City cut gap on leaders

TRURO City moved up into second place in the Toolstation Western League's first division after a 2-0 win against Shrewton United.

With most of the games in the league being postponed, the three points moved City to within eight points of leaders Portishead United but with the healthy cushion of eight games in hand.

With Portishead having no game this Saturday City could cut that gap to just five points with a victory at home to Ilfracombe Town.

The state of the Treyew Road pitch will have a big bearing on whether the game can go ahead at all given the recent bad weather and Town will provide a stern test of City's credentials. Earlier in the season City won a tight encounter and this time the game promises to be just as close.

There is also the possiblity that City could switch their game to Porthleven's Gala Parc as neither of the club's teams have a home game.

The fact that City are in second place at all was as much to do with Shrewton United's determination and willingness to see the game played as that of City's.

A torrential downpour left a big doubt over the game being able to be played on such a rain sodden surface and the decision to play was only agreed minutes before the start after both managers appealed to the referee to let it take place.

United manager, Stuart Withers, said: "I said to the ref, look, they've come a long way to play this match, let's at least start and see what happens'."

That was also a view shared by City's director of football, Chris Webb, who agreed that was the best solution: "As it happened the rain stopped right on kick off and never rained again, so in that respect we were very fortunate."

And, in most cases such as this, what happened was that an excellent game ensued and the managers' appeals to the officials were fully justified.

The opening 20 minutes saw little in the way of creative chances other then a Hooper shot on goal that was easily saved by the home 'keeper, and although both teams took their time to adapt to the conditions to their credit they made it a worthwhile spectacle.

Shrewton created a good chance in the 20th minute when the ball found their top scorer, but he could only fire over when well placed.

Two minutes later City snatched the lead when a Gosling free kick found Marcus Martin whose shot found the corner of the net with a good finish.

Hooper again went close after 24 minutes when his shot was turned around the post by the 'keeper.

City gradually started to enjoy the lions share of possession although Shrewton were always dangerous on the break.

After the break City took a firm grip on the game and Broad's through ball caught the home defence square only for Yetton's shot to be well saved.

Every half chance appeared to fall for Yetton who had three further chances well saved, but on 63 minutes from a cross on the left a Shrewton defender failed to clear and the predatorial Yettton converted his 36th goal of the season.

Three minutes later Broad burst into the box, but his shot just failed to hit the target.

Although forcing a couple of corners Shrewton were unable to test Stevenson in the City goal and as the many travelling supporters celebrated after the final whistle, City leapt back up the table into second place after completing an unbeaten first half of their Western League campaign.

City: D Stevenson, J Ash, G Power, J Routledge, M Martin, K Wills, J Broad, I Gosling, C Reski, G Hooper, S Yetton. Subs: T Smith, S Tolley and A Watkins.