Truro City vs Redditch United - pre match snippets

Redditch United are currently 13th in the table, five places and three points ahead of Truro City (though played one game less).  Redditch have played in the Southern Prem for the last three years.  Prior to this, they featured in the Conference North for seven years.  Truro City have not played Redditch prior to today

Redditch form guide is patchy, and similar to Truro's roller coaster results.  Last five form guide is W W L L W.  Redditch have only drawn once this season, so all the pointers suggest a result either way this afternoon.  Their away record is good too with half the away matches being won.

Truro City's  last five form guide is a poor D W L L L.  The team will want to prove the sceptics wrong today and turn round the six nil thrashing at Hungerford last week.  The Chairman's City Alerts yesterday suggested unwaivering support of the manager and so it is the players that must perform today on the pitch.  All the stats point to a decent match ahead...

City Alerts message ahead of the Redditch game

The weekend is upon us, all of the work behind the scenes has been done. The pitch has been manicured and all is ready to go.

This Saturday afternoon we play Redditch United Football Club at Treyew Road. After Tuesday evenings demoralising defeat nothing less than a decisive win will do.

Every single player knows that he will be under the microscope and that Truro City expects no less than 110% from each and everyone of the players.

We want fortress defending; a clean sheet and goals, yes goals. Is this too much to ask?

We know the experience and quality is there in abundance, brought together by our Manager. The team’s determination to win on the pitch will dictate the outcome and not who is in the dugout.

City hit for six as they suffer worst defeat of the season (by Rhod Mitchell)

By Rhod Mitchell, West Briton.

Hungerford Town 6 Truro City 0

A second half capitulation, after a goalless first half, saw City crash to their heaviest Calor League premier division defeat of the season and their third on the bounce.

There had been little indication of what was to come in the opening 45 minutes as City shaded the match playing down the slope.

But after the break the Bedfordshire side ran riot, as everything they tried seemed to come off, leaving a shellshocked City side with huge of questions to answer on the long trip home.

 

The City starting line-up showed two changes from the one that lost 2-0 at home to to Biggleswade Town on Saturday, with Jordan Pearce given his first start in place of Warren Daw and Arran Pugh returning to the defence in place of Dan Evans.

 

Dean Stow got the home side on their way immediately after the restart with a clever chip over Ollie Chenoweth and Jon Boardman soon made it 2-0 with a near post header.

And it soon got even worse for the visitors, when young left back Elliott Legg scored Hungerford’s third with a fine finish.

It was all Hungerford, with Stefan Brown making it 4-0 when he ran on to a through ball.

Bad defending by City then allowed Brown to score his second and a free-kick from Michael Hopkins completed City’s misery on a night to forget as they slipped to 18th in the table.

They will now be looking to arrest their alarming slide when they entertain Redditch United on Saturday (3pm).

City: Chenoweth; Tully, Pugh, Kendall, Pearce; Afful, Cooke, Broad, Lowry, Slateford, Watson. Subs: Eddy, Copp, Brokenshire, Daw, White.
Goals: Stow (46) 1-0, Boardman (53) 2-0, Legg (60) 3-0, Brown (66) 4-0, Brown (79) 5-0, Hopkins (82 ) 6-0.

Crowd: 90.


Read more: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/City-hit-suffer-worst-defeat-season/story-20223579-detail/story.html#ixzz2lt014ZXH

TISA Members Upcoming Dates

Official TISA members and those travelling from Cornwall:

Please see the following dates in December of events/travels..............................

7th December Hemel Hempstead Town away travel. Usual capped price of 20.00 for this trip to the high flyers and top scorers of the league. Deadline for confirmation of travelling is 1st December.

13th December, TISA Christmas Beano with Ruby house booked for 18.30 - 20.30 then hit the Truro's local pubs and bars after.

21st December Arlesey Town away travel. Usual capped price of 20.00 for this trip where our good friend ad ex player plys his trade now, Mr Barry Hayles. Deadline for confirmation of travelling is 15th December.

26th December, Bideford away travel. Not to be missed people. We want a massive showing here. Remember the home game? We have agreed to give our TISA members an early Christmas present with travel to Bideford being set at 10.00. I need confirmed names as we need to book vehicles and Boxing Day isn't the best of times for booking.

For all the above, please let me (David Grimshaw 07889787062) know if you wish to attend at the soonest.

TISA, always there.

City Alerts - message from Peter Masters Wednesday 27th Nov

The 6-0 defeat to Hungerford Town last night with all 6 being scored in the second half is a bitter pill to swallow.

