Burnham FC 1 Truro City 2
The Gore: a fine name for a soccer ground, taken presumably from the common land thereabouts of the same name. And Truro padded their way through this game on a pudding of a pitch to snatch victory from a more direct, physical, and on occasion incisive Burnham team. Early indecision and an acute inability to deal with the strong running of Blues’ Nikke Kebamba, Aaron Couch and Miles Hippolyte, forced City into hurried and often wild clearances and really, the hosts ought to have won the match by the interval, missing several chances. Truro took their penalty gift however and parity reigned at the break. A dismissal for the oddly misbehaving Lewis Driver on the hour for a bad challenge on Liam Eddy, offered the White Tigers some impetus and they certainly nullified much of Burnham’s long ball game, winning the game with a Cody Cooke strike, even though a late goal-line clearance denied the hosts a point, which surely they deserved, at least. Players seemingly found kicking the ball a tough assignment though, reminding me of the old leather case-ball days, when, as a seven year old, on cold, damp mornings in Glebe Farm Park, Birmingham, the ball could be moved only a matter of yards. Weird experience…
An early left-wing corner for Blues swerved low towards the near post but wrong-footed ‘keeper Ollie Chenoweth’s late plunge somehow prevented the ball from sneaking into goal. It was like he was attempting to stop his pet rabbit from escaping its hutch in the garden, but he did well enough. Truro were really not able to cope with the physical approach by their kind hosts and soon, both City skipper Paul Kendall, facing his also hesitating ‘keeper, stopped as Aaron Couch’s high clip forward bounced 7 yards from goal and home skipper Tom Willment dived between them to nod an effort towards the net, only to leave him in despair as it rolled past the right upright. City looked slighter in build than their opponents and lacked the creativity to offer strikers Liam Eddy and Ben Watson any other opportunities than to simply chase inaccurate kicks from midfield. More hesitancy led to Pugh conceding another corner, which Willment nodded too high, then Kendall’s next clearance was too hurried and Hippolyte collected the ball on the right, before moving infield to fire a great high shot beyond the flying Chenoweth and against the left upright from 25 yards.
Truro managed to get upfield at last but Jordan Copp’s 18 yard effort struck Eddy, who was in an offside position anyway. Another long punt forward by Burnham, keeping the ball off the awful surface, set Kebamba running through the covering Truro pair of Pugh and Shane White and the striker’s strength prevailed, as he fired a low 18 yard shot past the stranded, non-diving Chenoweth and into the bottom left corner of the net. A deserved lead in truth because Truro, for all their hard work, were struggling to make any offense at all. A brilliant pass out of defence, I believe by Willment, then set Couch, who really could have won this game on his own, moving on the left flank; he released a dangerous centre, right-footed but a couple of deflections saw the ball roll across the goalmouth for a corner. Jamie Lowry soon swung over a left-side free-kick for Truro, who were beginning by now to settle a little and his team won a corner but Pugh was pushing and the referee spotted it. More trouble clearing by Truro led to a lob by Driver from 25 yards but his effort was wayward, then careless play again by the guests left Couch, just onside, left-wing and he tricked Dan Green who was covering for the stranded Steve Tully, before turning inside and he should really have at least hit the target, succeeding only in striking a drive into the side-netting.
Eddy made a smart run at inside-right for Truro but lacked the needed support then another Lowry free-kick from the left fell beautifully for the leaping Kendall’s head at the far post but the skipper missed the ball totally. Home goalie Jamie Jackson, notable so far only for his powerful voice, raced out to 17 yards as Eddy chased a long pass then Driver, who had been a little over-eager in a couple of challenges was warned, with his skipper in tow, by the referee, about his conduct. Words falling upon stony ground come to mind. Pugh jumped to clear a Burnham free-kick from inside-left but Driver drove himself into an overhead shot, which flew well over the visitors’ crossbar. Incredibly, the improving Tinmen equalised from a penalty, as half-time approached. Home defender John Munday, on a Tuesday, didn’t seem to know which day it was, as a Lowry corner almost nestled against an arm and the official signalled a spot-kick, which Tully speared over Jackson into the roof of the Burnham net.
Strangely, after the goal, Truro’s grown resilience took an instant swipe, as Blues forced them into defending another lobbed, deep delivery; Kebamba evaded Joe Broad on the right touchline, fed Hippolyte behind him, who similarly evaded Copp, before lofting the ball towards the middle, where Couch shrugged off Tully to leave himself only Chenoweth to beat from 10 yards. He did so, but screwed a poor effort a yard wide of the right upright too. Incredibly, after all of Driver’s antics, Kendall received a caution for something uttered! Driver rage, perhaps… Half-time was signalled, the players withdrew for a pot of tea and to check Twitter accounts, no changes were made during the interval and the second-half began.
A helter-skelter beginning to the second period was interrupted by more unbecoming behaviour from Driver, so the referee called over his Captain again and discussed his naughtiness again, without showing a yellow card. Again. After Lowry was dispossessed, Lee Togwell took a quick free-kick for the Blues but Couch was offside as he tested Chenoweth’s reflexes from a tight angle. Driver, who had knocked Broad over, following his second public warning, then clattered unceremoniously into Kendall, was beckoned by the official again and er, spoken to. Again… This was becoming very silly. Kendall managed a header from a Lowry corner, which was hacked away from the left upright by a sensibly positioned defender, before Couch shot at Chenoweth and then the game changed in City’s favour. Eddy picked up the ball very deep and left, but suddenly Driver accelerated into action and dived in to foul the chunky Truro forward, before turning to leave the field, prior even to the referee’s brandishing of the inevitable red card.
Truro seemed surprised by their good fortune and both White then Pugh made defensive errors, before Eddy erupted at inside-right, forcing his way into the 18 yard box but under severe pressure was only able to shoot low into the near post’s side-netting. A free-kick was gained by Burnham, just inside Truro’s half and Willment shot for goal, forcing Chenoweth to turn the ball over his crossbar for an unproductive corner. Copp and Eddy were then replaced by Cody Cooke and Les Afful, as City attempted to get forward and win the game. Lowry’s neat delivery saw Watson fall over but win no penalty, correctly, probably, then Lowry’s poor free-kick from a threatening position allowed the Blues to clear too easily. Willment attempted a 35 yard free-kick for the hosts, an effort which was only just too high but Burnham, a man down, were finding the going tougher by this juncture.
Richard Jeffrey, I believe, replaced Willment for the Blues then Cooke headed a Lowry free-kick down but although Kendall scrambled the ball against the base of the right upright, a linesman’s flag was wagging. A long Chenoweth free-kick freed Afful inside the penalty-box at inside-left but the substitute didn’t shoot, instead turning to feed Cooke behind him, who drove too high from 17 yards. Hippolyte was replaced for the Blues, before Couch left Kendall on the sofa, left-flank, but placed his angled shot into Chenoweth’s gloves. Couch then laid off a pass at 18 yards, which a colleague failed to read and his coaches must have wondered why he hadn’t taken on the ball and fired in a shot himself. Cooke glanced a Lowry free-kick wide, with Kendall better placed behind him, Truro lost possession again and Chenoweth raced out to reach the ensuing through-pass before the lively Couch.
