Truro City’s hopes of a second successive Southern League victory on the road were dashed eight minutes from time after James O’Halloran’s strike snatched a point for Walton Casuals.

A draw was harsh on Truro after they had the lion’s share of possession and chances at the Elmbridge Sports Hub before O’Halloran’s late leveller.

The visitors opened the scoring on 37 minutes when Rocky Neal broke free and finished well. Home custodian Rhys Forster then kept his side in the match with a string of fine saves and he also denied both Neal and Connor Riley-Lowe after the Stags scored.

Before the late drama, Truro were forced into three changes from the side that impressively defeated Salisbury 3-1 in their last encounter. Dan Rooney, who was forced off just 11 minutes into the mid-week triumph, was ruled out and his place was taken by Ryan Brett.

There were further City defensive casualties from Tuesday’s win as Niall Thompson and captain fantastic Jamie Richards both sat out, despite making the long trip to the capital.
Both City absentees were replaced by Exeter loan players with Ellis Johnson slotting in on the right side of Truro’s rear-guard, while Cheick Diabate partnered Ed Palmer in central defence.

Non-contract player Zac Hartley, who was last on the books at League One outfit Shrewsbury Town, was named on the bench, alongside promising youngster Kayden Gordon-Dunn.

Inside the first 60 seconds, Truro had the first presentable opportunity when Neal nearly profited on a sliced clearance from Tarik Moore-Azille, but the City striker could only fire tamely into Forster’s arms. For the next 35 minutes, Truro created a number of half chances without really troubling Forster while the Stags kept their powder dry as goalkeeper James Hamon remained a virtual spectator throughout.

Truro finally made their dominance with the ball count as half-time approached with a well-worked goal. Ryan Brett picked up the ball in midfield and his ball, threaded through the eye of a needle, caught Walton Casuals flat footed. Neal burst through the subsequent flimsy offside trap and finished well, firing past the onrushing Forster.

Truro took the momentum gained from breaking the deadlock into the second period with Tyler Harvey heading Shane White’s cross narrowly wide after 55 minutes. Another headed effort just after the hour mark seemed destined to find the mark with Johnson, making his full debut, for City, picking out Neal. The Truro goalscorer rose brilliantly to firmly connect with the fine centre and his effort appeared to be heading for the bottom corner before Forster pulled off a miraculous save to keep the deficit to just one goal.

Neal was a constant thorn in the Stags’ side all afternoon and with 20 minutes left, he picked up the ball fully 40-yards from goal and his audacious first-time effort grazed the top of the crossbar. His strike partner Harvey was the next to find himself in range, but an effort lacking any real conviction failed to trouble Forster.

The hosts kept searching for a leveller and they were duly rewarded in the final 10 minutes with Truro suffering a defensive lapse. A corner wasn’t cleared properly by the White Tigers’ defence and after the ball fell invitingly for O’Halloran, he finished emphatically low past Hamon into the bottom corner.

Shipping a goal late in the day didn’t deter City and they went in search of a second strike and winner that their endeavours richly deserved. Once again, though, Forster came to the Stags’ rescue as he made three more brilliant saves as time ticked down.

Firstly, the ball was well worked wide to Riley-Lowe, who impressed throughout for City, but his effort inside the six-yard box was somehow kept out at point-blank range by Forster. The overworked home stopper, who previously plied his trade with Walton’s local rivals Met Police, then somehow blocked Neal’s follow-up.

Less than a minute later and Riley-Lowe once again found himself with a glorious opportunity to score, only for Forster to repeat his earlier dose and keep the scores level.
Riley-Lowe’s second chance to win the match for Truro was the last goalmouth action of note and after several minutes of injury time, referee Michael Smith blew the final whistle. For Truro, it was very much a case two points dropped opposed to one gained at full-time with the Stags indebted to Forster for keeping their unbeaten start to the 2021-22 season intact.

Truro are next in action this coming Saturday when they host Hartley Wintney at Bolitho Park – 3.00pm. Just 48-hours later, the White Tigers are then back on the road when they face familiar Southern League foes Taunton Town at Wordsworth Drive, also 3.00pm.

City: Hamon, Johnson (Hartley, 68), Riley-Lowe, Palmer, Diabate, Brett, Dean, White, Barnes, Harvey Neal. Subs not used: Yetton, Garside, Gordon-Dunn.

Report - Gareth Davies - @gdavies_voice
Photo - Cameron Weldon