Trophy hopes ended by stoppage time goal, by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton

West Briton Link

Tiverton Town 3 Truro City 2

CITY crashed out of the FA Trophy when they conceded a stoppage time goal at Ladysmead, after the tie looked to be heading for a Tuesday night replay.

Sloppy City defence in the the third minute of added time allowed Tiverton substitute Sam Malsom to slide home the winner, much to the delight of the home fans.

It was a heartbreaking end for City, who had come back from 1-0 down at half time to lead 2-1 with goals from Arran Pugh and Neil Slateford, before a Paul Kendall own goal against his former club, levelled the scores.

And City boss Steve Massey admitted the defeat was a "kick in the stomach" and a game his side should never have lost.

City were up against a Tiverton side with a healthy sprinkling of former players, including Marcus Martin who skippered the home team and gave a man of the match performance, including an obligatory booking.

It took the home side only six minutes to take the lead, with former City striker Matt Wright given far too much space to head home from close range a cross from the right by Josh Concanen.

And the sluggish visitors were lucky not to go further behind, with Wright heading over from a free kick and Max Kowal just unable to get a touch to a cross from the left.
City were second best for much of the half, with Ben Watson having a shot deflected over, the closest they came to a goal.

However, after the break City were much improved and quickly drew level when the unwell Pugh, headed home after an Olly Brokenshire corner was headed back to him.
And with ten minutes left City went ahead when a speculative cross from the right by Neil Slateford found the far corner of Jonathan Viscosi's net.

But this just seemed to spark the home side into life and within two minutes they were level, when Kendall could only divert a Kowal cross from the right into his own net.
In a frantic finish, Les Afful shot just wide, while at the other end substitute Lewis Morgan rattled the City bar.

However, it was Tivvy who had the last and decisive word against a City side who have yet to learn the knack of closing out games.

Massey confirmed after the game that City had signed former Exeter City defender Steve Tully and that he would make his debut at Bridgwater on Tuesday evening in the Red Insure Cup.

TIVERTON: Viscosi; Heveran, Long, Martin (capt), Villis, Gardner, Krac, Smith, Kowal (Rudge 90+ 3), Wright (Morgan 70) Concanen (Malsom 61). Subs not used: Emat-Emat, Searle,

Yellow cards: Martin, Villis.

CITY : Chenoweth; Cooke, White, Kendall (Capt), Pugh (Eddy 77), Evans, Slateford, Lowry, Watson (Sims 82), Brokenshire, Afful.
Subs not used: Copp, Broad.
Yellow cards: Lowry, Brokenshire.
Goals: Wright (6) 1-0, Pugh (51) 1-1, Slateford (80) 1-2, Kendall (og 82) 2-2), Malsom (90+ 3) 3-2.
Referee: Mr Greenwood.
Crowd : 312.