 

With all of the drama surrounding the team coach yesterday afternoon, one cannot help thinking that lady luck is currently conspiring against us. That said,, I believe in making our own luck. I do not intend to go into detail or apportion blame to any individuals but will say that Steve Massey maintains my confidence that he can turn our current poor form into winning ways.

 

Nobody enjoys losing, least of all me and I am very conscious of the unrivalled support given to the team by our fans that travel miles and miles to watch Truro City at great expense.

 

The team owe it to them to give it their all on the Pitch for the full 90 minutes and reward them with regular wins in the hope that we can reach the play offs. Right now, this appears unachievable, brace youselves for changes in the knowledge Football is about getting results on the Pitch.

Peter Masters

Chairman

Hungerford Town pre match snippets - Tues 26th Nov

KO tonight 7.45 pm.

Hungerford Town are ninth in the league with a very respectable 25 points.  Their last five form guide is W L W D W.  Their most impressive win this season was a five nil thrashing of Redditch away in early September.  The irony is that Hungerford lost at home this season to Redditch at the end of October!  Hungerford started the season badly losing all of the first four games but since then have looked very strong.

According to statistics, we have never played Hungerford Town (?).

Truro City's form guide is a less impressive W D W L L.  The two nil win by Biggleswade last week at home was the first game in seven that we have not scored.  And this is the area that Glynn Hooper has identified as our weakest - in the 18 yard box.

Lets hope the lads can pull it off tonight.

Versatile Waders come of age - Biggleswade match report (courtesy official site)

VERSATILE WADERS COME OF AGE

TRURO CITY 0 - 2 BIGGLESWADE TOWN
                                                           Sam Reed 19 mins
                                                           Craig Daniel 87 mins

                   
Report by your travelling reporter.

It somehow feels surreal walking into a football ground so far from home. I had the same feelings at Bideford earlier in the season, but this was a very different Biggleswade. Mostly the same personnel but a team that has developed quickly as the season moves on. The welcome we received from the staff at Truro made us feel at ease immediately and made for an enjoyable trip, especially returning with three more points.

As any home team should, Truro started at pace with their number ten Les Afful testing our man Brown in the first sixty seconds. Cody Cooke continued the theme as Truro pressed for an early opener.

Manager Nunn had certainly done his homework, good boy, as he had lined up the Waders to weather the onslaught. Newbie Lee Smith so creative in mid-week was used as cover along with Evan Key to add protection to the back four. There was never going to be a hatful of goals as most of the action took place in the middle of the park, the Waders dug in defending, desperate not to concede. 

With Nat Peacock and Sibling Sam doing their best up front, the big Truro defenders containing well, our first real attempt resulted in a goal on 19 minutes. Sam Reed got free on the left and his skilful right foot shot curled its way round the keeper and into the net. From here it was always going to be uphill for Truro who seemed shy in front of goal, an impatient crowd frustrated by the lack of chances created or not taken. At half-time Biggleswade could be pleased with the way the match was playing out.

Out for the second forty five and Truro were back at pace, hitting the upright within four minutes, creating a scramble in the Wader's area, the ball not wanting to depart very rapidly, being despatched but coming straight back. It took a Craig Daniel special to settle the game down as his wickedly deceiving shot just dipped as it went over the bar. From then on a series of substitutions saw Truro wanting something from this game but the resolute four of York, Coulson, Mawer and Gentle ably backed up by Key and Smith never let them have a sniff. So committed to forward play, late in the game Donnelly on for Peacock found Daniel in the box and his close range effort squeezed under the keeper.

Game up and Truro consigned to yet another home defeat. The 384 attendees upset by a lack of opportunities. Of that 384, ten were Green Army boys and girls, so well done to them for making the trip, glad  it was worthwhile.

Stourbridge, wreckers of dreams, on Tuesday. Interesting game with both teams having something to prove. Up the Waders.
 
Unusual as it is, just a mention for Gary our coach driver, strange chap!!  Driving 320 miles he preferred to have a nap in the coach instead of watching the Waders. Thanks Gary, the nap understandable as the weary Waders did not arrive back to Biggleswade until 0200 hours.

City Alerts - Biggleswade Hangover

Again it’s the morning after the night before as Truro City first team suffer a hangover following the 2-0 defeat by Biggleswade Town, and it’s not the result of the six real Ales and Ciders that were on offer for the first time in the Club’s Bar.

The team have now dropped to sixteenth position having played more games than any other team in the league at this time.