Afful was finding holding up the ball something of a problem and Truro’s efforts to win the game were being scuppered by the state of the pitch and some really careless distribution, as Burnham began to attempt to hold out. Neat Truro passing from the right, involving Lowry and Tully freed Afful inside the penalty-area at inside-right but the forward’s low pass was badly miscued and it trickled for a defender to hammer away, Watson being flagged offside as City retrieved the ball. Then, Truro netted the winner and again, it stemmed from smart passing on the right; Lowry’s neat ball from the right for Watson saw the striker take the ball away from the ‘keeper at the near post, feed it back for Tully, who passed to Lowry again. The midfielder shaped to shoot but turned instead, right corner of the penalty-box and passed back to Broad, who looked up and clipped the ball towards the far side of the penalty-area, where Cooke, poorly marked, controlled it, then fired a low 10 yarder into the bottom right corner of the net. An emphatic and fine goal.
Warren Daw replaced Tully for Truro but Chenoweth had to be sharp to leap and catch a back-header by his skipper, Kendall. The wonderfully named Antonio Tomas Abreu entered the fray for the hosts and although Truro attempted to kill the game, they nearly committed football suicide with a succession of possession errors as the game waned. In particular, Afful was dispossessed, Broad picked up the loose ball and pushed a pass back to Daw, who was also dispossessed and Burnham made ground on their right, through Couch, I believe. The attacker beat Daw and passed inside, where a low shot appeared to be deflected then stopped by the falling Chenoweth’s legs, before being struck at goal from 6 yards but I think it was White, on the goal-line, who stretched and hacked the ball clear, for Green to punt into the Burnham half. Watson drove well over the crossbar, a Burnham shot was deflected and Chenoweth prevented a corner, then with Truro making a meal of wasting time, too often handing possession back to the Blues, it needed some scurrying and harrying to see out the final moments.
A remarkable three points for Truro, who overcame Burnham’s physical ascendancy, a really dire surface, the lack of creativity and maybe an aerial threat in attack, to snatch a victory from what had promised to be a defeat during the opening half-hour. The Burnham club badge displays a swan, with crown and chains, showing that swans belong to the monarchy but on this day, their chains were not shrugged off, as the White Tigers snarled again… What on earth would Walter Fitz-Other, Burnham’s owner according to the Domesday Book have made of it all? ‘Gored’ his troops, no doubt…
Teams:
Burnham: Jamie Jackson, Sam Boultwood, Tom Willment (Capt); John Munday, George Pilbeam, Ryan Upward; Aaron Couch, Lee Togwell, Nikke Kebamba, Lewis Driver, Miles Hippolyte.
Subs: Montel Moore, Adrian Sear, Antonio Tomas Abreu, Richard Jeffrey.
(I hope the above names are correct… Apologies, if not…)
Truro: Ollie Chenoweth, Steve Tully, Shane White; Paul Kendall (Capt), Arran Pugh, Joe Broad; Dan Green, Jamie Lowry, Ben Watson, Liam Eddy, Jordan Copp.
Subs: Les Afful, Jahdee Gildin, Cody Cooke, Warren Daw.
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/themowdogontheroad/news/burnham-fc-1-truro-city-2-1167752.html
27 February 2014
24 February 2014
Truro City target mid-table spot after victory over Arlesey Town (WMNews)
TRURO CITY will bid to build on Saturday’s 2-0 Southern League Premier Division win over Arlesey Town at Treyew Road when they travel to 15th-placed Burnham on Tuesday.
Delighted City boss Steve Massey said: “We were two goals up in ten minutes and could have been four or five ahead at half time.
“Ollie Chenoweth made one good save from Barry Hayles midway through the first half and I think they also missed a one-on-one chance but apart from that it was all about us, really.
“The pitch dried out nicely and we played our football and when we can play our football we look a very good side.”
Truro top scorer Liam Eddy took his tally for the campaign to ten goals with City’s sixth-minute opener and former Exeter City striker Ben Watson doubled the home side’s advantage four minutes later to get the Tigers off to a roaring start.
With 14 matches left Massey – whose side are 19th in the Premier league standings – said: “We are really looking forward to going to Burnham and building on the win. You are never completely comfortable at 2-0 and we had plenty of opportunities to get a third which would have seen us home.
“We have two tough away games this week with St Albans on Saturday coming up so it is a great way to start with a home win over a side who started the day in tenth place.”
Arlesey’s defeat saw them slip a place to 11th and that is the area that Massey is now setting as his team’s goal for the campaign. He said: “Saturday was a big match for us, an important one to win and you could feel the confidence in the camp after the game. We need to build on that now because I know the team are more than capable of a top-half finish. That has to be the target.”
23 February 2014
Early goals give Truro City first league win of the year (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)
Truro City 2 Arlesey Town 0
Two goals in the first ten minutes by Liam Eddy and Ben Watson were enough to give City their first Calor League premier division win of 2014.
The home side should really have gone onto win by a much bigger margin, but will be happy enough to earn what was only their fourth home league win of the season.
Against an Arlesey side captained by former City favourite Barry Hayles, City began superbly.
After five minutes Jordan Copp pounced on to misplaced pass to play in Liam Eddy who finished clinically for his tenth goal of the season.
It got even better for City five minutes later when Watson took his season’s tally to eight finding the net after some good approach play with a deflected shot.
Copp missed a good chance to make it 3-0 when he shot wide while Arran Pugh headed just over from a Jamie Lowry free-kick.
Gradually, though he Bedfordshire visitors started to get into the match and it needed a fine save by Ollie Chenoweth to deny Hayles, while at the other end Eddy just failed to clear Aiden Grant with a lob.
Arlesey should have a pulled a goal back ten minutes from the break when Jonny McNamara was put clean through but shot hopelessly wide.
Other City chances also went begging before the break as they were unable to kill off the match.
In the second period City were generally in control though the visitors did twice find the net but the goals were ruled out for offside.
City should really have increased their lead with Paul Kendall volleying just over and substitute Les Afful missing several openings while Joe Broad had an effort cleared off the line.
But in the end those early goals were enough for City who travel to Burnham on Tuesday evening.
City: Chenoweth; Tully, Kendall, Pugh, White; Lowry, Broad, Green, Copp (Cooke 77); Watson (Brokenshire 84), Eddy (Afful 62). Subs: (not used): Daw, Gildin.
Goals: Eddy (5) 1-0, Watson (10) 2-0.
Yellow card: Pugh.
Man of the match: Dan Green.
Crowd: 312.
Referee: Mark Derrien (Dorset)
Two goals in the first ten minutes by Liam Eddy and Ben Watson were enough to give City their first Calor League premier division win of 2014.
The home side should really have gone onto win by a much bigger margin, but will be happy enough to earn what was only their fourth home league win of the season.
Against an Arlesey side captained by former City favourite Barry Hayles, City began superbly.
After five minutes Jordan Copp pounced on to misplaced pass to play in Liam Eddy who finished clinically for his tenth goal of the season.
It got even better for City five minutes later when Watson took his season’s tally to eight finding the net after some good approach play with a deflected shot.
Copp missed a good chance to make it 3-0 when he shot wide while Arran Pugh headed just over from a Jamie Lowry free-kick.
Gradually, though he Bedfordshire visitors started to get into the match and it needed a fine save by Ollie Chenoweth to deny Hayles, while at the other end Eddy just failed to clear Aiden Grant with a lob.
Arlesey should have a pulled a goal back ten minutes from the break when Jonny McNamara was put clean through but shot hopelessly wide.
Other City chances also went begging before the break as they were unable to kill off the match.
In the second period City were generally in control though the visitors did twice find the net but the goals were ruled out for offside.
City should really have increased their lead with Paul Kendall volleying just over and substitute Les Afful missing several openings while Joe Broad had an effort cleared off the line.
But in the end those early goals were enough for City who travel to Burnham on Tuesday evening.
City: Chenoweth; Tully, Kendall, Pugh, White; Lowry, Broad, Green, Copp (Cooke 77); Watson (Brokenshire 84), Eddy (Afful 62). Subs: (not used): Daw, Gildin.
