Truro City 1 Hungerford Town 0

A dramatic goal five minutes from time by substitute Isaac Vassell earned City a place in the Evo-Stik Southern premier promotion final where they will take on St Neots Town at Treyew Road on Monday (3pm). The semi-final game looked to be heading for extra time and possibly penalties, when City at last made their pressure tell with Vassell heading home from Shane White's right wing cross. It was the full back's 15th assist of the season. The goal sparked delirious celebrations from players and fans alike and now victory over St Neots, who won 1-0 at Poole Town in the other semi-final, will see City return to playing Conference South football, though next season it will be called the National League South. The goal was no more than City deserved as they had much the better of the game, with keeper Tom McHale not having shot to save all night. But until Vassell's match winning goal it had been a frustrating night for the home side, with Hungerford keeper Paul Strudley, who was their man of the match, in outstanding form having dashed back from Germany to play in the game. However, it all ended well and City can now look forward to Monday's showdown against the Cambridgeshire side who are unbeaten in 17 games. City though at home are a formidable unit and tonight's win stretched their record to 15 games without defeat at their Treyew fortress. After resting his first choice team for Saturday's trip to Histon, City boss Steve Tully named a completely new starting XI from the one that lost that game 3-1, with Criag Duff preferred to Vassell up front. And from the start, it was clear City carried the greater threat with Craig Duff and Matt Wright both going close. Duff also headed against then post when he should have found the net, but the offside flag spared his blushes. For Hungerford James Clark missed their best opening, as he blasted wastefully over, but that was the closest they came against a mean City defence in which Ed Palmer was outstanding. Not surprisingly much of the play was frantic, with a lot of aimless high balls as neither side wanted to make a costly error as the half finished goalless. It was a similar story after the break, with City continuing to press in search of a breakthrough and only the brilliance of Paul Strudley in the Hungerford goal kept the score 0-0. He turned a piledriver of a free from Ed Palmer onto the bar and Wright could not capitalise on the loose ball and the Hungerford keeper was at it again to keep out Palmer free-kick as he dived to his right. And it looked as if it might be one of those nights for Steve Tully's side until Vassell scored his and City's most important goal of the season, with White providing the cross from the right giving Vassell the chance to become City's hero on the night with a rare headed goal. Nothing is won yet, but City and their fans will believe they can get the job done on Monday. Be there. CITY: McHale; White, Farkins, Palmer, Brett; Green, Ash (capt), Cooke (Afful 89), Krac; Wright (Hayles 90 +1), Duff (Vassell 69). Subs (not used): Pugh, Moore. Yellow cards: None. HUNGERFORD TOWN: Strudley; Horgan, Boardman, Rusby, Diak; O'Brien, Pilling, Collins, Clark (Osei-Tuti 87), Mpi, Draycott (Goodger 78). Subs (not used): Harrison, Stow, Rees. Yellow cards: Boardman, Diak. Goals: Vassell (85) 1-0. Referee: Adam Ricketts. Crowd: 820. Man of the match: Ed Palmer. Read more: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Vassell-s-late-strike-takes-Truro-City-promotion/story-26404761-detail/story.html#ixzz3YiioznvV Follow us: @westbriton on Twitter | westbriton on Facebook

Histon 3 Truro City 1

City boss Steve Tully made 11 changes for their final Evo-Stik Southern premier game of the season, with Tuesday night's promotion play-off semi-final match the number one priority. In that play-off, City will take on Hungerford Town at Treyew Road (7.45pm) after the West Berkshire side beat Paulton Rovers 2-1 to confirm fourth place. On the same night, Poole Town, who went down 3-2 at home to Corby Town in a championship decider to lose the title to their opponents, will entertain fifth placed St Neots Town. And despite today's defeat, which did not affect City's final placing, with third already assured, Tully was delighted. "We had been planning this for three months if we got ourselves into this situation. We did not bring the players all the way up to Cambridge with the game coming on Tuesday," he said. The side included just Kyle Moore, Arran Pugh, Barry Hayles and Les Afful who could be termed first team squad regulars, with Tully and assistant manager Wayne Carlisle getting a rare run out. The rest of the side was made up of fringe players and those who had not figured at all. City were 2-0 down by half time with Geoff Mitchell and Ryan Auger on target and they went 3-0 up seven minutes into the second half through Ashley White. Debutant Jack Crago from Plymouth did pull a goal back with more than 20 minutes left, and that was how it stayed. Now all eyes are on Tuesday night. CITY: Moore; Tully, Fearon, Parker, Rushe, Pugh, Carlisle, Vallejo, Hayles, Afful, Crago. Subs: Ahearne, McHale. Crowd: 390