City’s Chief Coach, Glynn Hooper, summed up the frustration perfectly after the match:

“Disappointing. The 18 yard box is where games are won and lost and unfortunately today for us, defensively they defended their 18 yard box ever so well and the chances that they did create, which were few and far between, they took, where we didn’t take ours and that’s the basis of the game!

“You can have all the possession in the world, you can have all the territory in the world, but we left ourselves a difficult task by conceding the first one, which we gifted them again and then you end up chasing the game. The second goal we’ve gone three at the back and they’ve had a lucky break and finished it off, but we haven’t scored and you’re not going to win games without scoring. "

Steve and his team are fully aware of the need to address the underachievement on the pitch and keep us clear of the relegation zone as we now fast approach the Christmas period. In contrast to this, once again the visiting team have praised the Clubs Fans, Hospitality and Pitch as Truro City is quickly becoming the opposing teams most favourite place to play in the Southern Premier.

Match report by Dave Deacon here

This Tuesday are away to Hungerford Town, 7.45pm KO.

New marquee cover at the bar end

The atmosphere at the bar end has long been lacking compared to the shed end.  Following the recent fans forum, Mr Masters was asked to erect some cover near the bar.  This week the boss has obliged and put in place a large marquee directly in front of the main bar door.  Perfect.  Below are a couple images from the TT forum.

City Alerts: Thursday 20th Nov.

It was a long journey home to Truro last evening after suffering a 3-1defeat to Chippenham. It was disappointment all round not only for the team but also to the many supporters who made the trip on a very cold Tuesday.

Why did we let in three goals in such a short period of time? Steve Massey put it down to a mad eight minutes, maybe, but we have got to do better.

Our margin of safety has been used up earlier in the season and now as the league stands there is no room for error if we are going to make the playoffs. The saving grace and a beacon of light on the night was Cody Cook who made a lone defiant stand by delivering a 30 yard screamer hard in to the back of the Chippenham net to the absolute delight of all the Truro City fans which silenced the opposition and amplified the TISA contingent.

We have learned a lesson and now we move on - it’s a home game against Biggleswade Town on Saturday followed by another away Tuesday night game at Hungerford. We need now to have a win-win result.

The desired outcome is well within our capability especially as the Club has an unrivalled and overwhelming sense of unity about it at this time.

This Saturday at Treyew Road all supporters both home and away can enjoy both the selection of no less than six real ales and ciders at £2 per pint in our modern spacious bar and the new annex Marquee erected especially for the Christmas period.

Supporting Truro City both Home and Away has to be a must do!.

City slump to defeat after "crazy ten minutes"

By Rhod Mitchell, West Briton

Chippenham Town 3 Truro City 1

City’s good run of form came to a disappointing end after what manager Steve Massey described as a “crazy” 10 minutes at the start of the second half saw them concede three goals.

A spectacular late effort from Cody Cooke was no more than consolation as their four match unbeaten Calor League premier run came to an abrupt finish.

In the first half, City had looked good but failed to take their chances and were made to pay as Rob Dean put the home side ahead six minutes after the break.

Then two goals in five minutes from home skipper Alan Griffin put the game beyond City, who gave a debut in goal to Grant Fisher from Exmouth Town, with regular No1 Ollie Chenoweth unavailable because of work commitments.

It was not until three minutes from time that Cooke found the net with a 30-yard screamer, but it was too little too late.

And a disappointed Massey said: “They worked hard and played well but it was their own fault for not taking their chances and not defending well enough. A crazy 10 minutes cost us.”

City are next in action at home to Biggleswade Town on Saturday (3pm), when they will be without the suspended defender Arran Pugh.

Chippenham Town: Matt Bulman, Stuart Tovey, Jon Beedon, Iain Harvey, Shane Blackmore, Tyron Leigh, Joe McClennan, Rob Dean, Alan Griffin (captain), Tom Knighton, Harley Purnell.

Substitutes: Luke Murden, Corey King, Callum Wright, Joe Tumelty, Ben Jon (goalkeeper).
Truro City: Grant Fisher, Dan Evans, Shane White, Paul Kendall (captain), Aaron Pugh, Warren Daw, Cody Cooke, Jamie Lowry, Liam Eddy, Ben Watson, Olly Brokenshire
Substitutes: Les Afful, Joe Broad, Neil Slateford, Jordan Copp, Jared Sims.

Referee: Tim Wood (Gloucester).
Crowd: 266

FA Trophy tie abandoned after team losing 2-0 refuse replacement referee... claiming he smelt of alcohol!

(As reported in the Mail today)

This article just had to be shown here as it reminds us of a situation that our own Steve C found himself in at Bashley this season!)

