Ash rescues Truro City with stoppage time equaliser (by Rhod Mitchell West Briton)

Truro City 1 Hitchin Town 1

An equaliser deep into stoppage time by skipper Jake Ash gave City a dramatic draw after they seemed to be heading for their second home Calor League premier division defeat in six days.

In the fourth minute of added time, City were trailing 1-0 to Rogan McGeorge’s first half goal, when Joe Broad’s free kick from the left fell to Ash, who swept a low drive past outstanding Hitchin keeper Tahj Bell and into the right hand corner to send the home fans wild.

It was probably no more than City deserved in an action-packed and entertaining end to end game, which was a world apart from the fare on offer in their previous game against Bideford.

    

Jordan Copp missed a penalty for City and Les Afful and substitute Liam Eddy also missed great openings, though at the other end it needed some excellent saves from Ollie Chenoweth to keep the home side in the game against an excellent Hitchin side.

Again, it was a much changed City team, with manager Steve Massey making five changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Bideford.

New signing from Tavistock, Paul Quinn, made his debut at left back, while Jordan Copp, Joe Broad and Afful all started, with Massey springing a surprise by playing Ash up front, the fourth position he has played in five games so far.

After a frantic opening in windy conditions, it was the Hertfordshire side who went ahead after 27 minutes when City failed to clear the ball and McGeorge fired home from inside the area.

City though should have been level right on half time when Afful was brought down in the area but Jordan Copp, saw his spot kick saved by Bell diving to his left.

It was tough on the youngster, who was probably the best City player in the first half.

After the break, both sides threatened with Chenoweth denying first Burns and then the talented Jamal Lowe.

At the other end, Bell did well to turn away a close range Afful header, with Ash volleying the loose ball wide.

And Eddy, who had come in for Matt Andrew, should have made it 1-1 when he rounded Bell but hit the post after taking the ball a fraction too wide.

As Truro pushed forward they left gaps at the back with Lowe hitting the bar and Chenoweth performing more heroics to allow Ash the chance to ensure City took something from the game.

City: Chenoweth; White, Evans, Kendall, Quinn; Broad, Copp (Slateford 80), Brokenshire (Cooke 66), Andrew (Eddy 66), Ash, Afful
Subs (not used): Broomfield, Sims.

Hitchin Town: Bell, Rolfe, Bickerstaff, Noone, Lench, Pearson, McGeorge (Kirkpatrick 50), Donnelly (capt), Ann, Burns, Lowe.

Subs (not used): Gregson, Sartini, Burtenshaw, Morrison.

Goals: McGeorge (27) 0-1, Ash (90+3) 1-1.
Referee: Mark Lawrence (Bridgwater).
Crowd: 417

Peter Masters presents Man of the Match to Ollie Chenoweth

As is now traditional at Treyew Road, the Chairman presents the Man of the Match with a bottle of Champagne.  Today's worthy choice is Ollie Chenoweth.  In truth, both keepers put on a stunning display. 

 

Truro Fans always there

Some images from the Hitchin game

New signing Quinn and Paul Kendall

Jake Ash crosses one from the right wing

Matt Andrew and Les Afful

Quinn making friends in the box (so to speak)

A fairly content Steve Massey after the match

Always-popular Les Afful salutes the fans

Jordan Copp penalty saved by the keeper

Jordan Copp took the penalty today - nothing wrong with the technique or placement but the goalie once again denied Truro another clear chance.

 

Les Afful shoots at an open goal

Les Afful partnered Jake as a striker today.  His first clear opportunity was parried away by the outstanding Hitchin 'keeper.

 

Jake Ash takes centre forward role

One of the first shots of the afternoon as Jake attempts to toe a ball pass the impressive Hitchin 'keeper.

 

City Alerts - Massey's pre match comments before the Hitchin game

"Bring on Saturday, it can't come quick enough for me and the lads, and let's get back to footballing matters!"

 

That's the battle cry from manager Steve Massey as Truro City look to put behind them their first defeat of the season.

 

Les Afull faces another fitness test although it's hopeful this time he will be ok. Also coming back into contention, from his holiday, is Neil Slateford while goalkeeper Ollie Chenoweth is also back.

