Recap
Game Details
Taunton Town vs Truro City
Date: November 3rd 2020
Competition: Buildbase FA Trophy 3rd Round Qualifying
Venue: Cygnet Health Care Stadium
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Attendance: 427
Match Report
Truro reversed the scoreline and gained revenge for their recent defeat in the FA Cup with victory over the Peacocks in the FA Trophy. An even first half saw the sides retire level but by the hour the White Tigers were two goals ahead and despite Town pulling one back they conceded another soon after to hand the Cornish club their first success in six matches against them.
In the final match before Step 3 football goes into lockdown for a month, the Peacocks actually made the brighter start on a crisp autumn evening under the lights. However it was Truro who made the early breakthrough when former Town man Ryan Brett floated a corner in from the left and Jamie Richards planted a free header past Lloyd Irish with 11 minutes on the clock. Town were not trailing for long, hitting back to equalise two minutes later. Jamie Short lifted the ball forward to Gethyn Hill on the left and his pass across the box was finished by Toby Holmes on the far post for his 11th goal of the season.
Play swung from end to end for the remainder of the first half but neither side was able to add to their tally. Dan Sullivan’s deflected shot looped over to Hill whose overhead strike was wide, then Holmes evaded a challenge to fire in a shot which was blocked. At the opposite end, Tyler Harvey curled an effort just wide from the edge of the box while Alex Battle’s deflected shot earnt a corner from which Richards headed wide at the near post.
Battle weaved in from the left to send another pot over the bar before Town skipper Nick Grimes marauded down the pitch, only to see his shot have the sting taken out of it and prove a safe capture for City keeper James Hamon to leave it all square at the break. The Peacocks were still in the changing rooms when Truro regained the lead two minutes into the second half when a ricochet from a goal kick was latched on to by Harvey who was quick to turn and fire beyond Irish into the far corner from 15 yards.
Former Peacock Shane White headed a Brett free kick wide as the visitors pressed for a third before Town were unfortunate not to draw level, good work by Hill on the right seeing him tee up Jay Foulston whose goalbound shot hit Holmes rather than the net. From that attack Truro broke ending with Battle drilling a strike over but a third goal soon materialized on 61 minutes, Irish unable to gather White’s cross and when Andrew Neal returned the ball into the middle Richards converted from close range.
Town gave themselves hope after 68 minutes with a second goal. After Hill was fouled 20 yards out Foulston’s free kick skimmed the post as it beat the dive of Hamon. However it was not to be. Harvey fired a free kick wide before he registered his second goal of the night on 74 minutes, a break down the left seeing Connor Riley-Lowe’s cross deflecting up and over to the City striker who neatly flicked a header over Irish at the near post.
The Peacocks kept persevering, with Sullivan driving wide of the post from Hill’s pass, then substitute Owen Howe’s half volley held by Hamon. There was to be no comeback though as Town’s Cup interest ended for the season ended ahead of another enforced break.
Line-Ups
Taunton: Lloyd Irish, Jamie Short (Dan McBeam 67), Jay Foulston, Ben Adelsbury, Nick Grimes (captain), Jack Goodall, Ollie Chamberlain, Gethyn Hill (Ross Staley 85), Toby Holmes, Dan Sullivan, Joe Guest (Owen Howe 76). Unused subs: Lee Lucas, Jordan Copp
Truro: James Hamon, Niall Thompson, Connor Riley-Lowe, Ed Palmer (Reuben Collins 79), Shane White, Jamie Richards (captain), Alex Battle (Kieran Hayes 67), Tyler Harvey, Dan Rooney, Ryan Brett, Andrew Neal. Unused subs: Stewart Yetton, Kieran Rowe, Rio Garside, George Tucker
Officials
Referee: Richard Lawrence (Chard)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Scott Robertson (Barnstaple)
Referee’s Assistant 2: Jonathan Veale (Exeter)
Match Reaction
Match Highlights
Match Photos
Albert Goodman Man of the Match
Jay Foulston, photo to follow