A football trophy match had to be abandoned after the side losing 2-0 refused a replacement for the injured referee with seven minutes to go.

When the original referee was unable to continue with a calf strain, Altrincham, with no designated fourth official to call on, plucked a replacement from the crowd during their game with Colwyn Bay.

However, the home side refused the replacement claiming the stand-in, who is a grade 5 qualified referee, had been drinking and smelt of alcohol.

Abandoned: The fixture at Llanelian Road was called off when Colwyn Bay refused a replacement referee

Ian Senior, the Altrincham assistant coach, also offered his services but this too was rejected.

Colwyn Bay manager Frank Sinclair, the former Chelsea and Leicester centre back, told BBC Five Live that as no impartial, qualified referee was available to officiate, his club were 'within their rights' not to complete the game.

'You can't just have any Tom, Dick or Harry come in and finish the last 10 minutes of the game,' he said.

Refusal: Colwyn Bay boss Frank Sinclair said the club were 'within their rights' to refuse a replacement official

Altrincham chairman Grahame Rowley took a different view and hopes his side will be awarded the win.

 

Speaking to BBC Sport, Rowley said: 'I hope common sense prevails.
'We hope we don't have to come back for seven minutes. We were dominating. They should award us the game.'

Saturday's confusing events were played out on Altrincham's official Twitter feed and one tweet read: 'Someone came forward to officiate the game, but Colwyn Bay have protested against this as the person smelt of alcohol.'

Plans are being made for the game to be replayed at Colwyn Bay this Tuesday but it is up to the Football Association to decide whether the two Skrill North sides will have to play the fixture again.

Frome Town official match report (courtesy Frome official site)

Saturday 16th November 2013

Calor League Southern Premier Division

Frome Town 1 Truro City 2

Frome Scorers: Smith (65)  
Truro Scorers: Brokenshaw (23), Pugh (40) Crowd: 223 Star Man: Matt Smith

Entertainment Value: 3

Two first half goals from free kicks either side of a red card left Frome Town with a mountain to climb, but a much better second half performance almost saw them snatch a point, but in the end Truro proved just a little too strong.

Frome were slow to get going in this match, and Darren Chitty had to be alert to save a sharp header in the 12th minute and as Frome struggled to get into the game, Liam Eddy just failed to get onto the end of a left wing cross, with Chitty making a comfortable save in the end.

Truro’s first goal arrived in the 23rd minute as a free kick from just inside the Frome half was hit long and high and the unmarked Olly Brokenshaw ghosted in at the far post, with the Frome defence stationary, and poked the ball past Darren Chitty.

Things got worse a few minutes later as Frome’s Kurt Hammonds was shown a straight red three minutes later as he jumped into a tackle on Cody Cooke after his first touch had let him down, provoking an angry reaction from the Truro players and giving the referee no real choice in the matter.

Rhys Baggridge headed home an Aaron Ledgister cross in the 30th minute only for the goal to be disallowed for offside, and a minute later a Ben Wood flicked header was cleanly saved by Ollie Chenowith, but then the task became tougher as Aaron Pugh out-jumped everyone at the far post to head home a corner to give Truro a 2-0 lead.

The lead nearly became 3-0 in injury time as Darren Chitty mis-kicked a clearance, only to be able to gather the ball as it cannoned back to him off a Truro forward, and on the stroke of half time Liam Eddy saw a shot from a tight angle just clear the far post.  Early in the second half, Truro had chances to increase their lead with Eddy just failing by a whisker to get onto the end of searching crosses, and Chitty produced an outstanding block tackle to deny the dangerous Truro centre forward in the 65th minute, but on the whole Frome were playing very well and coping with the numerical disadvantage without major problems.

Matt Smith pulled one back for the home side in the 65th minute as he rose to head home a pin-point Aaron Ledgister left wing corner and two minutes later a Smith volley whistled just past the post as the ball was headed back to him.

Ben Wood was so unlucky three minutes later as his pace allowed him to get to a through ball before Chenoweth, and a little dink past the keeper saw the ball roll agonisingly slowly towards the goal line allowing a Truro defender just enough time to get back and clear off the line.

Matt Smith was very close to an equaliser with two minutes to go as he just failed to get a head to a free kick, but in the end, Truro were just about worth their win, though it might have been a different story if Frome had had eleven players on the pitch for the last hour.

Matt Smith  was awarded the “H&B Tyres Man of the Man Award” by match sponsors  “Raves from the Grave”  for an outstanding, hard working  performance in midfield.

