Truro fans make some noise. (Photo Credits: Dominik Frolec)
Super-sub Keaton Ward scored a 25-yard screamer to condemn Truro City to a 1-0 defeat against Altrincham.
Heading into the match, Truro Sat 23rd in the league on 12 points, albeit only 1 point from safety, with a win, two draws and two defeats in their last 5 outings.
The club’s best player, Tyler Harvey, has been injured for much of this season, which has plagued the team’s efforts in front of goal.
Truro lined-up in a 5-3-2 formation, with Lavercombe in goal, Bell, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanders, Law and Riley-Lowe in defence, Dean, Rooney and Hasani making up the midfield three, and Johnson-Fisher and Pyke in attack.
Harvey was named on the bench, much to the excitement of the Truro City supporters.
This was the first time the talismanic striker had featured in a matchday squad since the 20th of September.
A sell out crowd of 3184 fans attended the match, including 146 away fans, who made the 318-mile journey from Cheshire.
Truro City continue their first ever season in the National League, following a historic campaign in the 24/25 season which saw them promoted from the 6th tier of English football as Champions.
This saw Truro City, who are also known as ‘The Tinners’, become the first ever Cornish Football team to achieve professional status.
The game began with a moments’ silence, with remembrance Sunday being the following day.
Once the game began however, the Truro City supporters were in good voice, the ground booming with many of the classic Truro City chants.
“We’re the biggest team in Cornwall, and now we’re finally back, with Yetty on the sidelines, Tyler Harvey in attack, you’ll find us in the east stand, making all the noise, so sing your f***ing hearts out, for the Truro City boys”
‘Yetty’ is the nickname for current Assistant Manager Stewart Yetton, a Truro City Legend, and the clubs’ all-time leading goalscorer with 232 goals in all competitions for ‘The Tinners’.
The first half was a rather cagey affair, with both sides playing to avoid defeat rather than going for the win.
Truro City created a good chance on 8 minutes, after a well-timed cross from Connor Riley-Lowe found the head of Rekeil Pyke, whose effort was tipped just over the bar by Altrincham keeper Luke Hutchinson.
The biggest moment of the first 45 minutes came on the half-hour mark, when Altrincham striker James Gale volleyed the ball into the net from close range, but the goal was disallowed following infringement on Truro keeper Dan Lavercombe in the build up.
Truro defended bravely but conceded a great many corners, which put them under immense pressure as Altrincham have a great deal of height in their team.
Some questionable calls from referee Emily Heaslip also did not help their fortunes.
As the 2nd half began, the away side came roaring out of the gates, and only the stellar positioning and anticipation of Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain who got onto the ball and cleared it off the line stopped Truro from going behind.
Truro faced wave after wave of attacks and were rescued on numerous occasions by some solid goalkeeping from Lavercombe, or by the wastefulness of the opposition.
Tyler Harvey was brought on with 11 minutes to go, to much adoration from the home crowd.
Altrincham finally broke the deadlock on 81 minutes, after a loose ball bounced out of the Truro penalty box and was returned with interest, courtesy of Midfielder Keanton Ward.
A sublime strike from 25 yards out left Lavercombe with no chance.
With time running out, Harvey looked lively and tried his best to bring Truro city level with two late chances he created for himself, and was unlucky not to score.
The match finished, Truro City 0, Altrincham 1.
Truro unable to avoid defeat. (Photo Credits: Dominik Frolec)
The Altrincham goalkeeper took glee in sarcastically clapping the Truro supporters as he walked off, which greatly incensed them.
One rather curious event that happened at the end of the game was that a small group of ‘ignorant’ teenagers booed the team.
Many of the more loyal fans were furious.
As this was taking place, our reporter happened to meet Sharon, a former Truro Ladies player, she also played for Arsenal Women from 1991 to 1993 under manager Vic Ackers, before spells with Watford Ladies and Hertfordshire County. “Football runs through my veins”, she commented.
Sharon was understandably annoyed at the booing and stated that “behaviour like that” was unacceptable, and that those people “had no clue” (about what it means to be a football fan).
Despite the result and drama in the stands, the match made for interesting viewing.
It is a wonderful thing for Cornish Football to have a professional team, and it brings the local community a lot of joy to have a quality side to root for, some fans travelled from as far as Penzance or Devon to see the game.
Our reporter also spoke to a few of the diehard Truro faithful, who were frustrated at the team’s reluctance to “just take a shot” more often, but were happy to be there, part of the community, singing along as a harmonious unit on a cold November afternoon.
One supporter said it was “much more like a family”, comparing the authenticity of non-league football to the overly commercial and corporatized state of the Premier League.
Our reporter plans to attend Truro’s next home game against Sutton United, which takes place tomorrow.