The visit of Truro City

On Saturday City’s schizophrenic nature reared it’s ugly head once again. After the previous fine performance at Twerton, the boys in black and white had made a midweek trip to Eastbourne Borough and had returned with a superb 3-0 away victory.

Therefore, with bottom of the table Truro City being the visitors and with City apparently in fine fettle, hopes were high that the Cornishmen would be swept aside by a rampant Bath City. Alas, if following City has taught me (and everyone else with a love of the Twerton Parkers) it is that you never, ever count your chickens before they hatch, and never expect City to play well or to play badly, they are too unpredictable.

Truro looked to be going out of business when we went to play them in October, with debts mounting after their rise up the leagues. Truro City were founded in 1889, and up until very recently were a very provincial team (like all Cornish teams where the travelling costs curtail thoughts of bigger regional leagues) They were founder members of the South Western League in 1951 and all apart from 3 seasons competed in that league until 2006 when they joined the Western League (with Bradford Town, Odd Down, Larkhall etc) they rapidly progressed through the Western League until the won the Southern League Championship in 2011 promoting them to the Conference South. During this period of success they also won the FA Vase in 2006/07 becoming the most successful Cornish team of all time, by becoming the first to win a national trophy.

However, this meteoric rise was heavily subsidised and when the owner’s company went tits up, Truro City very nearly followed it out of business. They were saved by a £50,000 bond paid to the Conference, but the 10 point deduction and loss of players (although clearly money has been found from somewhere as they have resigned Barry Hayles, so no sympathy if they do go out of business having made the same mistake twice) has left them marooned at the foot of the table.

In team news, Joe Burnell had contracted appendicitis and had been operated on to remove the vestigial organ. Therefore Gethin Jones made an appearance in centre midfield, while once again Charlie Griffin warmed the bench. The guy is by far and away the best player City have, and while he maybe aging a bit, given how he only played the last 10 at Eastbourne it was more than a bit perplexing not to see him start.

Then came 90 minutes of pure unadulterated shite. In the first half the clearest opportunity fell to Morgan, when the ball was played back into his path, but he dragged his shot wide, and that was basically it other than a couple of half chances.

In the second half, there was a clear handball, when Chamberlain shot and it hit the outstretched arms of the Truro defender, this wasn’t given as presumably the referee decided the player couldn’t get out of the way, but I am not convinced, then almost immediately after Chris Allen was felled and more appeals for a penalty were disregarded.

Morgan, Connolly and  Allen were eventually subbed (replaced by Low, Canham and Griffin) , and Kerry Morgan seemed to storm off down the tunnel, which was only a warning of the tempers and arguments that were to follow.

As the game entered injury time it appeared the game was heading to a drab goalless draw which rivalled Boreham Wood for its awfulness. Then an long ball was knocked forward into the City half and somehow it fell to Andrew Watkins, the Truro attacker perfectly connected and as soon as it left his foot you knew it had beaten Mellor. The lob from 25 yards out was a rare moment of skill in the game.

I can only assume it was Mark Preece who missed a header/clearance to allow the ball through as Charlie Griffin proceeded to tear him apart, Preece tried to argue back and this brought even more finger pointing and shouting from Griffin. Preece had actually had a good game up to that point, but such is the risk for centre backs that one mistake can be very costly.

Ridiculously, having gone behind in the 91^st minute City finally started to play. Sekani Simpson whipped a ball into the box that the Truro keeper fumbled, Griffin reacted quickest and knocked the ball towards the goal, however, agonisingly the ball was cleared off of the line.

At this moment, we noticed the almighty argument that appeared to be happening around the dugout, Howells, John Freeguard, Aaron Hopkinson and someone I couldn’t work out were involved in a slanging match with some fans on the main stand terrace. There were wild gesticulations, and God only knows what was said, although reports suggest it was borderline (depending on where you draw your border I guess!) abusive.

While this was going on, City won a throw in deep in Truro’s half, a long Aaron Brown throw was launched into the box Charlie Griffin got a flick to it and the ball fell to Low at the back stick, the wideman leapt high into the air and managed to connect with a cushioned sidefoot into the roof of the net. City had snatched a draw from defeat, the wounded White Tiger’s players slumped while Twerton celebrated.

How City got a draw from that game I will never know, but it once again showed football’s power to corrupt the senses as moments earlier we had been bemoaning the awfulness of the game, before a last little burst at least gave us something to smile about. Hopefully, away at Dover on Saturday the more adventurous City will appear, but before that there is the small (very small really) matter of the Somerset Premier Cup against Odd Down.