 

Jed Harper Penman has been released and the club thanks him for all his efforts and hard work while with the club.

 

There has been much said about the spoiling and negative tactics employed against the team in Monday's encounter against Devon rivals Bideford, but the focus is now well and truly on collecting all three points and getting back to winning ways on Saturday against Hitchin Town.

 

Hitchin have made a wonderful start to the season, winning three of their four games. However, Truro manager Steve Massey was bullish and upbeat about their chances this Saturday: "We are all looking forward to the game. Unlike Bideford on Monday,  Hitchin like to play football, so it should be, for the spectator at least, much better on the eye then the last game!"

 

Massey went on to say "We trained well on Wednesday and there is an air of confidence about the lads and belief that we will give a great account of ourselves, and give the supporters something they can be proud of - a winning team."

 

Finishing off he commented  "This league is an extremely difficult, physical and hard one. There are no easy games, and although the lads unfortunately tasted defeat for the first time on Monday, we have a team both on and off the pitch that is without doubt going in the right direction".

 

So with that in mind, get yourselves to Treyew Rd on Saturday, the team and the players would love to hear you and see you in your hundreds once more.

 

Keep the belief, keep PATIENT and above all else keep supporting.

 

Together we are strong and together we can AND will achieve.

Names now being taken for the Chesham away game Sat 7th Sept.

Contact Dave Grimshaw on 07889 787062 to reserve a place.

 

Truro City suffer first defeat in ill-tempered derby game (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)

West Briton link

Truro City 0 Bideford 2

Truro City saw their unbeaten start to the Calor League premier division season come to a bitterly disappointing end, as their North Devon rivals went home with the points after a very scrappy and fractious match.

A goal just before half time by Craig Duff and a late free-kick by substitute Richard Groves, were enough to send City to their first defeat after a win and two draws.

And to make matters worse, they ended the game with only ten men after defender Dan Evans was harshly red carded by referee Steve Annis for barging over Bideford striker Owen Howe ten minutes from time, the official ruling that he had denied him a clear goal scoring opportunity.

    

It was a decision City boss Steve Massey described as "amazing".

But overall, it was poor fare for a crowd of more than 500 on a perfect Bank Holiday afternoon.
You had to feel some sympathy for referee Annis, who struggled to keep a lid on a match which threatened to get out of hand on several occasions.

He dished out seven yellow cards and that red as he battled to keep control, though he was certainly not helped by the antics of the players who constantly surrounded him at every opportunity, often waving imaginary cards trying to get their opponents booked.

The Penzance-based official could have been stronger, but that does not excuse the players’ behaviour or the quality of the football which rarely rose above the mediocre.

City got sucked into the game Bideford wanted to play and hardly created a chance worthy of the name in the match.

The first goal was always going to be crucial and it came after 38 minutes when Craig Duff took advantage of some poor City defending to put the visitors 1-0 up.

He was put through on the left of the area and finished well, beating Luke Payne with a shot iinto the opposite corner.

Payne was City’s third keeper of the season, with No1 Ollie Chenoweth again unavailable because of work commitments.

Payne was one of four changes from the team that won at Hinckley United, with Matt Andrew back from suspension to face his former team (from whom he received plenty of unwanted attention), while Raiff Gwinnett made his first start at right back, with Liam Eddy recalled to lead the attack, alongside Lewis Coombes.

The second half was little better, with constant stoppages as Bideford were happy to slow the game up against a toothless City attack.

And when Evans was sent off, Truro must have sensed it was not their day and Groves’ free-kick three minutes from time simply confirmed the fact.

Now City, who have dropped to 14th in the table, must regroup ahead of Saturday’s home game against Hitchen Town and supporters will be hoping this display was not a foretaste of what is to come.

CITY: Payne, Gwinnett (Broad 67), Kendall, Evans, White; Cooke, Brokenshire (Copp 65), Ash (capt), Andrew, Coombes (Broomfield 75), Eddy.
Subs (not used): Sims, Swain.
Red card: Evans.
Yellow cards: Ash, Andrew, Brokenshire.