Goals: Eddy (5) 1-0, Watson (10) 2-0.
Yellow card: Pugh.
Man of the match: Dan Green.
Crowd: 312.
Referee: Mark Derrien (Dorset)
18 February 2014
Truro City vs Weymouth Town - match postponed
Tonight's game versus Weymouth Town has been called off due to 70% of the pitch being unplayable. Despite the pleasant conditions today, last night's heavy rainfall effectively ended any chance of a game tonight.
We now look forward to hosting Arlesey this Saturday.
We now look forward to hosting Arlesey this Saturday.
16 February 2014
Former Truro City star Yetton says he has unfinished business with the club (by Rhod Mitchell)
TRURO City scoring legend Stewart Yetton has not ruled out a return to the club despite his glittering career with the White Tigers ending under a cloud last year.
The 28-year-old striker, who netted a record 226 goals in 315 City appearances, before leaving the club at the end of last season following a training ground bust up, makes his return to Treyew Road on Tuesday evening, leading the attack with new club Weymouth.
And the popular forward admitted he regretted the manner of his departure from the club and thinks he has some unfinished business.
He said: “Truro still means a lot to me. It is the first non-league result I look for and I am looking forward to coming back and seeing some old faces.
“I did leave a bit acrimoniously and it would be nice to think that one day I will play for them again.
“It was not the way I would have chosen for it to end and I think I let the club down and would like to repay all the faith everyone had in me down there. I had some great years there.”
Yetton though has signed a two year deal with the Dorset club so an imminent return is perhaps unlikely.
The former City fans’ favourite has proved a success for the Terras and has played every minute of all 27 of their league games and is their top scorer with 15 goals.
“It took a few weeks to come to terms with a new changing room, but they are a good bunch of lads and I am enjoying it,” he said.
Also at Weymouth are two more former City players in Scott Walker and Barry McConnell, though they have lost their starting places recently.
Yetton added: “I will always back myself to outscore anyone in the team. At 28 I think I am still in my prime. I don’t have to worry about losing my pace as I never had any!”
It has not been an easy season for Weymouth, who many expected to be challenging for promotion before the start of the campaign.
And their disappointing start cost manager Brendon King his job, with goalkeeper Jason Matthews taking over.
But they still languish in 13th place, some 14 points off a play-off place.
Yetton added: “It is a tough league and I don’t think you can say we have underachieved as the league table does not lie after so many games.
“We really only have pride to play for. We are not going to get promoted or relegated but obviously want to finish as high as we can. Truro have a young developing side and it should be a good game and their chairman Pete Masters has shown great commitment and passion. I just hope I don’t go into the wrong dressing room.”
And the popular forward admitted he regretted the manner of his departure from the club and thinks he has some unfinished business.
He said: “Truro still means a lot to me. It is the first non-league result I look for and I am looking forward to coming back and seeing some old faces.
“I did leave a bit acrimoniously and it would be nice to think that one day I will play for them again.
“It was not the way I would have chosen for it to end and I think I let the club down and would like to repay all the faith everyone had in me down there. I had some great years there.”
Yetton though has signed a two year deal with the Dorset club so an imminent return is perhaps unlikely.
The former City fans’ favourite has proved a success for the Terras and has played every minute of all 27 of their league games and is their top scorer with 15 goals.
“It took a few weeks to come to terms with a new changing room, but they are a good bunch of lads and I am enjoying it,” he said.
Also at Weymouth are two more former City players in Scott Walker and Barry McConnell, though they have lost their starting places recently.
Yetton added: “I will always back myself to outscore anyone in the team. At 28 I think I am still in my prime. I don’t have to worry about losing my pace as I never had any!”
It has not been an easy season for Weymouth, who many expected to be challenging for promotion before the start of the campaign.
And their disappointing start cost manager Brendon King his job, with goalkeeper Jason Matthews taking over.
But they still languish in 13th place, some 14 points off a play-off place.
Yetton added: “It is a tough league and I don’t think you can say we have underachieved as the league table does not lie after so many games.
“We really only have pride to play for. We are not going to get promoted or relegated but obviously want to finish as high as we can. Truro have a young developing side and it should be a good game and their chairman Pete Masters has shown great commitment and passion. I just hope I don’t go into the wrong dressing room.”
Steelmen Capitalise Upon Tinman’s Misdemeanour (by The Mowdog)
Link to The Mowdog blog
Corby Town 3 Truro City 2
Corby certainly showed more offensive drive during this game, which went ahead thanks to a number of volunteers forking during the morning at Steel Park. You can’t beat a forking on a Saturday morning. There was a damp patch in the middle of the pitch, which was a car-park on my last visit and the game was then played in the adjacent athletics stadium. The muddy technical areas suggested that technical means were needed to stay upright there but visiting manager Steve Massey chose a dismissal to protect his footwear later in the game. Truro had held on fairly comfortably, despite the tricky Claudio Hoban’s debut contribution for the hosts and Aman Verma’s decent touch on the ball, yet had threatened the home goal three times, with Liam Eddy’s pace a problem but Ben Watson’s finishing not lethal enough. Then referee Perry from Solihull, where I live too, embarrassingly, chose to award Corby a penalty right on the 18 yard line but whether correct or not, he then compounded City’s misery by dismissing Arran Pugh, who had made the challenge; this did seem harsh and Truro were still adapting to the new defensive line-up, when Corby beat an offside trap to add a second. The visitors made a real fist of the second period and nearly grabbed a point at the death, with limping skipper Paul Kendall a danger aerially but Corby held on, despite understandably wasting time for the final 8 minutes against ten men.
Three early throws were defended successfully by Truro, with Pugh hacking the third to safety but the first real chance stemmed from Sam Ives’ right-side corner; the midfielder received the ball back from the initial kick and clipped it towards tall defender Paul Malone, 16 yards out, inside-right channel but his right-footer curled wide of the near upright. Striker Tommy Wright battled hard to get onto a header across goal from Hoban but Pugh defended him physically then Truro moved forward but Jamie Lowry’s speculative 30 yarder was well off target. Hoban was busily causing danger for the hosts and Wright was a target for the creative Steelmen but Truro ‘keeper Ollie Chenoweth was rarely threatened, only having to go down and save easily from one Hoban shot. Truro’s first opportunity came from a corner, which Pugh passed back to Broad, who clipped a cross into the penalty-box from inside-left for Lowry, right-side, and he delivered a short centre too; a defender glanced the ball straight onto the unmarked Ben Watson’s volleying right foot, just 6 yards out, far post but the ball looped over the crossbar.
Liam Eddy’s pace was useful on the break for Truro and he released Steve Tully for a short feed to Watson at inside-right and he did well to get in a shot towards the near post, after turning inside Malone, which Walker blocked well. Another run by Eddy on the left led to Lowry failing to feed Watson and the visitors were spoiling Corby’s ascendancy with some useful breaks by Eddy and some tough work by left midfielder Jordan Copp. Kendall defended a Corby free-kick well but Ives’ right-wing flag-kick was nearly headed home by Wright at the far post, with Chenoweth unsure, although a linesman had flagged for an offensive offence anyway.
