Truro City’s hopes of winning three Southern League premier division games in a row for the first time this season came to a frustrating end on a controversial night in West Berkshire.

In the game's turning point at Bulpit Lane, the visitors had skipper Jake Ash sent off just before half time by referee Gary Parsons for a second bookable offence.

They also had new signing Ed Palmer from Weymouth and Barry Hayles yellow carded early in the match and Hayles, like Ash, now faces a one match ban for accumulating five bookings.

City bravely held out until 17 minutes from time, when the home side scored direct from a corner from substitute Alan O’Brien and Mark Draycott, with his 100th goal for the club, then made the game safe six minutes from time to maintain their unbeaten home record.

Despite the defeat, City are still sixth in the table and only out of the play-off places on goal difference.

Manager Steve Tully had made two changes from the team that beat Cambridge City 1-0 on Saturday, with Palmer coming in for Arran Pugh and Isaac Vassell replaced Matt Wright up front with the big striker suffering from a hamstring problem.

Tully described the referee's performance as "erratic" but was full of praise for his side's performance.

Truro City: Moore; Farkins, Tully (Pugh 80), Palmer; Afful (Cooke 63), Lowry, Ash (capt), White, Brett, Hayles (Green 49), Vassell. Subs not used James, Searle.

Red card: Ash (44), two yellows.

Yellow cards: Palmer, Hayles.

Crowd: 144.

Referee: Gary Parsons.

(See this week's West Briton for reaction and a preview of City's FA Trophy tie this Saturday at home to Egham Town who are eighth in Division One Central of the Southern League.)

FAN COMMENT:
Young City Fan

Absolutely shocking referee tonight. Denied us three clear penalties. We played really well in the first half with their only effort being a off target header on half time. Then we had Jake sent off. First yellow was for dissent and the second for a late challenge but their players got away with worse.

The second half Hungerford were all over us, Vassell missed a golden opportunity with the scores level and we never really threatened after that. Their first goal came direct from a corner so we couldn't do much about it. Their second stemmed from a bad pass when we were attacking.

I think we still need another striker, a 6ft+ to head the ball down as we still insist on playing high balls over the top, but there is definitely an improvement in the side since the Poole game.

FAN COMMENT:

******** APOLOGY ********

I would like to apologise to any of the Truro City faithful I may have offended tonight, never in all my years of watching football have I been so upset by the actions of a referee, I lost count of the number of times I was asked to leave, was it 4, 5 or maybe 6, eventually the referee listened when I confronted the Hungerford bench for leaving their technical area to intimidate the referees assistant, he lectured them about it but shortly after we heard the final whistle, too little too late.

Yes my language was bad and when reminded there were children present I pointed out the Hungerford players who had been doing so throughout the match in front of about 20 of their young supporters.

The referees assistants checked the goal nets at the beginning and half time for holes but NOT the height of the goals where the upright post located nearest the HOME DUGOUT was approx 6" higher than the one the other side. I pointed this out to the referees assistant officiating on the opposite side to the dugouts but was ignored.

The referees assessor will have hours of work in front of him to sort out this team of officials, the referee was about 40/50 yards behind play to miss one blatant penalty and how did the assistants miss so many obvious miscarriages of justice.

Still wound up, more so than SteveC has ever been Wink so once again SORRY I LOST IT.
Ivor.