Football returns to Treyew!

Just when it looked as if the chance for an equalizer had gone, a free-kick four minutes into added on time was the signal for City to pack the Hitchin penalty area, including ‘keeper Ollie Chenoweth, and when the ball fell loose to Jake Ash, City’s skipper was once again the saviour of the day. His half-volley beating the visitor’s goalkeeper Tahj Bell,who up until then had looked unbeatable.
Manager Steve Massey once again changed the team around as well as introducing another new signing in left-back Paul Quinn, signed midweek from SWPL Premier Division Tavistock. While upfront it was the “A” Team with Les Afful partnering Ash.
In contrast Hitchin made just the one change with Matt Lench coming in to a defensive back four that before today had only conceded two goals in their opening four matches.
Both sides created chances in the opening quarter with Chenoweth saving from the Canaries captain Callum Donnelly while Afful went for power instead of precision, only to see his effort blocked by Bell.
That miss proved costly as five minutes later, with Dan Evans for once hesitant in clearing, Rogan McGeorge gained possession on the edge of City’s penalty area and with time to look up, placed his shot out of the reach of Chenoweth.
As the half time break approached with Donnelly, Michael Noone and Jamal Lowe all failing to beat Chenoweth, one of Afful’s direct runs at goal ended with him being tripped and a penalty awarded.
Copp, successful from the spot in the opening game of the season, unfortunately this time had to watch his effort palmed away by Bell.
Early in the second half Chenoweth was the busier of the two ‘keepers making saves from Robbie Burns and Lowe before City started pushing on and as a result went close on three different occasions in a ten minute spell.
Afful probably should have done better when running into the opponents penalty area and finding the ‘keeper with his chip in while Ash was waiting for the cross. Afful then got on the end of a Paul Kendall cross but Bell blocked the goalbound effort only for Ash following in to shoot wide before Olly Brokenshire was inches away with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Hitchin responded with Burns and Lowe threatening the City goal and Alasan Ann heading substitute Lucas Kirkpatrick’s cross wide.
Liam Eddy, also on as a substitute, used his lightening pace to show Stuart Pearson a clean pair of heels and when he rounded Bell, it was surely a matter of seeing the ball in the back of the Hitchin net, but forced a little wider than he would have liked, the striker agonisingly watched as he hit the post for the second consecutive Saturday. The crowd thought it was going in, so did the player :” When I hit it I thought it was in, I was gutted to see it come back off the post. I just need to get the first one then I can relax."
Four minutes later and Lowe hit the Truro cross-bar with Chenoweth for once looking beaten and then some great defending from Kendall prevented Kirkpatrick getting a shot in.
There was still time for City though, even if a few of the 412 attendance were no doubt already on their way home, City’s very own Captain Marvel, Jake Ash, hit home that all important goal to not only give City a share of the points, but more importantly give the team the belief and leave Steve Massey praising their performance : “They showed a lot of character, played a lot of football and I was really proud of them. They should take great belief from this today and hopefully kick on from here.”

Truro City: Chenoweth; White, Evans, Kendall, Quinn; Broad, Copp (Slateford 80), Brokenshire (Cooke 67), Andrew (Eddy 67), Ash, Afful
Subs (not used): Broomfield, Sims.

Hitchin Town: Bell, Rolfe, Bickerstaff, Noone, Lench, Pearson, McGeorge (Kirkpatrick 54), Donnelly, Ann, Burns, Lowe.
Subs (not used): Gregson, Sartini, Burtenshaw, Morrison.

Yellow Card : Hitchin : Donnelly 90 + 5

Referee: Mark Lawrence (Bridgwater)

Crowd: 417