Truro City 3 Arlesey Town 1

City recovered from a poor first half performance – and a bizarre own goal – to power their way to victory at Treyew Road on Saturday afternoon. The White Tigers remain third in the Evo-Stik Southern premier division following second half goals from man of the match Matt Wright, substitute Cody Cooke and Ed Palmer. The home side had gone in 1-0 down at the break after Shane Krac’s attempted ball back to goalkeeper Tom McHale from just inside the Arlesey half caught the ferocious wind and deceived McHale as he raced out of his area to attempt a clearance. The ball bounced over his outstretched right leg and ended in the unguarded net. It rounded off a nightmare first half for the young goalkeeper, who was fortunate to escape a red card in the fourth minute after handling outside his area to stop Arlesey striker Jack Vasssey going clear. Referee Mark Lawrence decided a yellow card was sufficient punishment, much to the relief of City manager Steve Tully and the home supporters. The start City made to the second half suggested there had been strong words in the home dressing room at half-time, as they poured forward in search of an equaliser. It arrived in the 56th minute through the excellent Wright, who had led the line so well in difficult conditions for strikers. And ten minutes later Truro were ahead when Craig Duff’s pass to the right side of the penalty area was brought under control by substitute Cody Cooke before he fired a low shot into the far corner. Duff then crashed a close range shot against the bar as City continued to batter the Arlesey goal but their wastefulness almost cost them in the 83rd minute. Vassey, who had caused problems all match, broke clear and played in Inih Effiong who turned past a defender before smashing a right foot volley against the bar from 15 yards. From being close to being pegged back to 2-2, City secured the three points in the 89th minute with a thunderous direct free kick from Ed Palmer which gave Arlesey goalkeeper Nick Thompson no chance. Truro City: McHale, S White, R Brett, J Ash, E Palmer, A Pugh, D Green, S Krac (Afful 77), M Wright (B Hayles 77), I Vassell (C Cooke 56), C Duff. Subs not used: K Moore (gk), R Farkins. Goals: Wright (56), Cooke (66), Palmer (89). Yellow card: McHale (4). Arlesey Town: N Thompson, M Powell, L Abrahams, B Farrell (B Plumpton 85), J Sage, S Willett, C Tavernier, J Brown, I Effiong, J Vassey (K Dempsey 85), S Williams. Subs not used: P Musumbo-Tambue, D St Louis-Hamilton (gk), Z Abbey. Goal: S Krac og (45+1). Yellow card: Willett (7). Referee: Mark Lawrence (Somerset FA). Attendance: 516. Read more: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Truro-City-fight-secure-victory-struggling/story-26353587-detail/story.html#ixzz3Xr7yOfKb Follow us: @westbriton on Twitter | westbriton on Facebook

