08 April 2013

Sunday Independent column by Mike Truscott

With relegation now confirmed, barring off-field events affecting other clubs, there is yet one more mini-drama to be played out at Truro City before the final curtain comes down on the club's turbulent season.

Will talsimanic Skipper Jake Ash make it to his 300th appearance for the White Tigers before April is out ?  Before yesterday, he needed five more turnouts from six remaining games in 2012/13.

Provided he steers clear of injury, he should make it okay as it is inconceivable that player-manager Lee Hodges would drop him.

Most fans would regard it as unthinkable that Ash would not now make it to 300, even if he has to wait until next season - but that is entirely possible, given the present uncertainty over the club's short term direction.

With Truro still in Administration, the budget for next season's squad - and even whether or not legend-in-his-lifetime boss Lee Hodges will still be in charge - is anybody's guess.

For the moment, though, Ash will hopefully avoid emulating colleague Stewart Yetton's delayed action entry into City's 300 Club.

Yetton was within a whsiker of that 300 milestone when 2011/12 concluded - and then had to watch the opening games of this term from the sidelines after sustaining a pre-season injury.

Before yesterday's home match to Eastbourne, Yetton had 312 appearances to his name, with Joe Broad on 309, Andy Watkins and Marcus Martin on 291and 289 respectively.

Ash admits that he has found it "really difficult" to look at the Blue Square Bet South table this season - with City having been rooted to the bottom for most of the campaign.

He reflects:  "It is doubly difficult, knowing that with the squad we had at the start of last season we would undoubtedly be challenging for the title this season - but we have to put things into perspective.  We are still here, as a club, and that is of course the single most important thing".

Ash has been City's skipper for the past four seasons and, as well as playing in a variety of positions on the pitch, also impressed as spokesman and ambassador for the team when the club was on the brink of folding last Autumn.

By Mike Truscott,







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