More danger from Eddy on the left offered Watson a near post shot, which flew upwards and Walker was forced to palm the ball away for a corner, which Truro took short but lost possession from, criminally. This led to a break by the Steelmen, but Hoban clipped his centre over the goal-frame, following Wright’s smart pass to the right. Wright then crumpled in front of Pugh, some 25 yards from goal and the referee gave a free-kick but although Verma’s free-kick curled well enough, it dropped just over the Truro crossbar. A fine crossfield pass by Joe Broad for Truro, to Copp, was poorly controlled by the midfielder but then the game, which had been spasmodic in its good play, changed dramatically and it all stemmed from a back-pass by Pugh. Chenoweth was forced to fly-kick the ball clear in a hurry but he failed to get distance and Corby fed the ball forwards for Hoban, who was challenged on the 18 yard line by Pugh; Hoban leapt like a projectile into the penalty-area, held his ankle in writhing fashion and referee Perry pointed to the penalty-spot, which angered the White Tigers anyway, but when he then dismissed Pugh, the Tigers’ growls could be heard in the official’s hometown shopping centre, Touchwood. Greg Mills fired a low penalty off the base of the left upright and into the Truro net, past the flailing Chenoweth and before Truro could reorganise, they were 2-0 down. Kendall was really apoplectic, having to be manhandled away from the embarrassed referee and had been cautioned for his protests when Pugh was sent off. Corby would always threaten Truro from wide positions and so it proved. A pass from the half-way line, right side, was pushed for Hoban to move onto, Kendall thought the player was offside and hesitated but no flag waved and Hoban ran on, squared the ball across goal, taking Chenoweth out of the game and there was Verma to convert easily from 6 yards.
More neat work by the now rampant hosts so nearly led to a third goal but the move stemmed from what looked like a foul on Eddy, who was unceremoniously dumped to the ground in midfield and the Steelmen attacked; Hoban was involved and drifted left towards his skipper and left-back, a Steelman inappropriately named Jelleyman. Gareth Jelleyman played a one-two with the eager Hoban but Verma took over at inside-left, 16 yards out, before clipping a cross for Wright, who flew forwards, boots first, missing the flight of the ball, as did the diving Chenoweth and it dropped just wide of the far right upright. Shane White was getting really angry in the Truro defence by this juncture but Watson did make a break on the left for the guests, only for his tame centre to bounce near no available colleague. Eddy, the livewire, was then sacrificed for the introduction of Warren Daw, who slotted in at left-back for Truro, leaving the visitors with little forward pace at all and the half ended with more threat from Corby but Hoban, the pick of the home attack, drove a curling effort past the left upright from 18 yards.
The players trooped off past the sanded area (why didn’t Corby ask Truro to transport more of the stuff from Mawgan Porth beach?) for a cup of tea and in Truro’s case, a reviving pasty, no doubt. There seemed little chance of the visitors getting back into the game but I guess Eddy had been replaced because Watson had had three attempts at goal to Eddy’s none, despite the youngster’s running ability. Corby appeared to have the points in the bag, for Hoban, Ives and Verma had bossed the game for much of the time and it was surely a case of how many they would win by, but this was non-league football and the White Tigers pulled out a claw or two after the interval and the game became more of a contest.
An early bouncing ball at inside-right caused real problems for Truro’s defence and Wright managed to stretch and nudge the ball goalwards as Chenoweth advanced a few yards from goal but the ‘keeper did well to knock the effort aside for a right-wing corner, which was headed down, won back by Ives and brought two Corby shots, the first of which was blocked and the second of which brought an easy save for the grateful Chenoweth. Malone’s foul on Kendall did not inspire the Silhillian referee to brandish a card but Kendall was hurting, limping and struggling, yet carried on in true World War One style. Lowry’s 23 yard free-kick, like Verma’s had earlier, dropped too late and cleared the crossbar. Another low Lowry shot was claimed by the slithering Walker easily enough but it became evident that Truro were more urgent in their play and Corby were having to heed the change in attitude. And suddenly, the visitors scored and their noisy fans were rewarded.
Lowry made an intelligent overlap, as Copp held the ball at the left corner of the penalty-box and although the midfielder’s cross from the byeline was deflected, it fell for Watson at the near post corner of the 6-yard area and he turned to tuck a low shot off a defender’s foot into the bottom left corner of the net. Tully was a little exposed as Verma drove a shot wide for Town and Mills was being afforded far too much space on the left, as illustrated soon afterwards when he was picked out too easily by a cross-field pass; he had a man outside him, no opponent closed him down and he was given too much time to clip a right-foot cross from the left corner of the penalty-box directly onto Verma’s right foot, in front of goal and with White attempting to mark two players, Verma’s clever and gentle close-range lob over Chenoweth restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage.
That goal was a heavy blow to Truro, who had battled hard to get back into the game but Corby always looked dangerous when Hoban and Verma were involved in construction. Daw, Copp and Watson engineered a shot for Lowry for City but it was blocked, then Daw was cautioned and trouble flared near the Truro dugout, during which incensed manager Massey was dismissed, like a Subaltern from a muddy Somme trench in 1916. There was a delay, Massey waved his arms about but eventually from the free-kick, and after Cody Cooke had replaced Copp for the ailing visitors, Mills sliced a shot wide of the right upright. Full-back Kalern Thomas, no slouch, rushed past Cooke but striker Wright’s plunge failed to connect with the ball and Chenoweth caught Mills’ subsequent centre from the left.
Courtney Herbert replaced Tom McGowan for Corby, Mills fed Hoban at inside-left, who bullied his way past three Tinmen and poked the ball against Chenoweth’s feet, before Dan Green passed to Watson for Truro but the striker’s 25 yard drive drifted wide of the left post. Truro then lost possession in midfield but Hoban drove a shot wide of the left upright, then Tully was dispossessed on the Corby left, the ball flew across to Herbert on the right but when Verma received a pass, he shot past the right angle of bar and post from 18 yards. Danny Wright replaced namesake Tommy for Corby, but with the game blundering towards an end, Truro struck a second goal, following a left-flank free-kick by Lowry. Tinman Kendall rose above Steelman Jelleyman at the far side of the penalty-box to head down to the 6-yard line, from where White tumbled but slotted the ball into the net.
Truro fought hard for the remaining minutes, Corby were shaken and wasted as much time as they could, abandoning breaks to take the ball into corners, despite their extra player and Kendall’s sapping injury. Indeed, Kendall just failed to reach a Cooke centre from the right beyond the far post in the dying moments and with Nathan Stanton replacing Thomas, a few more seconds were killed by the Steelmen to preserve the victory.
Truro’s offense seemed threadbare at times during this game, their width rarely causing Corby trouble, after Eddy was withdrawn. Hoban was really effective for the hosts and central defenders Malone and Chris Carruthers managed well enough as the game wore on, despite Truro’s increased effort. Kendall was strong, Lowry busy but Olly Brokenshire was given precious little time to affect the proceedings, after replacing the quiet Broad, although he did fashion an argument or two, as a Steelman crumbled like a Stickman over the grandstand touchline late on! His innocent face probably saved him from a caution, but maybe Mr Perry thought better of it, as he would soon be passing Truro’s dugout to reach his dressing-room.
Solihull really is one of the best places to live in England, according to a recent study and there really is only one Mr Perry, for he might be the exception which proves the rule that we are decent people here… I went home to watch Barcelona pass Rayo to confusion and score six times: it’s what I do… Brilliant away support though…
Teams:
Corby: Paul Walker, Kalern Thomas, Gareth Jelleyman (Capt), PaulMalone, Chris Carruthers, Tom McGowan; Greg Mills, Sam Ives, Tommy Wright, Aman Verma, Claudio Hoban.
Subs: Nathan Stanton, Josh Carpenter (gk), Courtney Herbert, Danny Wright, Harry May.
Truro: Ollie Chenoweth, Steve Tully, Shane White; Paul Kendall (Capt), Arran Pugh, Joe Broad; Dan Green, Jamie Lowry, Ben Watson, Liam Eddy, Jordan Copp.
