Lee Hodges calls for even more effort from his battling White Tigers

Source Western Morning News

Truro City player-manager Lee Hodges will ask for “one extra ounce” from his players against Blue Square Bet South high-flyers Dover Athletic at Treyew Road tonight (7pm).

The Truro chief was fulsome in praise for his players following Saturday’s tremendous 2-0 win over Tonbridge Angels, who arrived in Cornwall in 13th place.

Marcus Martin fired Truro ahead from a 46th-minute penalty before Kieffer Moore scored a cracking second goal, after being teed up by former Exeter City flyer Les Afful.

Now City must go again tonight – literally, as this match is rescheduled – against third-placed Dover at Treyew Road. Hodges said: “I seriously couldn’t have asked any more from the players on Saturday.

They were right at it against a big, physical and powerful Tonbridge side. But now we have to go again – and they will need to be even better because Dover are a completely different kettle of fish. “You don’t get to the top end of this table without being able to mix good football with the physical aspect, and Dover have loads of ability in their ranks.

“I will be looking for one more per cent, one extra ounce or something a little bit special – like Kieffer’s goal on Saturday – because I know this will be one of our toughest home games of the season.

“On Saturday, everything went right, the players were great, the crowd got behind us and we will need the same again if we are going to get a result tonight.” Hodges is boosted by the return of fit-again full-back Martin Watts on the bench, taking his squad numbers up to 14 men for the first time in an age.

The City boss – aided by new assistant manager Martin Jones from the touchline – said: “We have got the same 11 going again but with Martin Watts back in contention following another 90 minutes for the reserves on Saturday.

“It’s still an early ask for him to come straight back in but it’s great to have him around again – and, even from the numbers point of view, it’s nice to see a squad of 14 again at long last.”

Could transfer-embargoed, basement side City make it three home wins in a row against one of the league’s promotion favourites?

Hodges said: “We only know how to play one way, so we will give it our best. With this group of players, anything is possible.

Dover is going to be a massive test, and any result against them will be another positive for us.”

Truro City@ (from): McCormick; Hall, Ash, Hodges, Williams, Broad, Martin, Cooke, Afful, Watkins, Moore, Hopkinson, Carne, Watts.