Hemel match report by Nathan Lees (from official Hemel site) plus comment from Steve C.

Hemel Hempstead 3 Truro City 0

 

Truro, having secured more away points than at home in the league took the arduous journey up to Hertfordshire to face high flying Hemel Hempstead Town with a significant 17 points that separated the two teams at kick off.

 

The first chance of the game fell in the way of the Tudors. Paul Kendall, Truro's captain, recklessly dived in to a challenge and earned himself a booking in the process early on. The free kick to follow saw Ben Mackey's low drive nearly tucked home from Dave Pearce. It was the Tudors once more with the chance as a driving run from James Folkes gave room for Parkes to shoot, and his curling effort skimmed the top of the bar to the crowd’s dismay.

 

Paul Kendall then dived in to another dangerous tackle; he was walking a very fine line. Talbot took the free kick and his tremendous strike was tipped over the bar by the visiting keeper. After a flurry of Hemel pressure the long awaited goal finally came for the Tudors. A perfectly waited ball in found Kieran Murphy and he was on hand to head home. 1-0.

The teams went into the break from a half where chances were few and far between.The second half began where the first let off, with Hemel on top. Ben Mackey found himself with the ball at his feet and after going round the third player to the delight of the home support he struck, however his shot did not match the run as it flew into the stand.

 It was almost a replica of moments ago, Mackey ran at the defence and once more he beat his man but this time his shot went wide. The second eventually came for the Tudors as Hutton's looping ball in was sweetly volleyed home by Dave Pearce in the 71st minute to double their advantage. Ben Mackey was then replaced by Charie Mpi and he had an immediate impact. He went round the travelling keeper and fired it into the net to grab the third for Hemel in the 82nd minute.

 

A good chance for Truro followed with Neil Slateford beating two men but his shot was inches wide of the mark. Dave Pearce was proving too much to deal with for Truro in the latter stages of the game and he crossed for Mpi. His bullet header was instinctively saved by the keeper. The final whistle blew and the result was made ever so much sweeter for the home fans with the welcome news of local rivals Chesham losing at home to Burnham. This meant that Hemel went top of the Calor gas league after this hard fought victory.

Hemel line-up: Walker, King, Connolly, Parkes, Murphy, May, Talbot (Allen), Hutton, Pearce, Mackey (Mpi), Faulkes (Berwick). Unused subs: Hawkins, Maissiat.

Man of the match: Dave Pearce.

 

Steve Clark comment:

Well I'll start it off then, in my opinion we played quite well against a very good team.

In the first half I actually thought we were the better team although they created better chances.

On their forum, they said "we were made to fight for it when Truro looked good for about twenty minutes in the second half but goals from Pearce and Mpi finished them off."

That's how I saw the second half which started really brightly for us without too many clear cut chances.

Their 2nd goal was a fantastic volley that is difficult to do anything about and then as we tried to chase the game they broke and got a 3rd.

Another comment from their forum: "Excellent win against a big skilful team I reckon. Mackey was a total handful at all times and the new boys looked good. Special mention for their fans who were excellent. Fair play to them. Truro will play worse than that and win games."

Grant made some excellent saves but needs to work on his distribution I would say.

I don't think anyone had a bad game and up front.  Ben Watson worked his socks off but nothing is breaking for him, unlike his first few games.

Liam Eddy is improving with every match and needs to keep learning which runs to make and when.

Whilst I didn't think Hemel were excellent, I heard that our central defenders said their forwards were the best they had played all season so if anything that shows how well we did defend with the exception of the 1st goal (I don't know who lost their man to allow a relatively free header).

I certainly saw enough to keep me confident that our league position is slightly false and that we are good enough to get results against anyone in this league.

Our fans were awesome once again and it was still a good day out.

I will finish with a quote from Bill Shankly which should be read to any doubters or people who are considering not going as we're not top & winning every game by at least 4 goals "If you can't support us when we lose or draw, don't support us when we win."

By that I mean let's support OUR team in the good and bad times with equal measure.       

A brief history of The Aubrey Wilkes Memorial Trophy

Back when the two clubs (Truro and Falmouth) were playing in the same league (South Western) it wasn’t too much of a problem to arrange this game, as in the early days it was competed for in their first competitive meeting of the season. However, nowadays it’s not quite so easy with three steps of the The FA's National League System separating the two clubs.

It’s understood Aubrey Wilkes was a great follower of Cornish football, especially Falmouth and Truro, hence the trophy being donated for the two to fight out for each season.  (Wilkes is also understood to have been a past Chairman of Falmouth Town.  The massive trophy itself is Spanish in design and was brought back from Spain whilst a Mr Chinn, a well known Falmouth supporter was on holiday there).

