30 August 2016

Maidenhead 2 Truro City 0

After Saturday’s battling away win at Concord Rangers Devonshire made just two changes to his starting XI despite two games in three days. Marks and Forbes made way for Upward and Smith in a like for like swap as Smith was put up top to support Tarpey.
Just 4 minutes in Mulley flashed the first chance of the game wide from 10 yards following Inman’s knock down.The first quarter of the match was relatively slow, Pritchard was however causing the Truro defence some problems down the left but his crosses failed to lead to any clear-cut chances.
It was Maidenhead though who took the lead after 25 minutes when a pinpoint Peters cross was met by Tarpey. His downward header found the corner of the net to put the Magpies a goal to the good. The first goal was always going to be crucial with Maidenhead not losing in a game they’ve scored in all season.
Truro’s ex-Swansea City striker Fallon made himself a nuisance for Inman and Massey, but the pair were more then up for the physical challenge. They commandingly dealt with any long balls directed at them, just as they had against Chelmsford. James Comley in the centre midfield also had a particularly good half as he won just about everything that came his way.
Maidenhead thought they had doubled their advantage just before the break as Pritchard nodded in from Tarpey’s inswinging corner. Pricthard’s celebrations were short-lived as he was penalised for pulling meaning the score remained 1-0 at half-time.
The Magpies came flying out of the blocks in the second half and after 47 minutes were awarded a penalty. The energetic Upward was clattered into following a corner to give Tarpey a chance for his second. His low effort though was saved well by Basso in the Truro goal to keep the game at 1-0.
Tarpey didn’t waste any time dwelling on this missed chance as his striker partner for the day Smith accurately released him on goal in the 52nd minute. He smashed it home into the roof of the net to make it 2-0 for his tenth of the season in just August.
After the frenzied start to the second half, Tarpey’s second effectively killed the game off. A mazy run by Truro substitute Neal with 20 minutes to play looked promising for the visitors, but he failed to tee up a team mate.
The closest Truro came to finding the net wasn’t until the 82nd minute. After a rare handling error by Pentney, Truro striker Fallon blasted over from 8 yards. This was the final chance for either team of any note and Maidenhead ran out 2-0 winners to make it a perfect weekend and give them and the 751 attendance their 5th win on the bounce.
The result keeps Maidenhead top of the league after 7 games on 18 points, with Hampton & Richmond, St. Albans City and Poole Town behind on 16 points.
Magpies: Pentney, Peters, Steer, Smith, Massey, Inman, Tarpey (Barratt 84), Comley, Upward (Forbes 53), Mulley (Hammond 70), Pritchard
Unused subs: Wiltshire, Olorunfemi
Truro: Basso, White, Richards, Adelsbury, Smith, Pugh, Brett, Afful, Knowles, Fallon, Cooke
Subs: Bentley, McHale, Allen, Thompson, Neal

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/teams/6424/match-centre/0-3362867

28 August 2016

Truro City 1-1 Welling United

After a long journey beset by rail and road difficulties, Welling United claimed a well deserved point at Truro City.FOOTBALL (WELLING AWAY)
Having to travel to Cornwall during the August Bank Holiday weekend was not an ideal situation but Welling put the Welling players made light of their late arrival and battled hard on a poor playing surface.
When they played on a similar surface at Oxford City, they did not adapt well, but at Truro, they played the better football and could have claimed all three points.
Two new players, Adam Coombes and Lyle Delle Verde made their Welling United debuts and both fitted in immediately.
Both teams had early half chances before Adriano Basso was the first goalkeeper called into action, saving at the near post from Dan Walker.
Mitchell Nelson then headed over from Sam Hatton’s cross before Chris Lewington made his first save at the feet of Andrew Neal.FOOTBALL (WELLING AWAY)
Half chances continued to come at both ends. Cody Cooke stabbed wide for the hosts and at the other end, Coombes and Walker both had shots blocked.
Ryan Brett drew a save from Lewington and Basso saved a firm Walker drive.
Twice more before the break, Lewington made saves. First he had to keep out a Danny Waldren slice and then a shot from Niall Thompson.
Half Time 0-0
At the break, an injury to Hatton meant that he had to be replaced by Harry Crawford.
On 51 minutes, the hosts went ahead from a quick throw that was moved on by Neal for Cooke to finish at the far post.
Waldren came close with a rasping drive that beat Basso but also the far post however Welling levelled in the 68th minute.
Delle Verde found Walker at the far post and he played it in to Crawford who finished from close range.FOOTBALL (WELLING AWAY)
Lewington made the save of the match soon after when Ben Adelsbury’s shot was deflected towards the top corner only to be turned over brilliantly.
That proved to be a point saver and Welling manager Mark Goldberg was far happier afterwards than in easier weeks.
“In the first half we had two or three good opportunities to score and we didn’t take them. I’ve been looking recently for that final pass. Today we had that final pass but we didn’t have that clinical finish.
“There was some good flowing football on a very bumpy pitch. I think if you compare this to the Oxford game, there are many steps forward. I think the fans that made the long journey, we appreciate them coming all this way, I think they saw a new Welling.”
Full time 1-1
Truro City: Basso, White, Richards, Adelsbury, Smith, Pugh, Brett (Knowles, 73), Neal, Thompson, Fallon, Cooke.
Unused substitutes: Bentley, McHale,  Crago, Afful.

