Truro City 2 AFC Portchester 0 (Emirates FA Cup second qualifying round)

THE WHITE Tigers made it into the next round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over AFC Portchester as we extended our winning run to six games.
On a wet and soggy surface, Ed Palmer went close early on with a free-kick as we started the game brightly.
Despite seeing more of the ball, we found our visitors in stubborn mood during the opening period to keep us at bay.
Towards the end of the half, Ben Gerring suffered a head injury but was able to battle on having had the wound bandaged.
An early free-kick from the visitors after the break forced Tom McHale into a smart save, whilst chances were to prove to be at a premium at either end as the second period went on.
There were a couple of chances in quick succession for Tyler Harvey but the visitors’ defence stood firm to protect their goal.
It was looking like being ‘one of those days’ until the breakthrough finally came on 73 minutes when Rocky Neal made a positive break before finding the net to open the scoring.
The goal heralded a sense of relief around Treyew Road and Neal went close to doubling the advantage as his effort whistled inches wide.
With time running out, the visitors rattled the woodwork as they pushed for a leveller. It was a let-off for The White Tigers and we made them pay just moments later when Neal linked up well with Niall Thompson who found the net for his first goal of the campaign.
It sealed our passage into the next round as our substitutes once more produced the goods.
This was a tie in which we had to work hard to break down our lower level opponents, but we stuck to the task in hand to get our reward.
WHITE TIGERS: McHale, Palfrey, Riley-Lowe, Palmer, Gerring, Hartridge, Lamont (Neal 73), Keats, Harvey (Thompson 83), Cooke (Allen 73), Harding. Subs not used: Todd, Yetton, Copp, Richards.
BOOKED: Harvey.
ATTENDANCE: 302.