Result confirms progress in last 4 months

At 2.55 this afternoon City manager Steve Massey would have been happy taking a point from the game this afternoon at fourth placed Bideford. However after a match that had everything apart from goals, he might just have been thinking that this was a game that we came so close to taking all three!

A vociferous Boxing Day crowd of 549 witnessed the home side miss a penalty in the first half, and then watch yet another Bideford player, Matt Bye, shown a red card (their 9th of the season) in the second!

City started with the same starting line up that drew 1-1 at Arlesley Town on Saturday,

After early exchanges, the game came to life in the 16th minute when a Jamie Lowry in-swinging corner finished coming off the home side cross bar only for Paul Kendall to hook his shot over.

Before that Bideford's no 9, Owen Howe, twice threatened the Truro goal with the first effort going too high, while City's 'keeper Grant Fisher was right behind the second attempt.

Fisher made a great save in the 37th minute from Bideford captain Matt Hockley's penalty and two minutes later City could have taken the lead themselves when we had to agonisingly watch a Neil Slateford shot go across the Bideford 6 yard area.

Before the half time whistle Howe made a mess of things after getting away from the City back line while almost identical to Slateford's miss, Ben Watson shot wide too.

Seven minutes after the break Bideford were reduced to ten men after Matt Bye slid in slightly late and possibly high on Arran Pugh giving referee Adam Penwell no choice but to show the Biddy midfielder, who had been booked for dissent at the end of the first half, a second yellow.

Almost immediately Howe was replaced by Ashley Yeoman and from thereon Sean Downing was very much the lone man upfront for the Robins.

Steve Tully had a shot tipped over by Steve Oliver and then the home side 'keeper had to make sure he got behind a Paul Kendall header from a Jamie Lowry corner.

Neil Slateford had to be replaced just past the hour by Jordan Copp after being caught by an Ian Sampson tackle, leaving the winger doubtful for Saturday.

The remainder of the match saw Truro forcing the opposition back into their last third of the pitch, but not being able to turn the pressure into goals.

However there was still time for the brilliant Truro supporters to be given a scare in the dying minutes when Fisher sliced a clearance, but fortunately for him, with an open goal beckoning, Downing did the same as he too sliced his effort thankfully wide!

In the end both sides had to share a point each and now we must move on to concentrate on getting three points at home to bottom club Bashley on Saturday.

Bideford: Oliver; Sampson, Reed, Downing, Farkins, Gerring, Hockley (c), Bye, Howe (Yeoman 55), Duff (Orchard 80), Merceca.
Subs (not used): Squire, Phillips, Milton.
Red card: Bye (53), two yellows (44 and 53).

City: Fisher; Tully, White, Kendall (c), Pugh, Broad, Afful (Eddy 76), Lowry, Watson, Green, Slateford (Copp 65).
Subs (Not used): Daw, Cooke, Brokenshire.

Yellow cards: Broad, Kendall.

Referee: Adan Penwell.

City man of the match: Jamie Lowry.

Crowd: 549