BIDEFORD: Oliver, Orchard (Sampson 76), Clifford, Furzer, Farkins, Gerring, Hockley (capt) (Halpin 82), Bye, Squire, Howe, Duff (Groves 58).
Subs (not used): Barker, Phillips.

Yellow cards: Howe, Squire, Bye, Clifford.
Goals: Duff (39) 0-1, Groves (87) 0-2).
Referee: Steve Annis (Penzance).
Crowd: 527.

Truro City v Bideford - photos, match report and forum reaction to a poor display of football

"What a great shame that in front of a crowd of 527, it wasn’t exactly the Bank Holiday Monday Classic that we were all looking forward to enjoying"!

 

The full match report on "We have to keep the belief " from manager Steve Massey after City's first defeat by Dave Deacon .  Full report here > Match report

Caroline Hargreaves images shown here > Cornish soccer site

Images below showing all the pushing and shoving (by Steve Rogers).

Tiger Talk forum comments here:

IMC wrote:

Not really a fair result, 2 teams that cancelled each other out and neither team looked like scoring.  Both goals were gifts really, indecision at the back allowing their player to nip in and push it past the keeper and a soft free kick near the end, Truro didn't really defend it well, i think they were gambling on a breakaway by not bringing players back.

The most disappointing aspect of the game was the continuous moaning and harrasing of the referee by the Bideford players.  He was usually surrounded by several players, often placing their hands on him after every decision, constantly trying to get Truro players booked.  It was the worst i have seen at Treyew road in a long time.  After one incident the Bideford players rushed over and pushed their own player back down onto the ground.  The worst sportsmanship i have seen really at this level.

It was a travesty that we finished with 10 players and they didn't, in fairness the referee really wasn't up to this kind of intimidation.

On the football front we never really looked like getting a goal, we are playing a lot of high balls up to Eddy and Coombes who aren't tall enough to get much from them, i would like to see more ball to feet, the one time Liam got in, it was a through ball into his feet, otherwise he will get mugged by these bruisers every week.

Never a dull moment and looking forward to the next game, i am sure the players will continue to learn and improve as the season goes on and i am delighted that we are so competitive at this level.  With a stronger ref we might have got something out of this game.

 

DUTY281 wrote:

 

I thought Bideford were a disgrace in truth. Never interested in playing football, they much preferred to intimidate the referee and wind up our players. With better experience, we may of overcome that, but we didn't and we sank to their level. A shameful display of diving (leading to our red card), time-wasting (even when they were 2 up and we had 10 men), and surrounding the referee.

Glad we only have to play that lot once more this season.

MIKE BURNSEY  wrote:

Well said I was hellish at final whistle, I shouted abuse to the goalie as he was goading the Truro fans, I know I should've turned the other cheek, but 90 minutes of blatant cheating and bullying was a disgrace.

KIT wrote:


From the very first whistle they had one game plan,and that was to get as many Truro players booked or sent off as they could.In the first half when a Truro player was ruled offside and miss hit his cross towards the goal the ref was surrounded by 3 biddy players asking the ref to book him,and he did.

Mind you,I don't think we played very well at all today,far too many balls played in the air,and in most cases coming 2nd best.Our big number 9 was no help to Liam Eddy at all,with his size and and height he should have been holding the ball up and feeding the more mobile Liam,just like Barry Hayles did for Watto.

To be quite honest I don't think I have ever left a game at Treyew Rd so frustrated at what I saw.

I know it might sound nasty,but I don't think I can remember such an unsporting team as Bideford for many years.  All I can say is that I wish Bideford all the bad luck for the rest of the season.

The image that says it all: ex TCFC player Gerring out of sight of the ref, shoving in the back.

 

City Alerts - Massey's Pre match Bideford notes

What more can you ask for coming into this Bank Holiday Monday derby fixture with both sides unbeaten after the first three matches!

Steve Massey jubilant after the Hinckley game

 

Bideford's manager Sean Joyce is a very good personal friend of mine and a winner through and through and so he will have his players right up for this one.

 

So it should be a great advert for football in Cornwall and Devon and with it a large crowd and a great atmosphere.

 

With Paul Kendall returning on Saturday and making his mark immediately with a goal for our first win of the season, the journey back from Hinckley wasn’t half so long and we go into today’s match full of confidence and virtually a full squad to choose from as coming back from suspension for us today come Joe Broad and of course former player and favorite for many seasons at Bideford, Matt Andrew.