Welling United: Lewington, Nelson, Brown, Hatton (Crawford 46), Francis, Hayles, Joseph-Dubois, Waldren,Walker, Coombes, Delle Verde.
Unused Substitutes: Banton, Johnson.

Referee: Andrew Laver
Assistants: Lee Roberts and Scott Taylor
Attendance: 401
Welling star player: Lyle Delle Verde
Images courtesy of Dave Budden
http://www.kentsportsnews.com/truro-city-1-1-welling-united-27-08-2016/

22 August 2016

Hampton & Richmond 2 Truro City 2

Truro City looked on course for a second successive National League South win on the road when they led 2-0 at half time in Middlesex.
An early goal from Rocky Neal, his second in three matches, and one right on half time by Niall Thomson had seemingly put the visitors seemingly in command, with the home side missing an early penalty when Nicke Kabamba shot wide.
But for the second time this season, City let slip a 2-0 lead and in the end had to to settle for a hard earned point, which took their season's tally to five in as many games and leaves them 15th in the table.


The home side, who are now second, came back strongly after the break, with Jamal Lowe pulling one back with 20 minutes to go and Brendan Kiernan making it 2-2 with 13 minutes left.
City though managed to hold onto a battling point.
And City boss Lee Hodges said they had been up against by far the best team they had met this season.
"They moved the ball quickly and it was difficult," he said.
 
Happy with a point - City's Lee Hodges
"They have been use to winning week in and week out and that breeds confidence. I think in the end it was a good point.
"It was a tough second half and we found it difficult to get out and once they scored it lifted them,
"But the boys showed great character and in the end it was a good point."
It took City just seven minutes to take their lead with their first real attack as Neal controlled a pass from Cody Cooke and did superbly to turn and score from just inside the area, yet again showing what an asset he should be to City this season.
Three minutes later Cooke was adjudged to have brought down Harold Odametey as he cut in but Nicki Kabamba's poor spot kick missed the target, though Adrian Basso would probably have saved it even if it was on target.
City then to do plenty of defending, before doubling their lead just before the break with Thomson rewarded for a great run to finish well from Neal's pass.
After the break the home side piled on the pressure and with 20 minutes left Lowe gave Basso no chance with a cool finish to get the home side right back into the match.
And then Kiernan set up a frantic finale when he levelled the scores after Basso had blocked a shot from Kabamba.
The Brazilian keeper then had to go off with a hamstring twinge, but Tom McHale was a more than able replacement as City dug deep for a welcome point.
Manager Lee Hodges had made two changes for the game, with loan signing Jack Smith making his first start in defence in place of Arran Bentley, with Rory Fallon fit to take his place up front with Jack Crago dropping to the bench.
River Allen (back) and Les Afful (groin) were both missing.
And Hodges said Smith had a superb debut.
"He threw his body on the line and had a great game." he said
CITY: Basso; White, Pugh, Smith, Richards, Adelsbury, Cooke, Brett,Thomson, Fallon, Neal. Subs: Bentley, Knowles, Crago, Williams, McHale.

http://www.westbriton.co.uk/truro-city-surrender-2-0-lead-to-draw-at-hampton-richmond/story-29638972-detail/story.html

Truro City 1 Bath City 3

Truro suffered their first ever defeat against Bath (they have only met four times) when they lost to The Romans at Treyew Road on Tuesday evening – a result which dropped the home side down to 14th in the National League South table.
All the goals of a disappointing night for the home side, came in the second half, with big Bath striker Marvin Morgan and a disputed Billy Murphy penalty putting the visitors 2-0.
A late Ryan Brett goal gave Truro brief hope, but Bath substitute Shaquille Hunter sealed the points for the visitors at the death with their third goal as they moved up to tenth in the table.

