First Team
National League South Sat 26 October Truro Sports Hub
Truro City
2
Tonbridge Angels
1
2-1

Tonbridge Angels are next up for the Tinners with the Kent outfit travelling to the TCS, for the side’s latest National League South match – Saturday 3.00pm.

City will be looking to make it five games unbeaten and secure a third consecutive home win, to cap an impressive October for John Askey’s side.

Last time at home, Truro eased Hampton & Richmond aside 3-0 with Tyler Harvey (2) and Connor Riley-Lowe on target.

This moved City up to second in the standings and set up an intriguing clash with league leaders Farnborough on Tuesday.

And the battle for top spot did not disappoint as the two teams shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw. But the scoreline only told half the story as City took a 12th minute lead with Harvey firing home a magnificent free-kick from 25-yards for his ninth of the season.

Farnborough found City a tough nut to crack in response to falling behind with the game changing in the 66th minute when the visitors were reduced to nine men. Both Billy Palfrey and Connor Riley-Lowe were shown second yellow cards, meaning it would be back to the walls stuff for Truro.

The Tinners defended with gusto as Farnborough threw everything at them, with the equaliser coming from Taylor Clark’s deflected shot eight minutes from time.

After drawing level, Farnborough upped the ante, but found Dan Lavercombe in fine form as the rest of normal time and 12 additional minutes saw Truro hold on for a heroic point.

Billy Palfrey battles with Farnborough’s Aaron Kuhl – Picture: Dave Vokes

In Opposition

Tonbridge arrive in the Duchy on the back of a fine 1-0 home win over pre-season promotion favourites Dorking Wanderers, in the side’s last outing.

Jamie Fielding scored the only goal of the game after five minutes as Jay Saunders’ side returned to winning ways after Tonbridge had suffered successive league defeats on the road at Worthing (3-2) and Slough (3-1).

Sandwiched between those two defeats, Jay Saunders (pictured below) led his side to the first round of the FA Cup after a defeated Cray Wanderers 1-0 in the fourth qualifying round.

The draw has paired the Kent outfit with Southern League Premier Central side Harborough Town, with this game taking place at Longmead on Saturday, November 2.

Tonbridge manager Jay Saunders – Picture: James Whitehead/PPAUK

Bits and Pieces

  • Truro were defeated 2-1 by the Angels in both games between the two sides last year.
  • Tomorrow’s game will be the seventh meeting between City and Tonbridge.
  • In all of those encounters, no game has ever finished as a draw.
  • City have won two games against Tonbridge and both of those came at Treyew Road.
  • Truro’s last win over Tonbridge came in the 2012-23 season when City prevailed 2-0 thanks to goals from Marcus Martin and Kieffer Moore.
  • It was a repeat of the score from the previous season’s game in the Duchy with Les Afful and Ed Palmer on target for Truro.
Kieffer Moore in action for Truro City

Last Time We Met

City’s winless run at Longmead continued when the two teams met earlier this year although for 84 minutes, it looked like the hoodoo would be lifted.

Josh Hinds, brother of Tonbridge’s Tariq, put City ahead after Jordan Higgs gave the ball away under no pressure inside his own box.

Hinds, who had joined the club on non-contract terms after he was unable to secure international clearance to play for Scottish Championship side Queens Park, scored what turned out to be his only goal in a City shirt.

After he was released by Truro over the summer, he subsequently rejoined the Spiders after obtaining the correct paperwork.

Higgs then went from villain to hero six minutes from time when he fired home in the box.

The spoils looked like they would be shared until deep into stoppage time when Jamie Fielding finished in similar fashion to give his side a 2-1 win.

Sir John’s Thoughts

“To come away with another win from the Hampton game was very pleasing and this set things up nicely for our midweek trip to Farnborough – a game that had just about everything.

“I couldn’t be any more pleased with the way the lads performed at Farnborough. We showed grit and determination, like we have done all season and if we keep doing that, we’ll get where we want to be.

“Before the game, we would have settled for a point, so given the circumstances we had to contend with, it is a fantastic point.

“Farnborough had a lot of the ball, but how many times did they work Dan Lavercombe? It wasn’t until we went down to nine men that Dan had to make some saves.

“Their goal is from a big deflection and every single player worked really hard, against probably the best team we have played so far this year. Overall it is a really good point.

“We weren’t disappointed with Tuesday because the point keeps our good run going and we looked solid. If we keep being organised and people keep doing their jobs, we will get goals.

“Tyler came up with another fantastic free-kick and overall, we have just got to keep going and see where it takes us.”

Tickets

Tickets are available in advance until 11.00am on matchdays. After that, entry is pay on the gate.

Prices increase by £2 across all categories on the gate, compared to advanced prices.

To buy tickets and for more information click HERE

Matchday Information

Ahead of today’s game at the Truro City Stadium, the club have put together this handy guide which will help with frequently asked questions.

To read our matchday guide – click HERE

Truro fans during last Saturday’s game against Hampton – Picture: Colin Bradbury

Follow the Match

Our official X (formerly Twitter) handle will have all the build-up, in-game action and post-match reaction.

Follow Truro City on X

There is also live commentary of today’s game on BBC Radio Cornwall. This commentary is available on FM/DAB and BBC Sounds. To listen – Click Here