City march on with win over ten-man Frome (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)

Frome Town 1 Truro City 2

City continued their run of good form with a well deserved victory over a Frome side who had to play much of the game with ten men.

First half goals by Olly Brokenshire and Arran Pugh, either side of the dismissal of the home side's Kurt Hammonds, following a bad tackle on Cody Cooke, were just enough to see City home, though they had a few nervy moments when the Somerset side pulled a goal back with more than 20 minutes to go.

But City were good value for the win, which avenged their 2-0 home defeat by Frome earlier in the season and ended the home side's run of five unbeaten games since then, and have to wait even longer for their first success before their own fans this season.

For City, they have now lost just once in the last six games and are up to 11th in the Calor League premier division table.City boss Steve Massey made four changes to his starting line up, with Jamie Lowry and Joe Broad both out with suspension, while Les Afful and Neil Slateford dropped to the bench.

In came Warren Daw, Brokenshire, Jordan Copp and Ben Watson.

And City quickly had to make another change, with right back Steve Tully going off after only five minutes with a leg injury, to be replaced by Dan Evans.

After a bright start by Frome, the visitors began to get on top and went ahead after 22 minutes when Brokenshire stole in unnoticed to tuck away a long free kick from Shane White.

Minutes later, Hammonds was red carded and City soon took advantage with Arran Pugh heading home Brokenshire's corner nine minutes before half time.

The game looked over as a contest, but in the second half to their credit, Frome came back well, taking advantage of City's inability to kill the match off, or keep the ball well enough, with Matt Smith heading home a corner after 66 minutes.

But apart from the odd late scare, City held firm and could have added to their tally as they kept their new found momentum going ahead of Tuesday's trip to Chippenham Town.

Frome: Chitty, Elliott, Cooper, Hammonds, Ford, Flockton, Smith, Baggridge (Matthews 61), Wood, Mundy, Ledgister (Agbo 83), Subs not used: Lynn, Metcalf.
Red card: Hammonds (26).

Yellow card: Ford (33)
Truro City Chenoweth, Tully (Evans 5), White, Kendall, Pugh, Daw, Cooke, White, Brokenshire, Copp (Slateford 80), Watson (Afful 67), Eddy. Subs not used: Sims, Pearce.

Yellow cards: Pugh (36), Eddy (61), Brokenshire (88).
Goals: Brokenshire (22) 0-1, Pugh (36) 0-2, Smith (66) 1-2.
Referee: Chris Wade (Southampton).
Crowd : 223

Tisa membership

TISA offers a focus for fans keen on Away travel, at a discounted and favourable price. Membership benefits include a £20 cap on all away travel fixtures, a fixture card and pin badge. Non Tisa members travelling with Tisa on away travel will pay a pro rata price based on fuel and vehicle hire costs.  Application forms for membership are available from the Secretary, Simon Birch. Why wait...

 

Steve Massey talks to the West Briton in the paper's weekly column.

WEST BRITON LINK HERE

IT GOES almost unnoticed every week throughout non-league football and if you want to be successful at the semi-pro game, indeed at any level of any sport, then you have to have it in abundance without question.

Massey earlier in the season with Glyn Hooper in the dugout (image by Vaughan Pickhaver)

What am I talking about? Commitment, of course.

In semi-pro football, commitment to the game is far greater than anything required in the pro game.
This is because most semi-pro footballers have full-time jobs, which, obviously, come first, even before thinking about the demands of the game.

I was privileged to spend 16 years in the professional game and, now, nearly 25 years in non-league management.

Believe me when I say that the non-league game requires so much more commitment. In the pro game, when management demand something from you, you do it. That's your life. Everything revolves around football – you breathe and sleep and eat football.

Conversely, for non-league footballers life is rather different. I always say to my players and staff: family first, then work and finally the football.

This is a juggling act that is tough to manage sometimes. Many people just take it for granted that teams will turn up on a Tuesday evening somewhere down the M4 for a 7.45pm kick-off after a long and tiring journey, ready and fighting fit, all on top of a day's work.

The commitment that goes into just making sure that everyone arrives on time to leave with the coach is huge for many of my players.

Credit has to be given to all the players who are ambitious and committed enough to compete at this level.

Here at TCFC we had two cases last Saturday of just such commitment.

Our goalkeeping coach Deba Sidhu, one of the nicest guys I've ever worked with in football, had work commitments on Saturday, but still managed to arrive a mere 20 minutes late into the game – turning up in the muddy dug out still wearing his very sharp and extremely smart work suit.

