RNAS CULDROSE 1

TRURO CITY 5

A BATTLING performance was still no enough to save RNAS Culdrose from suffering a 5-1 defeat at the hands of unbeaten Truro City.

Despite the defeat, the servicemen can feel satisfied that they provided a challenge to the title chasers. They were without several regular players, but were served well by those who stood in.

Manager George Pattison was unhappy about losing but upbeat about his team's performance.

"I thought the score flattered them," said Pattison. "The had four of the FA Vase final side playing and two other first team players and that's quite a lot to handle for an inexperienced side such as ours at present.

"We were without several regulars and also had to draft in a late goalkeeper in Jeremy Brown, but he played every well. In fact, they all did very well and I could not have asked for more from them.

With Scott Walker and Joe Broad influential in midfield and Shane Tolley and John Hoyles sharp up front, Culdrose had their work cut out, but the defence held up well despite the City threat.

The only goal of the half came from a corner when Mike Cain headed the ball back across the face of the goal for City to head in.

The second half saw Culdrose come out and put their visitors under pressure with Ben Stidwell and Nick Slade working tirelessly to shut down the back three.

The servicemen were unable to turn pressure into goals and they paid the penalty when City snapped up three quick goals through Dan Richardson.

Culdrose pulled a goal back when Dan Row made a 30-yard and fired in a shot from the edge of the box and that goalkeeper parried only for Scott Jasper to knock in the rebound.

Row and Marvin Brooks were outstanding for Culdrose, but they were unable to prevent a fifth City goal from what looked a suspicious offside position see Hoyles complete the scoring.

RNAS Culdrose: J Brown, I Pattison, W Brooks, D Row, M Aubrey, I Head, M Brooks, C O'Hare, J Lonegan, B Stidwell, N Slade. Subs: C Reed, S Jasper and Armstrong.