Post Script... Since writing this but not posting it, City have played Odd Down. I went and City won 2-0. Joe Lennox played after being released by Plymouth Argyle, and for reasons unknown Charlie Griffin played 90 minutes....hmmmm...

No Angels

So finally, a home Saturday game arrived, having not been to TP on a Saturday since the Eastbourne game on 1^st December this was most welcome. The day had a lovely spring quality to it, and after the harsh cold of the last few games it was a joy not be shivering into multiple layers.

We met at the Horse where spirits weren’t high as we discussed the problems within the team, although I did mention the 4-3 away win, and hoped to at least see some goals from the day.

On arrival, we found out that livewire Kerry Morgan was on from the start, and two forwards were playing in Griffin and Chamberlain. This must be a good omen for an exciting, attacking first half.

Sadly, this was not to be the case, and instead an appallingly bad half of football was played out. Tonbridge had a few opportunities, Chamberlain should have shot, but instead he elected to play a square ball that Griffin was no where near, Charlie also had a chance from a corner cleared off the line, but that was the height of the entertainment for the first 44 minutes.

Morgan was trying his hardest, but as has been the case many times this season it is as though he tries to hard to impress, which came out in two rash challenges, both on the unfortunate Elphick, the first lunging tackle probably warranted a yellow, while the second in the dying seconds of the half gained Kerry a deserved yellow card.

Morgan was involved in the first goal though, he crossed to Noah Keats, whose shot was palmed by keeper Lee Worgan back to Griffin, Charlie’s shot managed to hit the post, roll along the line before unbelievably hitting the opposite post and bouncing into play. Thankfully Keats from an acute angle managed to thrash the ball home. So at half time City went in one up.

The first half was so poor though, that I decided to go to Charlie’s for a half time pint. The clubhouse seemed reasonably busy, and we chatted over a swift pint before heading back into the ground, just as the game kicked off. Gethin had injured himself, so Keats dropped to right back with Allen coming into midfield. As we walked to the Popular Side, we came across a Bradford Town Youth FC team, looking resplendent in their maroon and blue kit and Tim greeted them warmly.

Attacking the Bristol End, City seemed much more up for it and Morgan in particular was attacking at pace, released quite often by a reinvigorated Marc Canham. Tonbridge were continually fouling, niggly fouls all of the pitch, and jumping through Griffin.

Just before the hour mark City extended their lead, Chamberlain picked Morgan out in acres of space on the left, Kerry cut inside the full back before curling a shot past the keeper and into the bottom corner. An immaculate finished and Morgan celebrated with a knee slide towards the Popular Side singers.

Minutes later Morgan was again released down the line, the tricky winger knocked the ball past Schulz and the lumbering centre half scythed Morgan down. The tackle was pretty awful, catching Morgan around the top of the thigh and sending him flying, Kerry perhaps milked the injury, but rightly the Tonbridge player was given his marching orders. As Kerry walked off the pitch he winked not once, but twice at the crowd! The little man had clearly been hamming it up in a performance Alan Richman would be proud of. Nevertheless, it was a clear sending off.

It was clear there was no way back for Tonbridge, and almost immediately Griffin attempted a lob which was easily saved. Moments later though, Chamberlain broke down the right of the area and slid a ball across to Griffin who finished easily, 3-0 and the crowd was enjoying it.

Griffin almost scored again (I thought he had and started celebrating, it was that close!) , before being replaced by Jordan Walker, while Norris came on for Morgan in what was the wideman’s best starting performance so far.

City could, maybe should have won by a cricket score, with Chamberlain having plenty of chances, the referee also inexplicably turned down a nailed on penalty. Walker burst into the box, was fouled (his boot came off!) but somehow the referee didn’t give it. The tackle was so far from the ball I do not know how it wasn’t given.

Brad Norris spurned a glorious opportunity to score his first senior goal, when Chamberlain picked him out, but like Griffin slightly earlier the frontman placed his shot just wide of the post. The whistle sounded and City had won their first home game since November.

The stripes played much better from around 35 minutes, and the crowd was treated to a convincing win, I had almost forgotten how much fun having a sing down Twerton can be. I will not get over excited though, as there is always the chance City’s Jekyll and Hyde nature will show at home to Truro City on Saturday.

Dorchester Town (H)

Having missed the Staines #packthepark game, this was my first return to Twerton Park since the freezing cold Bromley game. The weather was no where near as cold this time, but annoyingly I have picked up a cold, which meant my singing voice had to change to more of a throaty bawl to stop the continual coughing.

Getting home lateish and feeling sorry for myself, I skipped the usual prematch ales, and went straight to the ground, a quick chat with a mate, purchase of a pin badge (bargain at £3.50) I then went to set up the flags.