 

City boss Lee Hodges made one change from the side that won at Concord, with former Tavistock striker Jack Crago making his first start since signing in the summer, in place of the injured Rory Fallon.
It was City who had the early openings, with Niall Thomson shooting wide and then Rocky Neal was unable to get a touch to Thomson's low cross from the right.
But the visitors then got into the match with Naby Diallo's shot well held by Adriano Basso and Stuart Fleetwood had a shot blocked after Thomson carelessly gave the ball away in midfield.
Most of the threat to what looked like a very shaky Truro defence all night, was coming from Bath, with full back Dan Bowman making a strong run down the right, but Morgan's shot was deflected for a corner which Chas Hemmings headed wide.
The home side were struggling to make much impression and never seriously tested Bath keeper Steve Phillips in what was a pretty uneventful and low quality opening 45 minutes.
Both sides had openings at start of second half, with Morgan denied by Basso and Crago having a shot deflected over.
It was Bath though who made the crucial breakthrough after 54 minutes when Morgan was put in down the left and beat Basso to make it 1-0.
City came so close to an equaliser when Rocky Neal was superbly denied by Steve Phillips from close range, with skipper Arran Pugh, who was making his 250th Truro appearance, seeing his header from the resultant Brett corner pushed onto the bar by Phillips at the expense of another corner, which was again scrambled clear.
However, with less than ten minutes left referee Richard Hulme adjudged Jamie Richards had brought down former City favourite Andy Watkins just inside the area, but it looked a highly marginal call to say the least.
But whatever the validity of the award, Billy Murphy made no mistake from the spot kick and the game looked over.
Somehow, with three minutes, left City got back into the match after a terrific goalmouth scramble saw Ryan Brett force the ball home.
And in more incredible goalmouth mayhem, City somehow could not force an equaliser, with the ball hitting the bar and being cleared off the line as Bath survived.
However, with a minute left Hunter lashed the ball into the roof of the net to put the result beyond doubt and leave Truro still looking for their first home win of the campaign.
There is certainly plenty of room for improvement.
They are next in action at Hampton and Richmond on Saturday.
TRURO CITY: Basso; White, Pugh (capt), Bentley, Richards; Thomson, Adelsbury, Cooke, Brett, Crago (Afful 66), Neal.
Subs (not used); Smith, Knowles, Allen, McHale (GK)
BATH CITY: Phillips; Bowman, Monthe, Hemmings, Ball (capt), Diallo (Hunter half time), Murphy, Rigg, Watkins, Morgan (Hutchinson 88), Fleetwood (Marshall 75).
Subs (not used): Elcock , Batten.
Goals: Morgan (54) 0-1, Murphy (pen 81) 0-2, Brett (87) 1-2; Hunter (89) 1-3.
Referee: Richard Hulme.
Crowd: 486.

Concord Rangers 0-2 Truro City

Truro City earn opening win of season as Rocky scores on first start
By Rhod_Mitchell | August 13, 2016



 
Concord Rangers 0 Truro City 2
A first City goal for summer signing Rocky Neal and one from skipper Arran Pugh, helped City to their first National League South win of the season after making the long trip to Canvey Island to play bottom club Concord Rangers.
It was a much needed win for Lee Hodges's side after taking just one point from their opening two games and lifted them eight places up the table to tenth.
For the game, Hodges made just one change, with Neal, who scored 60 goals for Bodmin last season, coming in for the suspended River Allen, for his first start after coming on from the bench in City's opening two games.

 

And Neal showed his goalscoring prowess by giving City the lead against The Beach Boys after 33 minutes and five minutes later Pugh made it 2-0 with his 21st goal for the club on his 249th appearance for the club.
It was then a case of whether City could keep their first clean sheet of the season, especially after surrendering a 2-0 lead in the opening match against Chelmsford City.
But they withstood all the home side could throw at them at their Aspect Arena ground to take the three points.
City are next in action at home to Bath City, who also got their first win today, beating St Albans City 3-0, on Tuesday evening (7.45pm)
Concord Rangers: McNamara, Girdlestone, Collins, Dowie, Easterford (Teniola 47), Ekpiteta, Hodd,White (capt), Akrofi, Cawley, Carlos (Mason 80). Subs (not used): Topley, Onyemah, Young (GK).
City: Basso; White, Pugh (capt), Bentley, Richards, Adelsbury, Cooke, Brett, Thompson (Afful 84), Fallon (Crago 66), Neal. Subs (not used): Smith, Knowles, McHale (GK).
Goals: Neal (33) 0-1, Pugh (38) 0-2.
Crowd: 198

Gosport Borough 3-1 Truro City

Truro City suffer defeat at Gosport Borough
By Rhod Mitchell | August 09, 2016

Gosport Borough 3 Truro City 1

 

City went down to defeat in Hampshire on Tuesday night, to leave them with just one point from their opening two National League South matches.
Lee Hodges named an unchanged City side from the one that drew 2-2 at home to Chelmsford City on Saturday, with new loan signing Jack Smith on the bench.
After Chris Flood had put the home side ahead after 25 minutes, when City failed to clear a corner, the visitors got back on level terms four minutes into the second half when Sam Pearce brought down Niall Thomson from behind and the former Torquay United man levelled from the spot, shooting past former Truro keeper Martin Rice.
Rice then made a fine save to keep out a Ryan Brett kick before Gosport regained the lead after 71 minutes, with Warren Bentley following up to score after Adriano Basso had parried a fierce shot from Tom Bird.

