsfleet too much respect in the first half. In the second half, we made more of a match of it and if we could just have nicked one we could possibly have taken something from it. We created chances and had a good penalty shout turned down.
"In the first half, we were guilty of not keeping our shape. We needed someone to sit in the middle of the park, but we were all over the place. The problem was that Joe Broad and Ed Palmer understandably wanted to get on the ball, and so they were going chasing it but messing up our shape in the process.
"And once again we conceded a goal with a free header, right at the start. You just can't give space like that and expect to get away with it. That gave Ebbsfleet the immediate advantage and I had felt right from the start that our mentality just wasn't right. So the day was disappointing but a good experience, especially for the younger lads aspiring to progess to this level. I thought Cody Cooke did well with his first start. "
UPCOMING FIXTURES: Sat Dec 17, 3 pm, Hampton & Richmond, League, home; Tues Dec 20, 7.45 pm, Sutton United, League, away; Mon Dec 26, 3 pm, Weston-super-Mare, League, away; Sun Jan 1, 3 pm, Weston-super-Mare, League, home.
CITY ALERTS is the official Truro City Football Club news service for supporters and media. It is sponsored and operated by Mike Truscott of Golden Replay Biographies (www.goldenreplay.com)
LEE'S VIEW on Truro City 2 Ebbsfleet United 5:
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| Lee Hodges before the Ebbsfleet game |
"I was disappointed, obviously, but not too much in all the circumstances. I just feel we showed Ebbsfleet too much respect in the first half. In the second half, we made more of a match of it and if we could just have nicked one we could possibly have taken something from it. We created chances and had a good penalty shout turned down.
"In the first half, we were guilty of not keeping our shape. We needed someone to sit in the middle of the park, but we were all over the place. The problem was that Joe Broad and Ed Palmer understandably wanted to get on the ball, and so they were going chasing it but messing up our shape in the process.
"And once again we conceded a goal with a free header, right at the start. You just can't give space like that and expect to get away with it. That gave Ebbsfleet the immediate advantage and I had felt right from the start that our mentality just wasn't right. So the day was disappointing but a good experience, especially for the younger lads aspiring to progess to this level. I thought Cody Cooke did well with his first start. "
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| Les scored a brace |
UPCOMING FIXTURES: Sat Dec 17, 3 pm, Hampton & Richmond, League, home; Tues Dec 20, 7.45 pm, Sutton United, League, away; Mon Dec 26, 3 pm, Weston-super-Mare, League, away; Sun Jan 1, 3 pm, Weston-super-Mare, League, home.
CITY ALERTS is the official Truro City Football Club news service for supporters and media. It is sponsored and operated by Mike Truscott of Golden Replay Biographies (www.goldenreplay.com)
11 December 2011
Images and forum comments from the Ebbsfleet FA Trophy game
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| Andy Watkins being chased by Mambo |
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| Dan Smith attacking from the right wing |
The lads must be tired after the amount of hard work they put in every week, which is promising for the future after what has happened off the field in recent weeks, but we also need to keep the squad we have and try not to lose any players because the squad is as small enough as it is! Truro did miss key players today, especially Jake and Marcus in the centre of midfield and Barry upfront! However, I look forward to the home game next weekend against Hampton & Richmond hoping that Truro will get a decent result, as Truro are usually strong at home with the crowd behind them and the quality that they have on the field, what may help is that Hampton & Richmond are currently third from bottom, but as we have learned so far in this league we can never under estimate teams, whatever position they are in the table!
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| Andy Watkins and mum in the background! |
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| Ed Palmer climbs high from his new midfield role |
HMHB: Plus points, Couple of lovely finishes from Les, their keeper denied him another before half-time with a great save, thought an under strength Truro team gave a good account, having Marcus, Jake etc in the side might've made for a more even battle, good cameo from the gaffer second-half. Plenty of backing for the boys from the fans, erm, Ebbsfleet's kit was nice, got given a Spaceman 3 back-catalogue by a decent sort down the Railway Club (I owe him a beer).
Negatives, couple of good shouts for penalties turned down & a poor crowd - reason carpark was full is Sainsbury's staff are using it for the next couple of weeks, loads of cars when I drove past at 10am.
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| Dan Smith prevented from jumping by Mambo |
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| Arran shoved in the back by Lorraine - the first of three big penalty shouts dismissed by an appalling referee |
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| Ed Palmer booked for nothing |
Why doesn't Lee pick himself to start? As soon as he came on, we moved up a gear. Stop being shy Lee, you really should start next week if we are still carrying all those injuries.
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| Les' first goal |
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| Ed Palmer congratulates Les |
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| A vastly improved Ed Palmer |
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| Scott Walker at left back |