Truro City 2 Corby Town 1

Tommy Wright felt Corby Town were a touch unfortunate as their Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division title hopes were dented at Truro City. The table-topping Steelmen slipped to a 2-1 defeat against the third-placed side, despite taking an early lead through Stephan Morley. It was a tough one to take for the Corby boss and his players after they had led by the same scoreline in the original meeting between the clubs back in January, only for the floodlights to fail with just four minutes remaining and ensuring that the game had to be replayed in full. The bad feeling between the two clubs was inflamed again on Saturday as Wright confirmed the floodlights flicked on when the 86th minute, the same time they went off in January, came around. Wright wasn’t impressed by that but, in his usual manner, made few excuses for the loss. It wasn’t all bad news for Corby, however, as second-placed Poole Town could only draw 2-2 with Hitchin Town, which means the Steelmen can still claim the title if they win at Weymouth and Poole in their final two matches. “The lights came on in the 86th minute, which was a bit of a wind up,” Wright said. “We had a few fans there and doing something like that was silly because it was always going to get a reaction. To be honest, given the rawness of the situation, it could have kicked off. “A couple of our fans went on the pitch, which shouldn’t have happened but it all stemmed from the ridiculous decision to flick the lights on. “But people know me by now. The game is done. It was tough to take but we accept it and we move on. “We went 1-0 up with a fortunate goal because their goalkeeper fumbled Steph’s free-kick into his own net. “But we have been done by one ball over the top for their first goal, although it was a very good finish, and the penalty at the end was probably a bit harsh. “It was always going to be the case that if there was anything between the two sides then it would only be one goal. “I am not going to say we did enough to win the game because we didn’t but I think a point apiece would have been fair.” The Steelmen remain four points clear of Poole, who play the first of two games in hand against Banbury United on Tuesday night, at the top of the table. Corby travel to Weymouth, who slipped out of the play-off places after losing 3-0 to Banbury at the weekend, next Saturday. TRURO CITY (4-1-3-2): McHale; White, Farkins, Palmer, Brett, Krac, Green (capt), Allen (Ash 19), Cooke (Affful 77), Wright, Duff (Vassell 65). Subs (not used): Pugh, Moore (GK). Yellow cards: Allen, Vassell. CORBY TOWN (4-2-3-1): Walker; Thomas, Anton, N'Goma, Morley, Gasgoigne (Milnes 56), Taylor (capt), Byrne, Mills, Carvalho (Wright 75), Weir-Daley. Subs (not used): Kennedy, Donkin, Hoban. Yellow cards: Gascoigne, Mills, Byrne, Milnes, Taylor. Goals: Morley (4) 0-1, Duff (56) 1-1, White (pen 87) 2-1. Man of the match: Dan Green (Truro City) Referee: Adam Penwell Attendance: 510 Read more: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Truro-city/story-26318047-detail/story.html#ixzz3X7LRDbJV Follow us: @westbriton on Twitter | westbriton on Facebook http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/tough-one-to-take-as-steelmen-s-hopes-are-hit-1-6684972