Normally the flags are put up by Reed/Gibbo etc., but with Gibbo off wearing Glamorgan Uni tracksuits and Reedy on holiday I was asked to do them. Having struggled on my own until Notman arrived like the cavalry to help, I can safely say it is a doff of the cap for the effort involved.

Dorchester Town had made ex-stripe, man mountain Charlie Clough their captain since we played them in the distant days of summer, when we were top of the table and looking good, and fellow old boys Ben Watson and Jason Matthews were also starting. City dropped Adam Connolly for the first time in God knows how long, while starting loanee Elliott Chamberlain and Griffin up top.

City had a chance early on when Chamberlain hit a tame effort towards goal, but Matthews managed to fumble it and we hoped he would continue his usual calamitous performances at home (for the record, I quite like Matthews, and he did have some good games, but Christ he was prone to an error) but he claimed the ball at the second attempt.

City’s current custodian pulled off a save that was blasted straight at him after City failed to clear their lines, and the young keeper pulled off a few more decent saves when his defence deserted him.  

Dorchester were having more of the game at this point, and it was no surprise when the stripes fragile defence wilted like spinach in hot water and Ben Watson knocked home an easy finish, around the 20 minute mark.

City were not out of this though, and echoing his brilliant goal at The Avenue earlier this season, Griffin was tripped around 20 yards out, he picked himself up and magnificently curled his freekick into the bad of the net. 1-1 and Griffin proving again his prowess at set pieces.

City attacked again soon after the restart, and Chamberlain latched onto a threaded throughball which left him clear on goal, Matthews was drawn out of his goal and Chamberlain played the ball back to Griffin, who tapped into the unguarded net. The linesman though decided that Griffin was offside and disallowed the goal, I am not convinced, I was fairly sure the ball was played square, therefore Charlie wasn’t offside, however, I have only seen the incident once and I am wearing my stripey glasses!

The stripes were playing the better football at this point, and it was against the run of play that Dorchester regained the lead, a ball was played in from the left, and symptomatic of an uncharacteristically poor performance from Danny Ball, the young left back completely missed the forward behind him who gratefully capitalised on Ball’s mistake to score a very easy goal.

City equalised within 5 minutes, courtesy of an outrageous finish from Griffin and potentially a classic cock up from Matthews. Joe Burnell lifted the ball over the Dorchester defence who badly mistimed their attempted offside trap, the ball fell to Griffin 30 odd yards out, the bulky frontman didn’t take a touch, but calmly lobbed the ball towards goal over Jason Matthews, (who I assume came out to close the angle but why when he was so far out?) who backpeddled and did manage to get a hand to the ball, but not enough to keep it out of the net.

The half time whistle sounded with the game tied at 2 each. We decided to mix up the standing a bit, and stood at the Bath End during the second half, for the first time for me in at least 3 years, weirdly it is much closer that the usual Popular Side angle so provided some interesting new views.

It was from this position we noted how big Dorchester’s centre back pairing is, Charlie Clough is just a monster, while their number 4 Pugh was even taller (although slighter in build). A Griffin freekick bounced to Simpson who hammered the ball over, but shortly after Griffin limped out of the fray to be replaced by Kerry Morgan.

Despite the diminutive stature of the City boys up front, we still tried far too many crosses which was ridiculous, given the aforementioned size of the centre halves. City were having by far the better of the half, and two chances stand out in my mind. A corner dropped to Gethin Jones who was unmarked, but he showed why he is a centre back by only connecting with his studs and the ball dribbled towards goal, the second involved a similar chance. A ball was crossed to Noah Keats at the back post, he completely missed the ball which then struck his standing leg, the ball though fell kindly to Chamberlain who placed his shot just wide of the post with Matthews stranded.

Despite City having the majority of the game Dorchester scored next, surprisingly enough from a corner. Giant centre half Pugh headed home, although Mellor was screaming loudly for a foul at every official, so I can only assume someone held him and prevented him from claiming it.

The stripes tried to restore parity, but it was not to be and the fourth home defeat in a row followed, it was harsh on City who potentially deserved to nick it, but the form isn’t good enough at the moment.

After the game, I went to take the flags down and while up the step ladder I saw a sight that will haunt my nightmares. The Dorchester team returned to the Twerton pitch to do a warm down before heading home. Charlie Clough emerged shirtless (it was a bit cold, but fair enough) and the proceeded to pin a smaller team mate to the ground, while egged on by the rest of the team. Leaving the homoerotic scene alone, I packed the flag bag, and left Twerton until Saturday when Tonbridge Angels come to town, hopefully a game as good as the 3-4 away win will occur! UTC!