Truro City moved up to third in the National League South standings with a hard-fought win over struggling Aveley. 

The Millers, who arrived in the Duchy with the division’s worst away record, had the better chances of a scrappy opening 45 minutes as Razzaq Coleman De Graft’s effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Dan Lavercombe.

But after the turnaround, with City boss John Askey using his substitutions to good effect, Truro were much improved as both Jaze Kabia and Connor Riley-Lowe had chances to break the deadlock. 

However, Aveley stunned City when they took the lead after an hour through defender Brooklyn Kabongolo.

The Millers’ advantage didn’t last long though as Tyler Harvey restored parity for his 15th of the season and 21 minutes from time, Tom Harrison completed the turnaround to secure all three points for City. 

Truro made two changes from the side which secured a point at fellow promotion chasers Eastbourne Borough in their last outing. Yassine En-Neyah replaced Dan Ronney in midfield while Andrew Neal came in for Dominic Johnson-Fisher. On the bench, there was a first inclusion in a matchday squad for Michell Bates, City’s recent loan acquisition from Championship side Swansea City. 

Truro lost the toss and were forced to attack the Eastern Stand in the first half, but the hosts started brightly and spent the opening exchanges camped in the Aveley half. They couldn’t muster a clear goalscoring opportunity and as the first period wore on, it was the Millers who edged proceedings. 

Firstly, Lavercombe earned his corn for the afternoon with a magnificent finger tip save to push Coleman De Graft’s effort from just outside the box onto the woodwork. The City custodian was also called into action when Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain slipped and Josh Anifowose raced clear, only to be denied by Lavercombe.

At the other end, Billy Palfrey and Harrison headed wide of the target and the game remained without a goal at the turnaround. 

The start of the second stanza saw Zac Bell into the action for his City bow, replacing Ryan Law with Jaze Kabia joining the Maidenhead loanee shortly after as En-Neyah was withdrawn. 

And those changes very much had the desired effect for City as Kabia was denied low down at his near post by visiting incumbent Jason Holden before a well-worked short corner resulted in Riley-Lowe firing over. 

It looked like being a case of when, rather than if City would break the deadlock but the game’s opening goal came at the other end. 

Teenage substitute Jaxon Brown, with his first touch after coming on, hung the ball up to the back post from a free-kick just outside the City box. It found Kabongolo, who headed down and into the far corner, giving Lavercombe no chance. 

City’s response was almost immediate as Sam Sanders won the ball from the restart and Kabongolo could only slice a clearance out for a throw. 

It was taken by Oxlade-Chamberlain, who found the head of Sanders and the ball appeared to go straight past Holden via a deflection. However, Harvey claimed the final touch as Harry Beadle’s attempt to head away before it crossed the line, glanced off City’s talisman. 

The leveller saw Truro very much with their tails up and Bell, who impressed in his 45 minute cameo, drove forward and fed Will Dean, making his 200th City appearance, but Holden held his shot from outside the box well. 

City’s winning moment came as the final 20 minutes approached and it was a near carbon copy of the equaliser. 

Once more Oxlade-Chamberlain wound up a long throw and when delivered, it wasn’t dealt with by Aveley. Tom Harrison sent the ball towards goal and after another ricochet off a blue shirt, Holden was beaten once more and City were ahead. 

Despite a raft of away substitutes, Aveley couldn’t find a route back into the game as City hunted a third with time ticking down. 

Dean nearly put the match to bed six minutes shy of the regulation 90 when he worked a shooting opportunity and narrowly fired wide with Holden scrambling across his line. 

Seven minutes of stoppage time may have seen home hearts jittering somewhat, although thankfully, there was to be no late TCS drama, as City saw out the game comfortably to secure their ninth home win of the campaign. 

Match Facts

City: Lavercombe, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Harrison, Sanders, Riley-Lowe, Palfrey, Dean, En-Neyah (Kabia, 51), Law (Bell, 45), Neal, Harvey. Subs not used: Bates, Maja, Johnson-Fisher.

Aveley: Holden, Ring, Beadle, Kabongolo, Carlyle (Holness, 84), Semakula, Anifowose (Hughes, 77), Leathers (Uche, 69), Owen, Coleman De-Graft (Brown, 60), Kawa (Hicks 84).

Referee: Liam Corbett

Attendance: 1478