City confirm they can compete with the best!

Described before the game as a match to make a statement, the result says it all! 1-1 against the league leaders, having to come from behind when a weaker side might have crumbled, this surely answered any doubts that Truro can’t now compete with the best.

Despite striker Ben Watson reporting in fit after a hamstring problem has kept him out of recent matches, City’s manager Steve Massey stuck with the same starting line up as last week, while the visitors made just the one change from their midweek 3-0 home win over Bedford with Toby Little replacing James Potton.

Liam Eddy, the lone man upfront in City’s 4-5-1 formation, started brightly with a third minute ball across the six yard box inviting a City touch but unfortunately no one was on hand.

In the tenth minute we had the first scare of the contest when a Chesham corner ended up in Ollie Chenoweth’s hands, but only after the ball had hurtled towards him off the shin of Neil Slateford!

The visitors’ Drew Roberts, scorer of two in Chesham’s 4-2 win over us earlier in the season, was once again looking dangerous and put in a great left footed right wing cross for Danny Gordon at the far post to attempt to head towards goal.

Midway through the first half Eddy was once again involved, firstly when he appeared to be pulled back on the edge of the Chesham penalty area and then two minutes later when he did well to get on the end of a Les Afful cross, but the No 9’s header was well saved by ‘keeper Shane Gore.

Before the first half was out, while somehow The Generals didn’t do better from any of their quick breaks, there was still time for Slateford to unfortunately only able to slice a Jamie Lowry cross well off target and Cody Cooke see a shot on goal blocked.

Aaran Pugh had to take a 39th minute yellow card when he untidily stopped a dangerous run at goal by Roberts.

There were a lot more cautions to come in the second half, for both sides, even though in essence the game didn’t boast one bad tackle throughout. Within the hour Afful for City and Steve Wales for the visitors, in different incidents, had both been shown the yellow card by referee Adam Penwell.

Skipper Paul Kendall looked as if he thought he should have done better with a header on goal on the 60th minute, which was immediately followed by another yellow – this time Steve Tully.

Although the breaks by Chesham were fewer in the second half, one did prove to be crucial as it broke the deadlock. It began in their own half and ended with some cool finishing by Chris Dillon, chipping Chenoweth to give the league leaders the lead after 69 minutes.

However, the Truro City side now is not one to lie down and not before long were back on level terms. With a corner won and Lowry about to take it, City made a substitution with Watson replacing Slateford, seconds later the game was all-square with a repeat of the recent winning goal against AFC Totton as Kendall (pictured) outjumped everyone to head home the Lowry corner.

Before Chesham restarted the action, Dillon was another name to go in the referee’s notebook, a minute later the striker brought an impressive save out of Chenoweth. The visiting No 9 also came close to scoring late on when he got on the end of a first time right wing cross from substitute Inih Effiong, but couldn’t get his header on target.

The game 1-1, surely confirming that City can after all compete with the best.

City's Man of the Match : Paul Kendall

City : Chenoweth, Tully, White, Kendall ©, Pugh, Broad, Cooke, J Lowry, Eddy, Slateford (Watson 74), Afful.
Subs not used : Copp, D Evans, Brokenshire, Sims.

Chesham Utd : Gore, Kyriacou, Brathwaite, Stewart, Gordan, Thomas, Potton (Fotheringham 78), Wales (Effoiong 82), Dillon, Roberts, Wilson, Effiong.
Subs not used : Little, Brown.

Att : 461