 

And with four minutes left, with City pushing forward, Bentley ran clear to make it 3-1 and put the result beyond doubt.
And City boss Lee Hodges admitted he was "bitterly disappointed" with his side's performance, especially after the promise shown in the opening game against Chelmsford.
"We never really got going," he said.
"For the first ten minutes we looked dangerous and Niall had a good chance but shot wide and then we allowed them to get into match.
"We conceded a sloppy goal from a corner but then tinkered with a few things and it looked better.
"When Niall got the penalty I thought we could go and get something from the game, even though we were not playing great.
"It was very disappointing, the boys looked bit leggy. We have now got to pick it up at Concord on Saturday.
"I would like to thank the fans who came and supported us and it was gutting we could not have played better."
The result leaves City 17th in the table.

Truro City 2-2 Chelmsford

Ten man Truro City denied opening day win by 89th minute Chelmsford goal
By Rhod Mitchell | August 06, 2016

 

Truro City 2 Chelmsford City 2
Ten man City conceded a 89th minute goal as they were denied an opening day National League South victory ,after leading the Essex visitors 2-0 at half time.
Goals by Cody Cooke, on his 200th City appearance and Shane White had put the home side in command at the break and they also missed chances to put the game out of sight.
But after the break, Chelmsford applied plenty of pressure, with a Chris Rush free-kick on the hour getting them back into the match.

 

And with 20 minutes left, City's cause was not helped when River Allen was sent off for a second bookable offence after making a rash challenge, after picking up a soft yellow card in the first half for not retreating ten yards from a free-kick.
City though held out until a minute from time when substitute Shamir Mullings headed home from close range to ensure honours ended even on a hot afternoon at Treyew Road.
It was the first competitive game back for City manager Lee Hodges and he gave a debut to new signing Adriano Basso in goal and the former Bristol City and Hull No 1 enjoyed an outstanding match.
Rory Fallon, River Allen, Niall Thompson also started alongside seven of last season's successful squad.
And the game could hardly have started better for City as Cooke pounced on a defensive mistake to lash the ball past Chelmsford keeper Joe Welch in the fifth minute.
But Basso then had to bring off a superb close range double save to deny Billy Bricknell before after 22 minutes White latched onto a loose ball from Ryan Brett's corner to drill a low shot into the net to make it 2-0.
It was virtually all Truro and Brett had a shot cleared off the line with Welch beaten and just before the break wasted a golden chance to make it 3-09 when he shot wide at the far post from Cooke's cross.
Just before half time City skipper Arran Pugh put in a superb challenge to deny Bricknell and ensure the home side went in 2-0 up at the break.
At the start of the second half Thompson's first time shot forced a fingertip save from Welch, but it was a rare threat from the home side in the second period.Chelmsford continued to apply the pressure and finally beat Basso with Rush's free-kick into the bottom corner.
After Allen saw red for his challenge on Ashley Miller, it was really backs to the wall for City.But they dug deep with Basso somehow denying sub Shaun Jeffers, with Robbie Wilmott blasting the loose ball over.
City though looked to have done enough to secure all three points until Mullings rose at the far post to power home a Willmott cross for the right to ensure a point.It was tough on the home side after such a good start, but there was plenty of positives to take into Tuesday's match at Gosport Borough who lost 3-0 at Maidenhead United.
TRURO CITY: Basso; White, Pugh (capt), Bentley, Richards, Allen, Cooke, Adelsbury, Brett, Fallon, Thompson (Neal 82). Subs (not used): Hardcastle, Afful, Williams, McHale.
CHELMSFORD CITY: Welch; Miller (Graham 70), Haines, Bush, Blanchett (Mulings 82), Willmott, Daley, Church, Cornhill, Willmott, Bricknell, Reid (Jeffers 59). Subs (Not used): Merrifield, Bailey-Dennis.
Goals: Cooke (5) 1-0, White (22) 2-0; Rush (61) 2-1, Mullings (89) 2-2.
Crowd: 502.
Referee: Savva Yianni