Truro City 2 v Weymouth 0

WEYMOUTH’S hopes of securing a play-off place now hang in the balance after a 2-0 reverse against promotion rivals Truro City today. Cody Cooke and Jake Ash were on target as the hosts won in front of the biggest crowd seen at Treyew Road this season. It certainly wasn’t a game for the purists and both of the home side’s goals came from corners, one in each half. Nevertheless, the result leaves the Terras fifth in the Evo-Stik Southern Premier Division, one point above St Neots, the team currently sitting just outside the play-offs. Boss Jason Matthews made four changes to the Weymouth side that started the 3-3 draw with Burnham. Chris Shephard, Dean Evans, Jamie Laird and Tim Sills were replaced by Jordan Copp, George Rigg, Calvin Brooks and Steve Colwell. And, as expected, it was a frantic start to a game involving two sides who could well be meeting each other in the play-offs at the end of the season. Truro’s Cooke was on the wrong end of one particularly tasty challenge in the opening few minutes, while Copp had the first glimpse of goal only to be denied by a defender’s block. Copp then fired over the top from a free-kick but with 20 minutes gone neither keeper had really been tested. And while both sets of players demonstrated plenty of endeavour, the ball spent a lot of time in the air, meaning there wasn’t much quality on show. But if anyone looked more likely to score first it was the Terras and Rigg went close when he saw an effort deflected for a corner. However, despite a decent start, the visitors went behind on the half hour. A corner taken by former Terra Shane Krac reached Matt Wright, he headed the ball back into the danger zone and Cooke smashed a shot into the roof of the net. An element of frustration began to creep into the Terras’ game and Copp received the first booking of the afternoon for dissent. Joe Wollacott needed to be on his toes to stop Truro doubling their lead, denying Ryan Brett before Wright headed wide. A clumsy foul two minutes into the second period then resulted in Brett having his name taken by referee Paul Johnson. Another ex-Weymouth man, Isaac Vassell, had already tested Brooks’ defensive skills in the first half and the visitors’ centre-half was up to the task again just after Brett’s booking. Several of the goalscoring chances in the match emanated from set-pieces and Ed Palmer, another ex-Terra, forced Wollacott to tip a scorching strike over the bar following a Truro free-kick. Yellows followed for Cooke and Rob Farkins before both sides made substitutions. Scoring opportunities were again at a premium as the half wore on. The visitors saw appeals for a penalty waved away, while at the other end Krac forced a save from Wollacott. Things became more and more tense the closer the clock got to 90 minutes and Matthews threw youngster Conor Jevon on for the closing stages in the hope of finding a leveller. But as the Terras pressed forward they were caught out at the back, and for the second time in the game the hosts scored from a corner. On this occasion, Brett swung in the cross and captain Ash rose highest to make it 2-0. Brooks was off target with a header of his own late on and that pretty much summed up Weymouth’s day. Even though Weymouth hold a game in hand over St Neots, the number of points Matthews' men have recorded in their last seven league fixtures stands at five. Having gone from a side that looked set for possible automatic promotion at Christmas, the Terras are now struggling to hold on to one of the four play-off berths. And when you look at their run-in, staying in the top five could turn out to be a very tricky task indeed. For as well as matches against Banbury and Biggleswade they have to face both Corby and Poole, the two sides challenging for that one automatic promotion spot. Meanwhile, next up for St Neots is a trip to Weymouth's neighbours Dorchester, so a helping hand from the Magpies is just what Matthews and his troops will want at the weekend. Attendance 769 H/T 0-1 Scorers Weymouth Truro City Cooke 31, Ash 83 Bookings Weymouth Copp Truro City Breet, Cooke Farkins Referee Paul Johnson http://www.theterras.co.uk/website/match-reports/2014_2015/truro_city_away.htm

Redditch Utd 0 Truro City 4

City took another massive step towards clinching their place in the end of season promotion play-offs with a hugely impressive win at seventh-placed Redditch. It was their biggest away victory of the season and came courtesy of goals by Craig Duff after only 38 seconds, a Shane White penalty and late second half efforts from substitutes Cody Cooke and Isaac Vassell. With just four games to come, the win puts City, who are third, five points clear of fourth placed Weymouth, who are the visitors to Treyew Road on Easter Monday (3pm) and seven clear of St Neots Town who occupy the fifth and final play-off spot For the game, City boss Steve Tully had rang the changes, dropping Cooke, Vassell and Matt Wright to the bench, partly with an eye on Monday's crucial visit of Weymouth. He started the match himself as did Les Afful and Craig Duff. The game could hardly have started better for City as they went ahead in the opening minute with leading scorer Duff calmly rounding home keeper Sam Hornby before finding the empty net for his 19th goal of the season. And they doubled their advantage after half an hour when a Redditch player was penalised for handball and Shane White converted the spot kick. City were much the better side and well deserved their 2-0 interval lead. The home side did start the second half well, but City were generally in command. And with six minutes left they put the result beyond lingering doubt with Vassell crossing for fellow substitute Cooke to score with a diving near post header. Right on time Vassell completed an excellent day for City with a well taken fourth goal to take his season's tally to 14. Manager Tully was naturally delighted with his team's display. He said: "We had a plan and it worked. I am very pleased. We have a good squad and I wanted to freshen up things a bit today. "It was one of our best performances of the season and sets us up nicely for Weymouth on Monday. It puts the pressure on them." CITY: McHale; Tully, Ash, Palmer, Brett, White, Krac (Wright 77), Green, Allen (Cooke 65), Afful (Vassell 65), Duff. Subs (not used): Rushe. Moore. Crowd: 394 Goals: Duff (1) 0-1, White (30 pen) 0-2, Cooke (84) 0-3, Vassell (90) 0-4. Read more: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Truro-City-close-play-offs-impressive-away/story-26281444-detail/story.html#ixzz3WSPFdD00 Follow us: @westbriton on Twitter | westbriton on Facebook