The first challenge was settled in the South Western League clash between the two on the 25th March 1989, at City’s Treyew Road and although things were level at half-time, Town pulled away after the break to finish 4-1 winners.

While Town’s scorers on the day, Phil Shapcott, George Torrance (2) and Chris “Dodger” Long, are now familiar names of the club’s famous past, Truro’s scorer from over 24 years ago is very much part of the present day set-up as it was first team manager, Steve Massey!

The following season, in fact only six months later, saw the Trophy come to Treyew Road for the first time after City won 2-1 at Bickland Park in a game that was also being played as a South Western League Cup First Round tie.

Dodger Long and Steve Massey both scored again, but another well known Cornish goalscorer notched what proved to be the game’s decisive goal – Mark Rapsey.

The two line ups featured many names that have and in fact still are involved in being managers at clubs throughout the county:-

 Falmouth :- John Dent, Dave Leonard, Dave Ford, Jerry Collins, Dave Gardner, Tommy Matthews, Neil Phillips, Geoff Battams, Chris Long, Darren Northcott, Timmy Allen. Subs - Mark Cozens and Duncan Powell. Manager- Dave Wadd.
Truro :- Dennis Annear, Simon Fisher, Tony Webb, Neil Stephens, Mike Tummon, Vas Koromilas, Dave Streat, Graham Bilkey, Dave Slade, Steve Massey, Mark Rapsey. Subs - Chris Webb and John McCullum.
Manager - Morrish Truscott.

Bringing the trophy up to date, the match scheduled for Tuesday should have been at Falmouth, however due to pitch problems, the game has been switched to Truro. This will be the 19th challenge of the Trophy, with the current winning stats being Truro 8, Falmouth 7 and 3 games ending all square.

The game on Tuesday kicks off at 7.45pm with the club hoping it’s going to be a real Christmas Special with Real Ales, Mulled Wine, Mince Pies and a Super Hog Roast all on offer.

It’s obviously a Cornish based trophy that not many know too much about, but thanks to Falmouth Town’s statistician Mike Odgers for helping me with some of the information.

Recent meetings
Tuesday 12th July 2011:
Falmouth Town 3, Truro City 2

Saturday, July 28, 2012:
Truro City 3, Falmouth Town 2

By Dave Deacon and Steve Rogers
ps. if anyone knows more detailed info on the cup and its origins, please do not hesitate to let us know - we will then update the records.

Hemel vs Truro City Sat 7th December KO 3pm. match preview (from official Hemel site)

The White Tigers make the long journey from Cornwall to visit The Tudors this weekend.

 

The Tudors have yet to beat Truro. Our first meeting was in the 2009/10 season, Truro did the double over us with 3-1 and 0-2 wins. The following season The Tudors held Truro to a 1-1 draw at home but lost 3-0 away.

Truro have won 2 of their last 6 league games, in the build up to this weekends game they won 1-0 at home to Redditch. Truro also recently held league leaders Chesham United to a 1-1 draw. Truro have played 9 away league games so far this season, winning and drawing an even 4, drawing the other one. They have not kept a single clean sheet on the road this season and have lost their last two away league games.

The Tudors go in to this game in the back of a 2-6 win at St Margaretsbury in the Herts Senior Cup, however there are likely to be significant changes to the starting line up for the visit of Truro. Hemel will be looking to bounce back to winning ways in the league after being held to a draw at Cambridge City last Saturday, also The Tudors 100% record of successive home league wins this season is also at stake. The last visitors to Vauxhall Road were AFC Totton who we beat 8-1 last midweek.

For more Hemel FC related stats and information, including head-to-head details of our opponents, visit www.hhtfc.co.uk and follow @thearchiveHHTFC on Twitter.

Aubrey Wilkes Trophy 2012 - TCFC 3 Falmouth Town 2

Jake Ash accepts the trophy from Falmouth Town Chairman.  Vice Chairman Chris Webb stood in for the then Chairman K Heaney.

Summary report from July 2012:

A great effort from Town but a 76th minute overhead kick from Keifer Moore saw Truro regain the Aubrey Wilkes Trophy following their defeat by the same score in last year’s match at Bickland.

The home side took the lead in the 7th minute through Yetton and on 22 minutes former Town favourite Jake Ash scored a great goal from 25 yards to make it  2-0.  

The score was harsh on Town and Dan Magee’s 42nd minute looping shot from 20 yards to reduce the deficit was well deserved.

On 57 minutes Falmouth grabbed the equaliser when the City keeper spilled Wayne Quinn’s powerful free kick and  Matt Drummond was on hand to grab a poacher’s  goal.  Town fans began to believe their team could retain the trophy but another very good Truro strike gave the Blue Square side a narrow victory.