 

It’s also a quick return to Treyew for Ben Gerring who played for City last season and of course Matt Hockley was also with the White Tigers a few seasons ago.

 

Let’s hope the support today can be as fantastic as our following on Saturday, they sang for the whole of the match and it was like having an extra man on our side. All I ask please is for more of the same as YOU the fan and supporter have a huge part to play in our success.

 

So make sure you come along this afternoon, on a great day for football and shout us on.

 

Mass

Truro City match preview from the Bideford website by Jules Redeye

 

 

Bideford make their shortest trip of the SLP season tomorrow when they travel just 80 miles to Truro City of Cornwall.

The first meeting of the sides for 5 years (a game in which Biddy won 6-2 after trailing 2-0) pits the best non-league teams of both Devon and Cornwall.

Both teams are undefeated after 3 SLP matches with only goal difference separating the two teams going in to this bank holiday showdown. Truro City picked up their first win of the 13/14 on Saturday when an ex Biddy player Paul Kendell headed goal gave them a win away to newly promoted Hinkley. Their previous two league games had seen them draw 2-2 to both Bedford and Bashley.

Following five promotions in six seasons ultimately reaching the Conference South, Truro were relegated from the non-league step 2 division at the end of the 2012–13 after 2 years.

There will be several familiar faces to the army of travelling Biddy fans at Treyew Road, with former Bideford players Paul Kendall and Matt Andrew likely to be in the Truro squad, along with new Truro signing Jed Harper-Penman and Ollie Chenoweth the former Robins keeper.

Last meetings between the teams:

April 15, 2008 – Truro City 2 Bideford 6: Trailing 2-0 to goals from Stewart Yetton and Joe Broad after 13 minutes, Bideford produced a stunning fightback against the newly-crowned Western League champions. Jamie Densham stunned Truro with four goals with Matt Downing and Leon Hapgood getting the others.

January 19, 2008 – Truro City 3 Bideford 2: The Cornish club held the edge in a thunderous FA Vase tie played in front of a four-figure crowd. Goals from Dean Stamp, Chris Reski and Joe Broad sent them through while Biddy replied through Jamie Densham and a free kick from Lee Groves.

November 6, 2007 – Bideford 1 Truro City 1: Marcus Martin headed a late equaliser for the FA Vase holders after Robbie Gough had given the hosts the lead in the Western League clash. Bideford paid the price for a first-half penalty miss from Kain Bond. While the Robins went on to finish sixth, Truro were promoted to the Southern League as Premier Division champions.

September 18, 2007 – Truro City 2 Bideford 1: Jake Ash, the defender, scored twice to give Truro their sixth straight win, sending them top of the Toolstation Western League Premier Division. Mike Southgate turned in a cross from Ashley Pook to pull one back but it was not enough for Bideford.
Courtesy of NDJ

 

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Blast from the past: The last time we met Bideford was a pre season friendly in July 2012.  The images below show a slightly different set of players! (images by Steve Rogers).

 

 

Truro Fans images by Vaughan Pickhaver, City Media.

Two images capturing yesterday's mood at Hinckley by Vaughan Pickhaver of City Media (South West).  City Media is providing all official media coverage to TCFC.

 

Truro Fans and players at Hinckley - always there

Images from around the ground and afterwards at the Hinckley United Greene King Stadium. (Images by Steve Rogers).

 

Dave Rowarth with Seb Broomfield

JP Creba with Liam Eddy and John

Cody with Steve Rogers and Liam Eddy

Cody with Zak Glanville and Liam

Zak and Jake Ash

Olly Chenoweth chats with JP

Hinckley fans in good cheer

King Kenny takes centre stage

Dave Deacon  match report here

A dominant display by vice captain Paul Kendall earns him his first goal for the club this season.  Some images from the day below (by Steve Rogers).

Seb Broomfield, Paul Kendall and Olly Brokes

Seb Broomfield, Cody Cookem Paul Kendall and Lew Coombes

Jordan Copp, Raif Gwinnett and Paul Kendall

Paul Kendall after the match