Subs: Olly Brokenshire, Cody Cooke, Jared Sims, Warren Daw, Jahdee Gildin (gk).
Corby Town 3 Truro City 2
Corby certainly showed more offensive drive during this game, which went ahead thanks to a number of volunteers forking during the morning at Steel Park. You can’t beat a forking on a Saturday morning. There was a damp patch in the middle of the pitch, which was a car-park on my last visit and the game was then played in the adjacent athletics stadium. The muddy technical areas suggested that technical means were needed to stay upright there but visiting manager Steve Massey chose a dismissal to protect his footwear later in the game. Truro had held on fairly comfortably, despite the tricky Claudio Hoban’s debut contribution for the hosts and Aman Verma’s decent touch on the ball, yet had threatened the home goal three times, with Liam Eddy’s pace a problem but Ben Watson’s finishing not lethal enough. Then referee Perry from Solihull, where I live too, embarrassingly, chose to award Corby a penalty right on the 18 yard line but whether correct or not, he then compounded City’s misery by dismissing Arran Pugh, who had made the challenge; this did seem harsh and Truro were still adapting to the new defensive line-up, when Corby beat an offside trap to add a second. The visitors made a real fist of the second period and nearly grabbed a point at the death, with limping skipper Paul Kendall a danger aerially but Corby held on, despite understandably wasting time for the final 8 minutes against ten men.
Three early throws were defended successfully by Truro, with Pugh hacking the third to safety but the first real chance stemmed from Sam Ives’ right-side corner; the midfielder received the ball back from the initial kick and clipped it towards tall defender Paul Malone, 16 yards out, inside-right channel but his right-footer curled wide of the near upright. Striker Tommy Wright battled hard to get onto a header across goal from Hoban but Pugh defended him physically then Truro moved forward but Jamie Lowry’s speculative 30 yarder was well off target. Hoban was busily causing danger for the hosts and Wright was a target for the creative Steelmen but Truro ‘keeper Ollie Chenoweth was rarely threatened, only having to go down and save easily from one Hoban shot. Truro’s first opportunity came from a corner, which Pugh passed back to Broad, who clipped a cross into the penalty-box from inside-left for Lowry, right-side, and he delivered a short centre too; a defender glanced the ball straight onto the unmarked Ben Watson’s volleying right foot, just 6 yards out, far post but the ball looped over the crossbar.
Liam Eddy’s pace was useful on the break for Truro and he released Steve Tully for a short feed to Watson at inside-right and he did well to get in a shot towards the near post, after turning inside Malone, which Walker blocked well. Another run by Eddy on the left led to Lowry failing to feed Watson and the visitors were spoiling Corby’s ascendancy with some useful breaks by Eddy and some tough work by left midfielder Jordan Copp. Kendall defended a Corby free-kick well but Ives’ right-wing flag-kick was nearly headed home by Wright at the far post, with Chenoweth unsure, although a linesman had flagged for an offensive offence anyway.
More danger from Eddy on the left offered Watson a near post shot, which flew upwards and Walker was forced to palm the ball away for a corner, which Truro took short but lost possession from, criminally. This led to a break by the Steelmen, but Hoban clipped his centre over the goal-frame, following Wright’s smart pass to the right. Wright then crumpled in front of Pugh, some 25 yards from goal and the referee gave a free-kick but although Verma’s free-kick curled well enough, it dropped just over the Truro crossbar. A fine crossfield pass by Joe Broad for Truro, to Copp, was poorly controlled by the midfielder but then the game, which had been spasmodic in its good play, changed dramatically and it all stemmed from a back-pass by Pugh. Chenoweth was forced to fly-kick the ball clear in a hurry but he failed to get distance and Corby fed the ball forwards for Hoban, who was challenged on the 18 yard line by Pugh; Hoban leapt like a projectile into the penalty-area, held his ankle in writhing fashion and referee Perry pointed to the penalty-spot, which angered the White Tigers anyway, but when he then dismissed Pugh, the Tigers’ growls could be heard in the official’s hometown shopping centre, Touchwood. Greg Mills fired a low penalty off the base of the left upright and into the Truro net, past the flailing Chenoweth and before Truro could reorganise, they were 2-0 down. Kendall was really apoplectic, having to be manhandled away from the embarrassed referee and had been cautioned for his protests when Pugh was sent off. Corby would always threaten Truro from wide positions and so it proved. A pass from the half-way line, right side, was pushed for Hoban to move onto, Kendall thought the player was offside and hesitated but no flag waved and Hoban ran on, squared the ball across goal, taking Chenoweth out of the game and there was Verma to convert easily from 6 yards.
More neat work by the now rampant hosts so nearly led to a third goal but the move stemmed from what looked like a foul on Eddy, who was unceremoniously dumped to the ground in midfield and the Steelmen attacked; Hoban was involved and drifted left towards his skipper and left-back, a Steelman inappropriately named Jelleyman. Gareth Jelleyman played a one-two with the eager Hoban but Verma took over at inside-left, 16 yards out, before clipping a cross for Wright, who flew forwards, boots first, missing the flight of the ball, as did the diving Chenoweth and it dropped just wide of the far right upright. Shane White was getting really angry in the Truro defence by this juncture but Watson did make a break on the left for the guests, only for his tame centre to bounce near no available colleague. Eddy, the livewire, was then sacrificed for the introduction of Warren Daw, who slotted in at left-back for Truro, leaving the visitors with little forward pace at all and the half ended with more threat from Corby but Hoban, the pick of the home attack, drove a curling effort past the left upright from 18 yards.
The players trooped off past the sanded area (why didn’t Corby ask Truro to transport more of the stuff from Mawgan Porth beach?) for a cup of tea and in Truro’s case, a reviving pasty, no doubt. There seemed little chance of the visitors getting back into the game but I guess Eddy had been replaced because Watson had had three attempts at goal to Eddy’s none, despite the youngster’s running ability. Corby appeared to have the points in the bag, for Hoban, Ives and Verma had bossed the game for much of the time and it was surely a case of how many they would win by, but this was non-league football and the White Tigers pulled out a claw or two after the interval and the game became more of a contest.
An early bouncing ball at inside-right caused real problems for Truro’s defence and Wright managed to stretch and nudge the ball goalwards as Chenoweth advanced a few yards from goal but the ‘keeper did well to knock the effort aside for a right-wing corner, which was headed down, won back by Ives and brought two Corby shots, the first of which was blocked and the second of which brought an easy save for the grateful Chenoweth. Malone’s foul on Kendall did not inspire the Silhillian referee to brandish a card but Kendall was hurting, limping and struggling, yet carried on in true World War One style. Lowry’s 23 yard free-kick, like Verma’s had earlier, dropped too late and cleared the crossbar. Another low Lowry shot was claimed by the slithering Walker easily enough but it became evident that Truro were more urgent in their play and Corby were having to heed the change in attitude. And suddenly, the visitors scored and their noisy fans were rewarded.
Lowry made an intelligent overlap, as Copp held the ball at the left corner of the penalty-box and although the midfielder’s cross from the byeline was deflected, it fell for Watson at the near post corner of the 6-yard area and he turned to tuck a low shot off a defender’s foot into the bottom left corner of the net. Tully was a little exposed as Verma drove a shot wide for Town and Mills was being afforded far too much space on the left, as illustrated soon afterwards when he was picked out too easily by a cross-field pass; he had a man outside him, no opponent closed him down and he was given too much time to clip a right-foot cross from the left corner of the penalty-box directly onto Verma’s right foot, in front of goal and with White attempting to mark two players, Verma’s clever and gentle close-range lob over Chenoweth restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage.
