Boss Lee Hodges heaped praise on his side after Truro City's tremendous two-goal comeback to draw 3-3 at champions Woking in front of a 4,000-plus crowd at Kingfield on Saturday.
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| Lee before the game |
The draw ensured 14th-placed Truro's Blue Square Bet South status for a second season, hauling them seven points clear of the drop zone.
Hodges said: "It's a tremendous achievement when you consider all that we have been through this season, and all credit must go to the players and the staff at the club – they have been amazing and I cannot thank them enough.
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| Lee salutes the fans after the game, with Dave and Les in background |
"We went into the game looking over our shoulders a bit but have come out of it with immense pride, having secured our place in the league for next season with a game to go.
"This season's main target was always going to be staying in the league and we have done that. And what a way to achieve it – coming from two behind to draw at the best team in the league is something a bit special and shows what we can do on our day.
"It was a brilliant result. We were 2-1 down at half-time, which I thought was harsh on us. We went 3-1 behind, but then the lads really showed what they are made of.
"Arran Pugh was outstanding and got us back in it with a goal, and then Barry Hayles went on for Martin Gritton and went through from the halfway line and could have scored but unselfishly squared it for Les Afful to score.
"I think playing in front of 4,000 really inspired the boys and they showed their best," the Truro manager added.
The Cards raced to a 2-0 lead with goals by Paris Cowan-Hall and Giuseppe Sole – with his tenth goal in ten consecutive games – before City striker Watkins finished confidently after latching on to a ball from Scott Walker.
Cowan-Hall restored the home side's two-goal advantage before Walker again turned provider with the free-kick that enabled central defender Pugh to head City's second goal on 56 minutes.
Hodges made two like-for-like switches, introducing Hayles for hard-working target man Martin Gritton and Afful for impressive young winger Isaac Vassell.
Hayles was put through from the half-way line and opted to tee-up Afful for a tap-in.
Hodges said: "Hampton and Havant lost, Maidenhead drew but it didn't matter because we did what we had to do."
Truro City: Sandercombe; McConnell, Pugh, Adams, Walker; Kelly, Broad, Cooke, Vasell (Afful 76); Gritton (Hayles 69), Watkins. Substitute not used: Ash.
Goals: Watkins 36, Pugh 57, Afful 86.
Booking: Kelly 77.
Attendance: 4,048.
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