Previous Cup History:
Falmouth: Winners 1988–89, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1995–96, 2011–2012.

Aubrey Wilkes Trophy - Truro City vs Falmouth Town Tues 10th Dec.

Truro City vs Falmouth Town

Tues 10th Dec. KO 7.45pm. - Treyew Road.

A Christmas Special Football Bonanza

In addition to the football, the evening will be a real Christmas Special and will feature a raffle, Super Hog Roast, Mulled Wine, Mince Pies and a wide range of real ales from £2 pp.  Entry price is a very reasonable £5 for 16+ and FREE for under 16's.

This is a night not to be missed.

It's just like Eddy as Truro City end losing run (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton) plus forum comments

Truro City 1 Redditch Utd 0

Recalled striker Liam Eddy’s eighth goal of the season gave City only their second home Calor League premier division win of the season.

​

1. Tempers flare midway throgh the first half. Picture by Jonathan Jacob

The victory ended City’s run of three successive league defeats, which included the 6-0 debacle at Hungerford Town in midweek.

It was also their first clean sheet of the season apart from the 1-0 win at Hinckley, in a game which was subsequently erased from the record books when Hinckley folded.

    

The goal came after 71 minutes, when Eddy turned and slammed the ball home after Arran Pugh had headed a Jordan Copp corner into his path six yards out.

City then had to survive an anxious final few minutes and were indebted to keeper Grant Fisher, on his home debut, for a flying late save to turn away Harvey Headley’s goalbound near post drive at the end.

It was a deserved win for a City side showing five changes form the team that started at Hungerford, with Fisher, Warren Daw, Shane White, Jordan Copp and Eddy coming in for Ollie Chenoweth (unavailable), Steve Tully (injured), Jamie Lowry (unwell), Neil Slateford and Jordan Pearce who both dropped to the bench, where they were joined by new signing Dan Green.

The first half was a pretty lacklustre affair with Fisher saving well from Omari Sterling-Jones, while Les Afful struck the woodwork just before the break.

But the main talking point was an unseemly fracas involving many players from both sides, following a tackle on Eddy, in front of the dug out midway through the half, which saw four players booked, including Paul Kendall and Jordan Copp.

After the break, City began to take a grip on the game and several half chances went begging before Eddy struck.

It was then a case of digging in to ensure a return to winning ways and send City three places up to 15th in the table.

CITY: Fisher; White, Kendall (capt), Pugh, Daw; Afful (Green 78), Cooke, Broad, Copp (Slateford 71), Eddy, Watson. Subs: (Not used); Tully, Pearce.

Redditch Utd: Hornby; Recci, Balinger, Oshungbure, Mutton, Slade, Price, Sammons, Headley, Patterson (Bridgwater 71), Sterling-Jones. Subs (not used); Molyneux, Catlon, Caines, McDonald.

Goals: Eddy (71) 1-0.
Referee: Andrew Bennett (Okehampton).
Crowd: 368

Selected TT Forum comments:

Somerset Spur said:
Yesterdays result gave me more satisfaction,than any other home game ,this season.
It showed me that we have learnt something this season.
We were telling ourselves that after the Bideford game ,the new squad had to adjust and get used to this League.
Against Redditch.we grew up.The Brawl in front of the dugout,and the handbags that were thrown in the Shed End,2nd half,showed that Truro City can now win ugly and will not be intimidated on or off the field.
Roll on Hemel.
MidCornwall White said:
OK - maybe not a brilliant performance, but how many times this season have we played well and come away with nothing - especially at Home ?

If you look at all the successful teams they are able to 'grind' out a result - which is exactly what City did today.

I thought that on the overall balance of play, City just shaded it - Redditch were not spectacular but were no mugs - you still have to beat the 'average' sides !

Redditch probably had the better direct shots at goal, but we played some good football at times and got more 'stuck in'.

My only disappointment was the number of bookings - never a dirty match, apart from that one flare up in the first half - I never had a close view of the incident, as I was on the other side of the ground, but someone said it was a diabolical tackle on Eddy.

Another mediocre Ref - where the heck did he lose the 5 minutes for Eddie's injury to at the end of the first half - I know they have to obey the letter of the law, but I wish some old fashioned common sense would prevail at times - Joe Broad's booking for handball for instance.

So , overall, I felt it was a more spirited, solid performance - helped by some good goalkeeping by the new 'keeper and playing 2 up front from the start - you've always got a chance then to keep a clean sheet and perhaps nick a goal or 2 up the other end.

Also, a word of credit for Steve Massey - I know he has come in for a lot of criticism ( and my jury is still out on him to be honest from the team's point of view) ,but  he came over to us at the end of the game, shook our hands, and thanked us for our support - top guy in that respect !