That goal was a heavy blow to Truro, who had battled hard to get back into the game but Corby always looked dangerous when Hoban and Verma were involved in construction. Daw, Copp and Watson engineered a shot for Lowry for City but it was blocked, then Daw was cautioned and trouble flared near the Truro dugout, during which incensed manager Massey was dismissed, like a Subaltern from a muddy Somme trench in 1916. There was a delay, Massey waved his arms about but eventually from the free-kick, and after Cody Cooke had replaced Copp for the ailing visitors, Mills sliced a shot wide of the right upright. Full-back Kalern Thomas, no slouch, rushed past Cooke but striker Wright’s plunge failed to connect with the ball and Chenoweth caught Mills’ subsequent centre from the left.
Courtney Herbert replaced Tom McGowan for Corby, Mills fed Hoban at inside-left, who bullied his way past three Tinmen and poked the ball against Chenoweth’s feet, before Dan Green passed to Watson for Truro but the striker’s 25 yard drive drifted wide of the left post. Truro then lost possession in midfield but Hoban drove a shot wide of the left upright, then Tully was dispossessed on the Corby left, the ball flew across to Herbert on the right but when Verma received a pass, he shot past the right angle of bar and post from 18 yards. Danny Wright replaced namesake Tommy for Corby, but with the game blundering towards an end, Truro struck a second goal, following a left-flank free-kick by Lowry. Tinman Kendall rose above Steelman Jelleyman at the far side of the penalty-box to head down to the 6-yard line, from where White tumbled but slotted the ball into the net.
Truro fought hard for the remaining minutes, Corby were shaken and wasted as much time as they could, abandoning breaks to take the ball into corners, despite their extra player and Kendall’s sapping injury. Indeed, Kendall just failed to reach a Cooke centre from the right beyond the far post in the dying moments and with Nathan Stanton replacing Thomas, a few more seconds were killed by the Steelmen to preserve the victory.
Truro’s offense seemed threadbare at times during this game, their width rarely causing Corby trouble, after Eddy was withdrawn. Hoban was really effective for the hosts and central defenders Malone and Chris Carruthers managed well enough as the game wore on, despite Truro’s increased effort. Kendall was strong, Lowry busy but Olly Brokenshire was given precious little time to affect the proceedings, after replacing the quiet Broad, although he did fashion an argument or two, as a Steelman crumbled like a Stickman over the grandstand touchline late on! His innocent face probably saved him from a caution, but maybe Mr Perry thought better of it, as he would soon be passing Truro’s dugout to reach his dressing-room.
Solihull really is one of the best places to live in England, according to a recent study and there really is only one Mr Perry, for he might be the exception which proves the rule that we are decent people here… I went home to watch Barcelona pass Rayo to confusion and score six times: it’s what I do… Brilliant away support though…
Teams:
Corby: Paul Walker, Kalern Thomas, Gareth Jelleyman (Capt), PaulMalone, Chris Carruthers, Tom McGowan; Greg Mills, Sam Ives, Tommy Wright, Aman Verma, Claudio Hoban.
Subs: Nathan Stanton, Josh Carpenter (gk), Courtney Herbert, Danny Wright, Harry May.
Truro: Ollie Chenoweth, Steve Tully, Shane White; Paul Kendall (Capt), Arran Pugh, Joe Broad; Dan Green, Jamie Lowry, Ben Watson, Liam Eddy, Jordan Copp.
Subs: Olly Brokenshire, Cody Cooke, Jared Sims, Warren Daw, Jahdee Gildin (gk).
Truro City left fuming by Pugh's red card as they lose at Corby (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)
Corby Town 3 Truro City 2
A brave fightback by ten man City was not enough to save them from a second successive defeat after making the long trip to Northamptonshire in one of the few Calor League premier division games that went ahead.
The game’s turning point came after 33 minutes when City defender Arran Pugh controversially saw red for a so called "professional" foul in the box on home debutant Claudiu Holman and Greg Mills hammered home the spot kick.
Referee Marc Perry's decision infuriated the visitors, who were then left with a mountain to climb.
It was tough on City, who had started the game well in the wind and rain, with Ben Watson forcing some fine saves by Paul Williams in the home goal.
And it got even worse two minutes later when Aman Verma converted a cross from Hoban.
To their credit, City came back well after the break with Watson pulling a goal back just before the hour mark after hesitation in the home defence.
But the Steelmen restored their two goal lead after 67 minutes when Verma grabbed his second of the afternoon and City boss Steve Massey was then sent to stands after protesting about a decision.
However, City refused to give up and six minutes from time Shane White gave his side some hope with his first goal of the season, but they just could not find an equaliser.
They will now be hoping for better luck at home to Weymouth on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).
Corby Town: Walker; Thomas (sub Stanton, 86 mins), Malone, Carruthers, Jelleyman; McGowan (sub Herbert, 74 mins); Hoban, Ives, Verma, Mills; T Wright (sub D Wright, 82 mins). Subs not used: Carpenter, May.
Truro City: Chenoweth; Tully, Kendall, Pugh, White; Green, Broad (sub Brokenshire, 85 mins), Lowry, Copp (sub Cooke, 71 mins); Watson, Eddy (sub Daw, 41 mins). Subs not used: Sims, Gildin.
Referee: Marc Perry.
Goals: Mills pen (34 mins, 1-0), Verma (36 mins, 2-0), Watson (59 mins, 2-1), Verma (62 mins, 3-1), White (84 mins, 3-2).
Yellow cards: Kendall, Daw.
Red card: Pugh.
Attendance: 247.
A brave fightback by ten man City was not enough to save them from a second successive defeat after making the long trip to Northamptonshire in one of the few Calor League premier division games that went ahead.
The game’s turning point came after 33 minutes when City defender Arran Pugh controversially saw red for a so called "professional" foul in the box on home debutant Claudiu Holman and Greg Mills hammered home the spot kick.
Referee Marc Perry's decision infuriated the visitors, who were then left with a mountain to climb.
It was tough on City, who had started the game well in the wind and rain, with Ben Watson forcing some fine saves by Paul Williams in the home goal.
And it got even worse two minutes later when Aman Verma converted a cross from Hoban.
To their credit, City came back well after the break with Watson pulling a goal back just before the hour mark after hesitation in the home defence.
But the Steelmen restored their two goal lead after 67 minutes when Verma grabbed his second of the afternoon and City boss Steve Massey was then sent to stands after protesting about a decision.
However, City refused to give up and six minutes from time Shane White gave his side some hope with his first goal of the season, but they just could not find an equaliser.
They will now be hoping for better luck at home to Weymouth on Tuesday evening (7.45pm).
Corby Town: Walker; Thomas (sub Stanton, 86 mins), Malone, Carruthers, Jelleyman; McGowan (sub Herbert, 74 mins); Hoban, Ives, Verma, Mills; T Wright (sub D Wright, 82 mins). Subs not used: Carpenter, May.
Truro City: Chenoweth; Tully, Kendall, Pugh, White; Green, Broad (sub Brokenshire, 85 mins), Lowry, Copp (sub Cooke, 71 mins); Watson, Eddy (sub Daw, 41 mins). Subs not used: Sims, Gildin.
Referee: Marc Perry.
Goals: Mills pen (34 mins, 1-0), Verma (36 mins, 2-0), Watson (59 mins, 2-1), Verma (62 mins, 3-1), White (84 mins, 3-2).
Yellow cards: Kendall, Daw.
Red card: Pugh.
Attendance: 247.
