Magnificent seven for Truro City as they make it five league wins on the bounce (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)

Truro City 7 Histon 2

CITY came back from the shock of conceding an early goal to make it five league wins in a row as their promotion challenge continued to gather pace.

A hat-trick from Isaac Vassell, two from substitute Les Afful and one apiece from Matt Wright and Cody Cooke gave City’s fans an early Christmas present.

The home side’s performance was even more creditable as the squad had been stricken with a sickness bug during the week which had prevented them training and kept Niall Thompson and Dan Green out of the squad.

And a number of the players who did start were still suffering from the after effects.

Certainly, City made a slow start as the Cambridgeshire visitors went ahead after seven minutes, with Nick Freeman finishing well following a quick break.

However, City quickly regrouped after a dodgy 20 minutes, with Vassell heading them level after 24 minutes from Shane White’s right wing cross.

Buoyed by the goal, City took went ahead with excellent Matt Wright’s first time near post finish from another White cross.

It got better for City before the break, with Vassell on hand to make it 3-1 after Histon keeper Denzal Gerrar lost the ball under challenge from Wright.

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City began the second half in electric style with Vassell forcing the ball over the line for his hat-trick when Gerrar found Cody Cooke’s shot too hot to handle.

Vassell, who was feeling unwell, was then replaced by Afful and he made an immediate impact, volleying home for his first goal of the season from Wright’s knock down.

At 5-2 up, City were home and dry and they continued to create chances before Histon pulled a goal back with 17 minutes left thanks to a smart finish from Ashley White.

City though were far from finished as Afful and Cooke both found the net to complete another impressive win for City, who stay seventh in the Evo Stick Southern premier division table ahead of the Boxing Day visit of Bideford (3pm).

CITY: Burns; Farkins, Gerring, Pugh; Ash, Duff; White (Carlisle 71), Cooke, Greenslade, Vassell (Afful 52), Wright. Subs (not used): Tully, Moore.

Yellow cards: None.

HISTON: Gerrar; McDonald, White, Key, Wall (capt) ( Relizano 56), Rubens, Fulcher (Libertucci 56), McGeorge, Phillips, Lowe (Clark 56), Greeman. Subs (not used): North. McCoy.

Yellow card: White.

Goals: Freeman (7) 0-1, Vassell (24) 1-1, Wright (28) 2-1, Vassell (36) 3-1, Vassell (46) 4-1, Afful (54) 5-2, White (73 ) 5-2, Afful (82) 6-2, Cooke (84) 7-2.

Crowd: 366.

Referee: Mark Derrien.