TRURO CITY 3

S Yetton (3)

PORTISHEAD 0

City: D Stevenson, J Ash, G Power, T Smith, R Pope, J Broad, K Wills, I Gosling, S Yetton, G Hooper, J Ludlam. Subs: S Walker, M Martin, A Watkins.

TRURO City were finally singing about Wembley after their 3-0 win against Portishead in the Toolstation Western League division one clash on Sunday and who could blame them for getting a little excited after slogging their way through a gruelling pile of fixtures.

The Portishead game was their third fixture in four days, but even so City made their visitors look like a team from another league such was the gulf in class with Yetton leading the celebrations with yet another hat-trick.

True, the home side faded a little in the second half, but that was understandable given the number of games they have played. City are 19 points ahead of second-placed Ilfracombe.

Despite Portishead chasing promotion, victory was expected by the home supporters and the celebrations that followed ensured that whatever happens following the dream of playing at Wembley the real dream, promotion, has been gained with the championship as a not unexpected bonus.

Before the game City boss Dave Leonard was presented with the Toolstation Western League first division's manager of the month and a minute's tribute following the death of England World Cup winner Alan Ball was also observed.

There was a good-sized crowd in the ground to see City take the lead inside 90 seconds of the kick off. A swift passing move saw Jake Ash deliver the ball to Stewart Yetton and the goals-for-fun striker screwed his shot across the face of the goal into the far corner to give Kevin Walker no chance.

If Portishead thought they might arrive at Treyew Road with City taking things a little easy, they were wrong and in the 14th minute it was 2-0 following another fine, flowing move with Jonny Ludlam running on to Graeme Power's pass and then finding Yetton who drilled his shot past the 'keeper.

Portishead had no answer to City's slick movement on and off the ball and within two minutes they trailed 3-0 when Ludlam and Ian Gosling worked a short corner before crossing for Yetton to complete his hat-trick.

Everything City attempted spelled danger and a minute later Kevin Wills was denied when a deliberate long range shot landed on the roof of the net with the 'keeper well of his line.

The visitors tried to bully their way through the half with plenty of unnecessary physical challenges and Ben Davis was eventually booked following one-too-many fouls by Portishead.

Five minutes before the break City had a fourth goal disallowed when the referee decided that the diminutive Yetton was using unfair and bullying roughhouse tactics to get the better of 6ft 6in defender Richard Gill.

The second half never lived up to the promise of the first 45 minutes, but Portishead were almost gifted a chance when Dan Stevenson went to clear the ball and miskicked in one of the sand dunes. Luckily he managed to get the ball away just in time as James Clarke had him in his sights.

Luke Jones worked his way into the box, but he put his effort wide of the target. In fact, Stevenson did not have one real shot to save throughout the game with any chances Portishead did have either hit wide or shut down.

City had enough of the game to have added to their tally, but last-ditch defending and one particularly fine save by Walker from Yetton after good work by Kevin Wills was the best of a number of opportunities.

With just over a week to go before the FA Carlsberg Vase final, Leonard will now have to try and keep everyone fit while at the same time fulfil five more fixtures.

On Thursday City are home to Sherborne Town and on Saturday entertain Hengrove Athletic.