Our head coach Glynn Hooper, who is also head of Football and year five at Truro School, also rushed back from Warrington near Manchester, after a family funeral on Saturday morning. Glynn arrived just in time to take the warm up.

His attendance at the game was a tremendous gesture from him and his family.

And with a superb performance by the team on Saturday against top of the table Chesham, the 1-1 draw was justifiable reward for all the hard work and commitment shown by everyone.

By the way harsh, as it might seem, both Deba and Glynn were still fined by the fines secretary (Jake Ash) for being late!

It can be a cruel game this football, but a lot of fun and many rewards when we are winning!

Kendall header earns Truro City well deserved draw against league leaders (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)

Truro City 1 Chesham Utd 1

A highly creditable and deserved point against the league leaders, provided yet more evidence that City are coming to terms with life in the premier division of the Calor League.

A fine header from skipper Paul Kendall, five minutes after the visitors had taken a 71st minute lead through Chris Dillon, ensured a share of the spoils for City, who have now taken 10 points from 15 in their last five league games.

After three wins in their last four matches, this was the acid test for City against a Chesham side who had won their last ten league and cup matches.

And they passed the examination comfortably with a performance which saw them more than match Chesham, who beat City 4-2 earlier in the season.

Manager Steve Massey kept faith with the side which won at Hitchin Town last week, though there was a return for striker Ben Watson after injury on the bench.

City began the game well, with Liam Eddy shooting wide, but gradually Chesham got into to game and the league's leading scorer Drew Roberts was just unable to get a touch to Dillon's lob over Ollie Chenoweth and then shot wide after a mistake by Arran Pugh.

But at the other end, only a tremendous flying save by Chesham keeper Shane Gore kept out Eddy's powerful header from a Les Afful cross as the half ended goalless.

The second half was end to end stuff, with Gore performing heroics to keep out a Kendall header, before Chesham took the lead.

A quick fire counter-attack caught City short at the back and Steve Wales found Dillon on the right of the area and his exquisite chip over Chenoweth found the far corner.
But City quickly hit back as Kendall's header from a Lowry corner from the right got them back to 1-1.

And in an exciting finish, either team could have snatched a winner, with Chenoweth saving well from Dillon, while Eddy missed the chance to set up Watson at the death.
In the end though it was a good point for City, though manager Steve Massey said afterwards he and his side where disappointed not to take all three.

On the downside he also revealed that skipper Jake Ash would be out for much longer that had been expected with a pelvic problem and was unlikely to return until some time in the new year.

CITY: Chenoweth; Tully, Kendall, Pugh, White; Afful, Broad, Lowry, Slateford (Watson 74), Afful. Subs (not used): Sims, Copp, Evans, Brokenshire.
Yellow cards: Pugh, Tully, Lowry, Afful.
CHESHAM UTD: Gore; Kyriacou, Brathwaite, Stewart, Gordan, Thomas, Potton (Fotheringham 78), Wales (Effiong 81), Dillon, Roberts, Wilson.
Subs (not used): Little, Brown.
Yellow cards: Wales, Dillon.
Goals: Dillon (71) 0-1, Kendall (76) 1-1.
Referee: Adam Penwell (Weston-super-Mare).
Crowd: 461.

Chesham will provide Steve Massey's Truro with stern test (Western Morning News)

Truro City will face the biggest test of their recent improved form when they take on Southern League Premier Division leaders Chesham United at Treyew Road on Saturday.

The Buckinghamshire club have won their past ten league and cup games, including a 3-0 home win on Tuesday against Bedford Town which kept them three points clear of second-placed Hemel Hempstead Town, who thrashed Bashley 10-0.


Truro are in good form themselves, with last Saturday’s win at Hitchin Town their third in their past four matches.

City manager Steve Massey is relishing this weekend’s challenge to see just how far his side have progressed in recent weeks. He said: “It will be a good yardstick of where we are.

“I thought we were a bit unfortunate up there at Chesham [where City lost 4-2 back in September]. We gave away some soft goals and missed some chances. Obviously, they improved since, though, but so have we.”

Former Exeter City striker Ben Watson has declared himself fit after missing the past three games, while James Washburn, who played a few games for Truro at the end of last season, has received international clearance to play after a short spell with Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic.

The paperwork for former Plymouth Argyle defender Jordan Pearce, who has been playing in Sweden, has not yet been fully processed, though.

City also potentially face losing Jamie Lowry for a game later in the month, after the Cornwall Football Association gave the former Godolphin Atlantic player an extra one-game ban, in addition to the three-match suspension he has already served for his sending-off while playing for the Newquay-based club back at the start of September.