11 February 2014
Tudors tame the Tigers (by Andy "Pompey Tudor" Fenner)
How the game was seen by Tudors fan Andy "Pompey Tudor" Fenner:
Another tale, as I guess we all do it, pick one game at the start of the season we know we’ll be at, regardless of any event!! For after a fantastic effort by the Truro Committee and Staff, it will mean a day of adventure into storm ridden West Country floods and political excuses. The Treyew Road pitch has been announced playable late Friday and my date with destiny has arrived, the longest trip of the season.
So up we gets at 6.0am, to find a Magnificent “Six” stopping for a “Seventh” at Junction 11 on the M4, a morning sun rising behind and everyone in good spirits, all but for the disappointment of the Chippenham Pit-stop not being open for breakfast, perhaps an omen or just a blip? Hunger pains aside, Bristol’s “East” Tesco Extra comes to the rescue, with traditional cooked all round, sending us on our way West again, eagerly awaiting news of the next pitch inspection which came through just north of Exeter, our date with destiny still on. The alternative option of St James Park was not going to see an innocent six and an undercover “blue” this day!! Ssshhh
So into Devon we rode, no time for clotted cream just hopping past our beloved Team Coach, with the Avco Red and Black on board, probably wondering if it would be their day - which seemed almost insane as Cornwall arrived and we descended off Bodmin Moor, into rain, hail, fork lightning and thunder all round. It seemed the White Tigers were growling at our nearing presence and with a final pitch inspection due, things didn’t look too good. But we had come this far so we pushed on and at least could watch the lunchtime TV footie from Anfield (what a start that was !!) which must of sown seeds in our Lads minds, for once the final pitch inspection was cleared, they all sat ensconced and absorbing those Red attacks... soon replicated by Tudor Red led by Captain Parkes who literally grabbed the game by the throat inside nineteen minutes and ended the contest there and then. Pure class.
Which was the same for the unfolding game, played in a gale, with dark clouds and passing rains overhead. The home fans fully aware that this was football they had not seen for a while, 4 up at the half, young Toomes adding to his tally during the second and Moussa desperate to score past our Laurie who was seeing everything in the worsening conditions but always standing firm between the posts. Until a late consolation goal allowed the tannoy system to blare out a St Neot like fanfare of joy, as a home town goal had gone in at last, deserved but oh so late to concern anyone from Hertfordshire; for we had witnessed something special, applauded by all as our Heroes exited right and both sets of fans retired left to the bar, appreciative of the feast that had been provided this day when most games would not of been played.
Once refreshed we all headed back east. The Team coach stocked up with “light” refreshment and bound for a karaoke session or two whilst the Magnificent Seven chose KFC in Taunton and then came to terms with Tapper’s dislike of Saturday night rap music on Radio 1 as the evening came to an enjoyable end. Yep a great day was had by all.
So thank you to everyone for making it one of the best I’ve enjoyed along the way... and yes Hemel Hempstead Town FC are now a complete Team, fully prepared and ready for their next day of destiny - those Clubs of the Conference await.
Line-Up: Walker, King, Blackett (Connolly), Parkes, Murphy, Diarra, Talbot, Thorne, Pearce, Allen, Toomey (May). Subs not used: Hutton, Mackey.
Attendance: 253
Man of the Match: Parkes
10 February 2014
Truro City seek immediate response at Biggleswade (By Ross Reid, WMN)
TRURO CITY manager Steve Massey is already checking the weather forecast ahead of Tuesday’s rescheduled Southern League Premier Division game at Biggleswade Town.
“The forecast appears fine for Monday but not so good for Tuesday so it could be another one of those ‘wait and see’ games that we are getting so used to now,” said Massey yesterday, a day after his side had been beaten 6-1 at home by runaway league leaders Hemel Hempstead Town at wind-battered Treyew Road.
“The ground staff and volunteers did a tremendous job in getting the game on and we can’t thank them enough for that, but obviously we are disappointed that we didn’t repay them with a better performance,” he added.
“Hemel were already runaway leaders before they came to us and we knew the threat they would pose from losing to them 3-0 up there at the start of our unbeaten run.”
Visiting skipper Jordan Parkes’ quick-fire hat-trick all but sealed City’s fate before striker Lewis Toomey weighed in with his own treble.
Truro’s consolation came from substitute Liam Eddy. As well as ending City’s six-match unbeaten streak, the match emphasised Massey’s beliefs. He stated: “Hemel are the best team in the division.
“I think we were up against the champions-elect and I wouldn’t be surprised if they win the league at a canter.
“The galling thing for me is that despite our best efforts we looked like a side who has only played one game in a month, a bit rusty, whereas they looked like a side who had played – and won – on Tuesday.
“We knew we had to press them from the start and get off to a flyer. As it was, it turned out they did exactly that against us and before you knew it we were 3-0 down in less than 20 minutes.
“I had a look at the stats and Hemel had 18 attempts on goal, we had 19. The difference was in the finishing and that is why they are top of this league and set to run away with it. They created about eight or nine good chances and took six of them, we created the same amount of chances and took one, although we did hit the post and have one cleared off the line in the first half.”
“The forecast appears fine for Monday but not so good for Tuesday so it could be another one of those ‘wait and see’ games that we are getting so used to now,” said Massey yesterday, a day after his side had been beaten 6-1 at home by runaway league leaders Hemel Hempstead Town at wind-battered Treyew Road.
“The ground staff and volunteers did a tremendous job in getting the game on and we can’t thank them enough for that, but obviously we are disappointed that we didn’t repay them with a better performance,” he added.
“Hemel were already runaway leaders before they came to us and we knew the threat they would pose from losing to them 3-0 up there at the start of our unbeaten run.”
Visiting skipper Jordan Parkes’ quick-fire hat-trick all but sealed City’s fate before striker Lewis Toomey weighed in with his own treble.
Truro’s consolation came from substitute Liam Eddy. As well as ending City’s six-match unbeaten streak, the match emphasised Massey’s beliefs. He stated: “Hemel are the best team in the division.
“I think we were up against the champions-elect and I wouldn’t be surprised if they win the league at a canter.
“The galling thing for me is that despite our best efforts we looked like a side who has only played one game in a month, a bit rusty, whereas they looked like a side who had played – and won – on Tuesday.
“We knew we had to press them from the start and get off to a flyer. As it was, it turned out they did exactly that against us and before you knew it we were 3-0 down in less than 20 minutes.
“I had a look at the stats and Hemel had 18 attempts on goal, we had 19. The difference was in the finishing and that is why they are top of this league and set to run away with it. They created about eight or nine good chances and took six of them, we created the same amount of chances and took one, although we did hit the post and have one cleared off the line in the first half.”
09 February 2014
Tisa present a cheque for £300 to BiPolar UK
Truro Independent Supporters Association (TISA) presented Paul Symon from Bipolar UK, a cheque for £300 at the Hemel Hempstead game yesterday. Bipolar is the chosen charity this year, in support of Gary Smith who is member of Tisa and suffers from the disease.
Tisa has been raising funds through the year and also received generous help from Peter Masters, who donated a season ticket.
Tisa has been raising funds through the year and also received generous help from Peter Masters, who donated a season ticket.
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L-R, Gary Smith, Steve Rogers, Peter Masters and Paul Symon (Bipolar UK) Image courtesy City Media. |
Truro City hit for six by clinical league leaders (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)
Truro City 1 Hemel Hempstead Town 6
City were taught a harsh lesson in finishing by the Calor League premier division leaders who went 14 points clear at the top with an emphatic win to end City’s six match unbeaten run.
The game, which only went ahead after heroic efforts by the home club after all the midweek storm damage, was played in a howling gale and was over as a meaningful contest in less than 20 minutes as Hemel captain Jordan Parkes helped himself to a hat-trick.
