Match Overview

Truro City begin 2026 on the road as they travel to Roots Hall to face Southend United in the Enterprise National League this afternoon (Saturday) – 3.00pm, writes Ronan Tregoning. 

The Tinners will be keen to carry their momentum into the new year after a fruitful festive period. City have picked up seven points in the last four games moving off the bottom of the table. Recent performances showing encouraging signs as they continue to once again defy pre-season odds and for 2025-26, the drop. 

Southend, meanwhile, remain firmly in the play-off picture but have endured a testing run of fixtures against teams around them in the table. Kevin Maher’s side have started to find consistency as the season has progressed, with their defensive record continuing to rank among the strongest in the division.

This fixture represents an opportunity for Truro to make a statement at the start of the new year. City will look to combine their energy and work rate with greater efficiency in the final third, while remaining disciplined against a Southend side capable of punishing mistakes, as seen in the two sides’ recent Isuzu FA Trophy clash. 

With both teams eager to build momentum heading into the second half of the campaign, a competitive and finely balanced contest is expected at Roots Hall.

Opposition View

Southend United made a strong start to the campaign, enjoying an extended unbeaten run in the opening weeks and establishing themselves early among the National League’s play-off contenders. As the season has developed, results against those around them became more inconsistent, leaving the Shrimpers battling to maintain their place inside the top seven.

Manager Kevin Maher continues to oversee a side built on experienced campaigners with emerging talent. Despite fluctuations in form, Southend remain one of the division’s most defensively solid outfits, conceding fewer goals than any team bar Rochdale.

Maher’s team are particularly effective when transitioning quickly from defence to attack, with width and set-piece delivery key components of their approach. Full-backs are encouraged to push on, while Southend’s physical presence makes them a threat in both boxes.

Bulgarian forward Slavi Spasov is one of Southend’s primary attacking outlets and a constant threat in the final third. The striker, who last season faced City whilst playing for Slough Town, combines intelligent movement with sharp finishing, capable of creating chances for himself as well as bringing others into play.

Spasov’s work rate off the ball makes him a key part of Maher’s pressing system, while his ability to find space in crowded penalty areas means Truro’s back line will need to remain switched on throughout. 

If given opportunities, the forward has shown he can be clinical, making him a player City will be keen to keep quiet at Roots Hall

Last Time We Met

The two sides last met at Roots Hall in December, when Truro City made their first-ever visit to the Essex ground in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

On the day, The Shrimpers progressed with a 4-0 victory, capitalising on key moments either side of half-time to put the tie beyond City. Returning striker Harry Cardwell (pictured below) opened the scoring midway through the first half, finishing from close range after good work between Sam Austin and Oli Coker, before Jack Bridge doubled the hosts’ advantage with a well-taken strike from distance in added time.

Truro made changes at the break and showed greater intent early in the second half, enjoying more possession and territory as they looked to find a way back into the contest. However, just as City appeared to be building momentum, Southend struck again shortly after the hour, Josh Walker heading home from Bridge’s cross to effectively settle the tie.

Despite continued effort from the visitors and a late return to action for Dominic Johnson-Fisher, the Shrimpers added a fourth in the closing stages, Bridge completing his brace with a deflected effort off Tom Harrison as Southend sealed their passage into the next round.

While the scoreline ultimately reflected Southend’s efficiency and experience, the fixture again highlighted the fine margins Truro face at this level. As the sides prepare to meet once more, City will look to apply the lessons learned from that FA Trophy encounter and turn competitiveness into reward as they begin the new year.

Connections

Other than Jamie Richards, who was born in Southend and spent part of his youth career at the club before becoming a mainstay at Truro City, there are no direct playing or managerial links between the two sides.

However, their first-ever National League meeting in August was another landmark moment for the Tinners, coming in only the second home game of their inaugural season at this level. It was the second consecutive attendance for a National League game in Cornwall where the crowd was in excess of 3,000.

It was also the fourth league match in succession across two seasons that the crowd was also more than 3,000.

The match ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat for Truro, with Sam Austin scoring the decisive goal for Southend. 

Despite the result, City showed plenty of promise, matching the visitors for long periods and creating several clear chances. With the crowd figure in mind, it also served as a statement of the growing support for the club during its rise to the top table of the non-league pyramid.

That first encounter at the TCS offered an early test of the intensity, pace, and tactical awareness required at Step One. It highlighted both the challenges Truro would face and the potential within the squad, serving as a valuable learning experience for players and coaching staff alike.

As the sides prepare to meet again, this fixture represents more than just another game in the calendar. It is an opportunity for Truro to draw on the lessons of that August clash, harness the growing confidence within the squad, and continue establishing themselves as a competitive force in the National League.

Match Information

To read our ‘Away Day’s guide to Southend United – Click Here

Follow the Match

If you’re unable to attend the game, there are various ways you can follow the action.

As with every Truro City game this season, there will be live and uninterrupted commentary via BBC Radio Cornwall from our very own Gareth Davies.

The game will be available across all platforms which includes FM, DAB in Cornwall, the BBC Sport website and BBC Sounds. If you have a smart speaker, just ask it to play BBC Radio Cornwall.

To listen via BBC Sounds – Click Here

There will also be a live stream via DAZN. To purchase a subscription and stream – Click Here

And finally, you can follow the game via our official X handle @tcfc_official  with pre-match build-up, in game updates and post match reaction too.