Travel arrangements to Frome Sat 16th November

The Frome game has been rearranged for Saturday 16th Nov.  This is very welcome as all "close" games have been previously arranged for Tuesday evening kick-offs.  Thus the close games are not really accessible.  Except for Frome...

This is your chance to sample an away game atmosphere within easy striking distance!

If you want to go, contact Dave Grimshaw on 07889 787062.  Tisa members, travel is capped at £20.  Non Tisa members pay a figure calculated on numbers attending and fuel cost etc.

Why wait?  Call Dave now.

Chesham Utd's pre match notes for this Saturday's game (Chesham official site)

Truro vs Chesham United preview Saturday 9th November KO 15:00

This Saturday the 1st team undertake the longest away trip of the season to Truro City. Truro acquitted themselves very well at The Meadow in September, keeping Chesham as quiet as any visiting team has managed for much of the first half. They then followed up a 44th minute wonder strike by coolly taking advantage of a second half defensive lapse to get back from 3-1 to to 3-2, ensuring some chewed Chesham finger nails until United ran out eventual 4-2 winners in a very entertaining game.

 The casual observer might be forgiven for looking at City's home record of 2 draws and 5 losses from 8 games at Treyew Road and no clean sheets in any league game, and assuming that the return fixture will be a foregone conclusion for Chesham. That would be unwise. There have been signs lately that Truro's policy of blending youth, experience and local talent is starting to pay off and with 3 wins in the last 4 games, Tigers fans are making positive noises re their team's progress.

Chesham Utd Manager Andy Leese comments:

"There are no easy games in this level of football as we found out with this week's fixtures. It has been another challenging run of games with different styles employed by teams we have played, but we have kept our run going and remained in the FA Trophy and at the top of the League.

Truro will be another test. When they have their full squad available they have the quality to challenge the top 5. We have a quiet confidence about us that comes with winning, and we know how to get results at the moment. The players are ready for the mini tour of coastal resorts next week, with an interesting game against MKDons sandwiched in the middle. They deserve huge credit for where we are, and the players not making the starting X1 have been top class coming in and out of games. We will need to make changes this week to keep the energy levels high, and to keep the quality in our game. Hopefully we will have some support at Truro to help keep this fantastic run going."

City Alerts Wed 6th November plus Frome Town article

Massively disappointed on learning the news that the match against Frome this evening has been cancelled. Steve Massey travelled to Frome this morning to check out the pitch conditions for himself and deemed in his opinion that the pitch was good and more that playable.

At 1pm today, tonight’s Match was cancelled but we understand a local referee brought in by Frome who deemed the Pitch unplayable due to it being underwater. It unfortunate for Truro City as all the preparations had been made and the Players were buzzing in the knowledge that they have won three of their last four games.

The opportunity to win 3 points now moves to this Saturday’s match at home against League leaders Chesham. This is a match not to miss and we would urge anyone who has an interest in football to come along and support Cornwall’s Southern Premier Team. Bars and Turnstile opens at 12 noon kick off 3pm.

 

From the Frome Standard:

Striker search proving difficult for Frome Town boss Brian O'Donnell

Frome Town manager Brian O’Donnell has so far been frustrated in his search for a new striker.

More here...

Hitchin Town match report (from Official Hitchin site)

Saturday, November 2nd 2013

This time, the Canaries could have few complaints. It was tight in the end, but Truro City, who travelled more than 300 miles to play in front of 320 people, showed no sign of travel fatigue as they won by the odd goal in five.

Both teams played their part in a thoroughly entertaining 90 minutes, played in front of a colourful travelling crowd, who livened up the afternoon with their non-stop support of their team.

Hitchin took the lead against the run of play in the 15th minute. A high cross into the area was knocked down by Simon Martin and Dan Webb prodded home the ball from close range.

Seven minutes later, however, Truro drew level with a debatable penalty, Webb appearing to bring down Neil Slateford. Steve Tully gave Hitchin keeper Tahj Bell no chance from the penalty spot.

Truro continued to have the upper hand and Slateford and Jamie Lowry both had chances to add to Tully's goal. On the stroke of half-time, they did score, Liam Eddy finishing after Cody Cooke played the ball across goal.

Truro extended their lead in the 48th minute, Slateford showing intricate skill when receiving the ball from Tully, controlling it and steering it past Bell in one slick movement.

Hitchin hit back immediately and in the 50th minute, Martin netted from just outside the penalty area with a low shot.

