Hampton & Richmond Borough 1 Truro City 1 (28.04.2018)

THE WHITE Tigers played out a 1-1 draw at Hampton & Richmond Borough in our final League game of the season, a result which secured our place in the end of season play-offs.
It took just three minutes for The White Tigers to take the lead when a clearance fell to Ben Gerring who put the ball back into the danger zone where a flick-on found Tom Owen-Evans who poked home from close range with the aid of a deflection to put us in front.
It was a bright start for us and as Tyler Harvey looked to latch upon a through-ball, the home ‘keeper had to be alert to clear.
The next raid saw Rocky Neal make room for a low effort that was pushed away by the ‘keeper, who was called into action again moments later, this time to deny a powerful drive from Aaron Lamont.
We were asking all of the early questions to subdue the home crowd. However, as the home side started to get into their stride, Joe Wollacott did well to thwart a snap-shot from Kierman before Ed Palmer was well-positioned to block in front of goal from Mulley after a corner was only half-cleared.
Some good link-up play between Connor Riley-Lowe and Neal ended with the latter getting in a strike from distance that flew over.
There was some nervy defensive play from our hosts and on one of these occasions, Neal was alert to seize upon a loose ball from Wassmer but as he looked to play in Harvey, the home side were able to scramble clear.
A neat move saw Ben Harding feed the lively Neal who strike was well saved as half-time approached.
Some tricky play from Hudson-Odoi ended with him getting in a strike that dipped just over for the home side as we went in at the break one goal to the good having been on top for long periods.
The home side started the second period with the bit between their teeth as they looked for an equaliser.
There was a let-off as we scrambled clear from a melee in front of goal as McAuley’s effort was blocked before Alex Hartridge did well to head clear from in front of goal.
After McAuley saw another strike go narrowly wide, a header from Jeffers from a teasing Hudson-Odoi cross went inches over as we battled to hold on to our lead.
The equaliser that our hosts had threatened duly arrived just past the hour-mark when Roberts’ cross was met with by the head of Cook at the near post and his header beat Wollacott.
There was an enforced change for The White Tigers as Harvey gingerly left the field to be replaced by Cody Cooke.
A header back across the danger zone from Wassmer saw the ball fall at the feet of Roberts with five minutes to go but he was off target as we breathed a sigh of relief.
Right at the death there was a fantastic save from Wollacott as the youngster got across his goal to deny Roberts’ strike that was destined for the top corner.
It meant that honours ended even in a 1-1 draw which saw us finish in seventh place and secure a play-off trip, back at Hampton & Richmond, on Wednesday evening.

WHITE TIGERS: Wollacott, Thompson, Riley-Lowe, Palmer, Gerring, Hartridge, Lamont, Owen-Evans, Harvey (Cooke), Neal (Allen), Harding (Keats). Subs not used: Palfrey, Yetton.
BOOKING(S): Gerring, Lamont, Thompson
GOAL(S): Owen-Evans
ATTENDANCE: 1,014