Parkes first struck in the second minute with a low drive and after Ben Watson had missed a glorious chance to equalise, when he delayed his shot too long, the Hemel captain soon made it 2-0 with a superb free-kick.
And Parkes completed his hat-trick four minutes later with a crisp shot after City had failed to clear the ball.
City immediately replaced keeper Grant Fisher, who was apparently carrying a hip injury, with Ollie Chenoweth.
And it should have been 4-0 when Lewis Toomey rounded the replacement keeper but shot wide of the far post.
Truro had their moments, but right on half time Toomey poked home a corner to make it 4-0.
It was then all about damage limitation for City in the second half as they brought on Liam Eddy for Olly Brokenshire at half time.
And Eddy made an immediate impression shooting over while Watson also missed a good opening.
But Hemel were always a real danger going forward and Toomey made it 5-0 after 67 minutes with good finish after a jinking run in the box.
And with nine minutes left he completed his hat-trick after rounding Chenoweth and finding the far corner.
City did manage a deserved late consolation, with Eddy easily converting a Jordan Copp, from the left, but the home side finished a well beaten side.
Truro City: Fisher (Chenoweth 22); Tully, Kendall (capt), Pugh, White; Broad, Cooke; Lowry, Green (Copp 72); Brokenshire (Eddy h-t), Watson. Subs not used: Daw, Afful.
Goal: Eddy 83.
Hemel Hempstead Town : Walker, Diarra, Murphy, Blankett (Connolly 67); Talbot, Parkes (capt), Thorne, Allen; Toomey (Hutton 82), Pearce.
Subs not used: Mackey, Tokarczyk, May.
Goals: Parkes 2, 15, 19 Toomey 44, 67, 81.
Crowd: 253
Referee: Andrew Bennett
City were taught a harsh lesson in finishing by the Calor League premier division leaders who went 14 points clear at the top with an emphatic win to end City’s six match unbeaten run.
The game, which only went ahead after heroic efforts by the home club after all the midweek storm damage, was played in a howling gale and was over as a meaningful contest in less than 20 minutes as Hemel captain Jordan Parkes helped himself to a hat-trick.
Parkes first struck in the second minute with a low drive and after Ben Watson had missed a glorious chance to equalise, when he delayed his shot too long, the Hemel captain soon made it 2-0 with a superb free-kick.
And Parkes completed his hat-trick four minutes later with a crisp shot after City had failed to clear the ball.
City immediately replaced keeper Grant Fisher, who was apparently carrying a hip injury, with Ollie Chenoweth.
And it should have been 4-0 when Lewis Toomey rounded the replacement keeper but shot wide of the far post.
Truro had their moments, but right on half time Toomey poked home a corner to make it 4-0.
It was then all about damage limitation for City in the second half as they brought on Liam Eddy for Olly Brokenshire at half time.
And Eddy made an immediate impression shooting over while Watson also missed a good opening.
But Hemel were always a real danger going forward and Toomey made it 5-0 after 67 minutes with good finish after a jinking run in the box.
And with nine minutes left he completed his hat-trick after rounding Chenoweth and finding the far corner.
City did manage a deserved late consolation, with Eddy easily converting a Jordan Copp, from the left, but the home side finished a well beaten side.
Truro City: Fisher (Chenoweth 22); Tully, Kendall (capt), Pugh, White; Broad, Cooke; Lowry, Green (Copp 72); Brokenshire (Eddy h-t), Watson. Subs not used: Daw, Afful.
Goal: Eddy 83.
Hemel Hempstead Town : Walker, Diarra, Murphy, Blankett (Connolly 67); Talbot, Parkes (capt), Thorne, Allen; Toomey (Hutton 82), Pearce.
Subs not used: Mackey, Tokarczyk, May.
Goals: Parkes 2, 15, 19 Toomey 44, 67, 81.
Crowd: 253
Referee: Andrew Bennett
07 February 2014
Truro City v Hemel Hempstead - game on, overnight weather permitting
TRURO CITY vs HEMEL HEMPSTEAD
I am pleased to confirm that the damaged stand and walls have been removed and the pitch has passed the referee inspection this afternoon so at this point in time, the game against League leaders Hemel is very much on.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who volunteered their services over the last couple of days and both team A2B Taxis and my own L2 staff have worked particularly hard to ensure that there is a fighting chance to play tomorrows match and thanks to Tracey our Secretary who has been keeping all parties updated.
Hemel will be leaving for Treyew Road at 6am as planned and there will be a further pitch inspection at 10am. I can confirm that both teams want this game to go ahead. This is a game not to be missed. Kick-off is at 3pm Bar and Turnstiles open at 12 noon.
Peter Masters
06 February 2014
City Alerts - TCFC vs Hemel Hempstead Sat 8th Feb
At this point in time the match against Hemel Hempstead is on and scheduled to play at Treyew Road Kick off 3pm.
Since the storm damage both Tracey and I have been working tirelessly to get the game on this weekend. To this end we have been in communication with our friends at Plymouth Argyle in respect of possibly using Home Park this Saturday. James told me that “they would love to help on this but the very strong advice was that the combination of a number of home games and the inclement weather left the pitch in significant need of a break”.
I fully support his position and would like to thank both James Brent Chairman and Jason Turner Secretary for their ongoing support.
Tomorrow, subject to the weather conditions, Contractors will be removing the damaged areas of the Council end stand together with the cracked concrete walls to make the ground safe and useable.
If all goes to plan the pitch will be marked out and made ready to play on Saturday. Hemel have informed us that they will be leaving for Treyew Road at 6am on the day of the match. We have agreed a referee pitch inspection (subject to League approval) at 10am on the same day to confirm whether the game is on or off.
In addition to this, to avoid any unnecessary travel expenses by Hemel, a pre inspection of the pitch will take place (again by a referee) tomorrow evening. I have spoken to Steve Massey this morning in Berlin and brought him completely up to date.
Please be warned that there are a lot of things that could be impossible to achieve within the timescale, however as a Club I feel that we must do all we can to get this game on. Further update will be issued as things develop.
Peter Masters.
Since the storm damage both Tracey and I have been working tirelessly to get the game on this weekend. To this end we have been in communication with our friends at Plymouth Argyle in respect of possibly using Home Park this Saturday. James told me that “they would love to help on this but the very strong advice was that the combination of a number of home games and the inclement weather left the pitch in significant need of a break”.
I fully support his position and would like to thank both James Brent Chairman and Jason Turner Secretary for their ongoing support.
Tomorrow, subject to the weather conditions, Contractors will be removing the damaged areas of the Council end stand together with the cracked concrete walls to make the ground safe and useable.
If all goes to plan the pitch will be marked out and made ready to play on Saturday. Hemel have informed us that they will be leaving for Treyew Road at 6am on the day of the match. We have agreed a referee pitch inspection (subject to League approval) at 10am on the same day to confirm whether the game is on or off.
In addition to this, to avoid any unnecessary travel expenses by Hemel, a pre inspection of the pitch will take place (again by a referee) tomorrow evening. I have spoken to Steve Massey this morning in Berlin and brought him completely up to date.
Please be warned that there are a lot of things that could be impossible to achieve within the timescale, however as a Club I feel that we must do all we can to get this game on. Further update will be issued as things develop.
Peter Masters.
05 February 2014
Serious storm damage at Treyew Road last night
Some images of the aftermath of the big storm last night have been posted on Twitter by Mr Peter Masters. Whilst the council end stand had already been sealed off due to serious shifting last month, last night's storm was in a different league. The present condition presumably presents health and safety concerns and Club management will no doubt be making decisions soon.