There was a scare for Hitchin when Slateford's low shot from outside the area was spilled by Bell and then Les Afful's goalbound was blocked by the rear of his team-mate Eddy. Hitchin's Robbie Burns should have done better when he burst through the Truro defence but shot wildly over the bar and substitute Gary Wharton was unlucky to see his shot cleared off the line.

Hitchin thought they had equalised in the 81st minute when a superb long-range effort by Wharton looked to be heading for the top corner of the net but it hit the inside of the post and rebounded away from danger. On this occasion, luck was not with Mark Burke’s side.

Hitchin were gracious in defeat, however, sending Truro back to Cornwall with a crate of beer for the long journey.

Truro fans defy the farce of regionalised football (by Neil Frederik Jensen)

Game of the People link

Apparently, Truro City will cover some 11,500 miles this season to fulfil their Southern League Premier fixtures. That’s an average of 500 miles per away fixture. So much for regional football!

When Truro travelled to Hitchin and back, they ran up around 600 miles. That will cost a coach approximately £500 in petrol. Truro get nothing from the gate from away games and they would have had to leave very early on Saturday morning (although I gather they came up earlier than that). The attendance was 320. Do the math, as they say!

But whereas some clubs who have to travel 50 miles fail to bring more than the proverbial one man and his dog to an away game, Truro’s fans numbered around 50 and they were a credit to the Cornwall club.

They made a day of it, some more than others. They didn’t stop singing, encouraging their team and creating the only atmosphere there was in Hitchin’s Top Field stadium. And this is a team that has not started the season well.

It is almost impossible for a Cornish non-league  team to succeed beyond purely local football. Travelling is one thing – Truro’s local derby is Bideford, a 150-mile round trip -  but also the reservoir of players diminishes as you go west.

Truro have flirted with success, however, but at a cost. They were promoted from the Southern League Premier in 2011 and had two troubled seasons in the Conference South. In June this year, they entered into a CVA (Company Voluntary Agreement), a phrase that is being heard all too often in non-league football at the moment. Despite this, the club is still looking to develop a new ground with the local rugby team, the Cornish Pirates, “A Stadium for Cornwall”.

Whether or not Truro climb again remains to be seen, but their supporters are just glad to see the club operating at a reasonable level after the financial turmoil of the past year. “We’re relieved to be playing,” said one fan who had clearly “made a day of it” at Hitchin. “As long as we’ve got a Truro City, I am happy, and the way we played today gives me great heart.” And, ironically, he raised a glass of Doom Bar beer, a pint from his own Cornish homeland!

Certainly Truro played with a lot of verve and did not look like a team near the bottom end of the table. They deserved their 3-2 triumph against a Hitchin side that has forgotten how to win matches – just one in 15 attempts.

But as out friend made his way home, he may just have wondered how football at this level can sustain itself. A 600-mile round-trip doesn’t make sense. It is time for the West of England to have a dedicated league at Step 3.

Think about it.

Truro City win two in a row for first time this season (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)

Hitchin Town 2 Truro City 3

City won back to back games for the first time this season with this hard earned victory in Hertfordshire.

Goals from Steve Tully (penalty), Liam Eddy and Neil Slateford gave City a precious three points as they built on the midweek win by the same margin against AFC Totton.

Manager Steve Massey made one enforced change from the team that beat Totton, with Neil Slateford coming in for the unavailable Olly Brokenshire, who was receiving his degree at Truro Cathedral.

The Calor League premier division began badly for the visitors with Dan Webb scoring from close range to give the Hitchin side an early lead, but Steve Tully, with his first Truro goal, equalised from the penalty spot after Cody Cooke had been fouled in the box.

And City took the lead right on half time when Liam Eddy pounced to score after Neil Slateford’s shot had been parried by the home keeper.

And it got even better for the visitors when Slateford made it 3-1 after 48 minutes with a good turn and shot into the far corner.

But back came the home side who quickly pulled a goal back through Simon Martin and although City had chances through Les Afful and Cooke, they had a let off when substitute Gary Wharton’s shot came back off the post with Ollie Chenoweth beaten.

But despite late Hitchin pressure, City held on for the points as their season starts to gain momentum.
Hitchin Town: Bell; Rolfe, Bickerstaff, Wenn, Pearson, Barker, Donnelly, McGeorge, Burns, Martin, Lowe.

Subs: Noone, Wharton, King, Burtenshaw, Baker.
City: Chenoweth; Tully, Pugh, Kendall White; Slateford, Cooke, Broad, Lowry, Afful (Copp 83), Eddy.
Subs: Evans, Copp, Daw, Sims.
Crowd: 320.