Truro City
Matches
Sat 03 Oct 2015  ·  National League South
Truro City Football Club
Truro City
J Reid (10'), J Richards (51'), I Vassell (73')
3
0
Havant & Waterlooville

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Truro City Football Club28 Mar - 11:55
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Some background on Saturday's visitors to Treyew Road, by Colin Bradbury.

Q: How do you make yourself unpopular at a Havant & Waterlooville match?
A: Stand up and shout: “Give me an H….”

On Saturday, the team with the most un-chantable name in the National South makes its way to Treyew Road as League business is resumed. Fortunately for the fans, the club’s nickname - the Hawks - is less of a mouthful when it comes to singing on the terraces.

Who are they?

The Hawks have been in the Conference/National League South since it’s reorganisation in 2004. During that time the club has flirted with both relagation and promotion. In 2014-5, a fifth place finish earned the Hawks a Conference South play-off place, losing in the semi-final to eventual winners Boreham Wood.

The Hawks have a remarkable FA Cup history. Last season the club made the First Round proper, where they lost to Preston North End.

But the most spectacular achievement was surely in the 2007-08 competition. Not only did they beat Roberto Martinez’ Swansea City in the Third Round, they went on to play Liverpool at Anfield in the Fourth. The Hawks went in front twice in the first half before succumbing 5-2 at the final whistle.

Current form

Turning to Saturday’s fixture, with the Hawks just one place and two points behind Truro City in the table, this looks set to be a tight encounter. Both clubs have recorded three wins so far this season, with the points difference accounted for by the Hawks’ record of six losses compared to four for Truro.

After a shaky start, a 2-1 victory over high flying Oxford City and a 4-0 win against Eastbourne in August kicked their season into gear (albeit those two wins were separated by a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Bath City).

Recent League form has been poor though, with three straight losses. And with only four points from the last six games, the Hawks' record in that period is the second worst in the League. The team has particularly struggled away from home and has yet to record a victory on the road this season.

As for the FA Cup, like Truro the Hawks drew with a Division One South & West team (Larkhall Athletic) last weekend and went on to win the replay. But while Truro face a fellow National League South club in the next round, the draw was kinder to the Hawks who travel to Avely FC, two levels below in the Ryman League North.

Players to watch

The Hawks are in the fortunate position of having a good player catchment area, with plenty of ex-Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth academy and first team experience in the squad.

Manager Lee Bradbury (a man with Manchester City, Portsmouth and Crystal Palace on his playing CV) has continued to add to the squad as the season has progressed.

Recent arrivals include full back Calvin Davis on loan from Portsmouth and Trinidad & Tobago international midfielder Jake Thomson who began his career at Southampton,

In the summer, Bradbury also snapped up 33 year old striker Rowan Vine from Welling United of the Conference Premier. Vine has plenty of Football League experience, including spells at QPR, Luton and Birmingham City (the latter paid £2.5 million for the player in 2007).

Another summer signing, from Gosport Borough, was the Hawks’ leading scorer so far this season, Matt Paterson. The striker is another graduate of the Southampton academy and made 17 first team appearances in the Championship for the Saints.

And finally, at the other end of the pitch, 35 year old ‘keeper Ryan Young brings long experience of playing at this level, joining the Hawks early last year after seven years at National League North club Telford.

Club Leading Goalscorers 2015-16 (National League)

Matt Paterson 5
Brian Stock 2
Adrian Clifton 2
Scott Donnelly 2
Dan Strugnell 2

Club Trivia

While playing for Southampton in a 2009 FA Cup tie against Manchester United, Hawks striker Matt Paterson was sent off for a tackle on Nemanja Vidic. An action which, statistically, is only slightly less risky than spilling Roy Keane’s pint.

National League South Fixtures

Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Bath City
0
Basingstoke Town
0
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Bishop's Stortford
0
Maidenhead United
2
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Chelmsford City
0
Oxford City
4
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Eastbourne Borough
0
Concord Rangers
0
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Ebbsfleet United
0
Maidstone United
1
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Hayes & Yeading Utd
0
Gosport Borough
0
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Margate
0
Weston-Super-Mare
2
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Sutton United
2
Hemel Hempstead Town
2
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Wealdstone
2
Dartford
1
Sat 3 Oct 2015KO: 15:00
Whitehawk
6
St Albans City
0

Match details

Match date

Sat 03 Oct 2015

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

478

Competition

National League South
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Kit Supplier 2021/22 - MJM Sports
Shirt Sleeve Sponsor - Man Down Cornwall
Shirt sponsor - Truro and Penwith College
Kit Sponsor 2021/22 - Errea Sport
Club Sponsor - Tribute
Programme Producers - Footie Print & Digital