24 April 2016

Basingstoke Town 2 Truro City 0


Truro City missed the chance to seal their National League South play-off place as they suffered a shock defeat at already-relegated Basingstoke.
They conceded an early goal and despite plenty of pressure were unable to break down the home defence and the Hampshire side clinched victory in stoppage time through Manny Williams
A win would have wrapped up a play off spot, but City now must wait for Tuesday evening's visit of play off rivals Whitehawk to see if they can finally clinch a top five place.

But they are still in a strong position with three games left, as the only two teams who can still overhaul them, Hemel Hempstead and Whitehawk, meet each other on the final day of the season, City only need a single point, while a win will guarantee fourth.
And City boss Steve Tully said he was "desperately" disappointed that they had not been able to clinch that long anticipated play-off spot.
He said: "It was one of those days. We gave them a soft early goal and I thought we just looked lethargic. The long midweek trip to Concord Rangers caught up with us even though we made plenty of changes.
"They put ten men behind the ball and we struggled to get any tempo and could not find a way through even though we tried everything. Now we have to put it right against Whitehawk, a team who want to take our place in the play-offs.
Tully made five changes from the team that began the 2-1 midweek win at Concord Rangers, with Arran Pugh, Connor Riley-Lowe, Ollie Knowles, Dan Green and Cody Cooke returning with Jake Ash, Aaron Dawson, Ben Adelsbury, Matt Wright and Les Afful all missing out.The game began badly for City as Basingstoke went ahead after only eight minutes with Simon Dunn converting a cross from George Hallaran.City came back with Cody Cooke shooting wide and Ollie Knowles forcing a save out of home keeper Howe, while Jamie Richards also had a couple of openings for the visitors following City corners, but Truro still trailed 1-0 at the break.
After the break City used all three subs as they battled to get back on level terms and were unlucky 13 minutes from time when Ryan Brett rattled the bar with a 30-yard free-kick.
They even put Arran Pugh up front but were unable to find an equaliser and deep in stoppage time Williams put the result beyond doubt with City appealing in vain for offside
City's final two matches after the Whitehawk game are are at Havant &Waterlooville on Thursday evening at at home to Wealdstone on Saturday
BASINGSTOKE TOWN: Howe; Rice, Bird, Ray, Deaman, Gasson, Hallahan, Dunn, Jarvis, Flood, Soares. subs: Smart, Enver-Marum, Williams, Bennett, Lincoln.
CITY: Rice; White (Dawson 75), Pugh, Richards, Riley-Lowe (Afful 64); Knowles, Green, Cooke, Brett, Jay (Wright 68), Vassell. Subs (not used): Ash, Adelsbury.
Goals: Dunn (8) 0-1, Williams (90 +5) Williams 0-2.


Read more: http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Basingstoke-Town-v-Truro-city/story-29158322-detail/story.html#ixzz46kHez9LR

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