Ash injury mars promising night for Truro City (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)

Truro City 1 Oxford Utd 1

City continued their preparations for the start of the new season with another encouraging performance against the youthful League 2 visitors.

Cody Cooke’s powerful drive after 57 minutes earned City a deserved draw, in what was their final home pre-season friendly before opening their Calor League premier division campaign at home to Bedford Town on Saturday August 17.

And the only real downside of the night at Treyew Road was the sight of talismanic skipper Jake Ash limping off late in the game, after being caught by a challenge from Oxford’s Josh Ashby.

After the game Ash went to A & E to have the foot injury checked out and City fans will be fervently hoping it is not too serious.

 

City boss Steve Massey had ten subs on the bench and all but reserve keeper Luke Payne were given a run out as he looks to trim down his squad.

The home side made a bright start before Oxford came back well and took the lead five minutes before half time.

City keeper Ollie Chenoweth could only parry a free-kick from Josh Ruffels into the path of Callum O’Dowda and he made no mistake, tucking away the loose ball.

But after the break City soon equalised with a Cooke’s powerful strike from outside the area seemingly taking a slight deflection on its way past Max Crocombe in the Oxford goal.

Substitute Neil Slateford was then denied by a superb save from the Oxford keeper, while at the other end Chenoweth blocked Josh Sharma’s close range effort.

In the final minutes both sides could have grabbed a winner with Dave Trott heading a free-kick from fellow substitute Jed Harper-Penman against the post and then Chenoweth producing a top quality save to turn away Aidan Hawtin’s low strike in stoppage time.

In the end a draw was a fair result and City are next in action at Launceston on Tuesday August 6.

City: Chenoweth, White (Bradley 77), D Evans, Ash (capt) (Trott 80), Swain (Fraser 87), Afful (Harper-Penman 67), Cooke (H Evans 77), Andrew (Slateford h-t), Copp (Broad 67), Coombes (Vickers 85), Broomfield (Sims h-t).

Referee: Andy Bennett (Okehampton).

Att 382