Boss John Askey says his Truro City side need to be at their ‘absolute best’ against Hornchurch tomorrow. 

The Tinners make the 600-mile round trip to Essex firmly in the National League South title mix, whilst wary of the threat posed by the Urchins, who defeated Worthing 1-0 two weeks ago, to blow the quest for top spot wide open. 

“Hornchurch is a difficult place to go, as was proved the other week when they beat Worthing,” Askey told trurocity.co.uk. “It is not going to be easy, just like all the games between now and the end of the season. 

“There is a lot riding on the game for us and we will have to be at our absolute best to get something from the game.

“Hornchurch have a good manager and great staff, so they will be giving it everything on Saturday to win the game. 

“The league has proved that with a little turn of fortune, teams in mid-table can be in the play-off positions. That would certainly apply to Hornchurch and although it is going to be a difficult game, it is one we are looking forward to. 

“We know what we have to do between now and the end of the season which makes for exciting times for us.”

When the teams met at the TCS back in January, the weather conditions opposed to the match result were the main talking points. 

In freezing temperatures, torrential rain and gale-force winds, City took the lead eight minutes from time when Billy Palfrey struck.

In stoppage time, Darren McQueen had seemingly snatched a share of the spoils for Daryl McMahon’s side. However, whilst the Hornchurch players were celebrating, defender Harry Gibbs was forced off with suspected hypothermia, because of the conditions. 

In time further added on, City went straight back up the other end and Rocky Neal scored the decisive winning goal to hand Truro a 2-1 victory.

“It was a tough game at our place with the elements catching up with Hornchurch at the end,” Askey added. “One of their players has gone off with hypothermia and perhaps he still hasn’t defrosted because it was so cold that day. 

“We managed to win the last few minutes, so we know it won’t be easy going to Hornchurch although we are confident. 

“They will be trying to repeat the dose with us after beating Worthing and we need to give it absolutely everything to come away with three points.”