Truro City win against Taunton in National League South

Truro City picked up a morale boosting National League South win with a richly deserved triumph over Taunton Town, writes Gareth Davies.

A first maximum haul in seven attempts was never in any doubt for City, who went ahead after just six minutes, with defender Tom Harrison scoring his first goal for the club.

It was one-way traffic for the rest of the opening period with Truro, playing this home match at Gloucester City’s Meadow Park, failing to build on their early lead.

Taunton, who started the game in the relegation zone and without a win on their travels since September, were improved after the turnaround, but a second City goal duly arrived just after the hour mark when Ed Palmer headed home.

It gave Truro some real breathing space although Taunton should have pulled a goal back with 20 minutes left. However, substitute Ross Stearn’s weak penalty was easily saved by James Hamon and City saw the final stages out with no further alarm.

Boss Paul Wotton made two changes to his Truro side which had gone down 3-2 in midweek against Welling United. Skipper Connor Riley-Lowe and Ben Adelsbury both came back into the City rearguard as Ryan Law and Sam Sanders dropped to the bench.

Despite heavy rain falling before kick-off, the artificial surface was in perfect condition and it was Taunton who had the first effort of note on goal.

Dan Sullivan, one of several City players lining up against their former club, was disposed by Rabby Tabu. The Peacocks’ midfield man let fly and Hamon did well to push his effort behind for a corner.

But that was Taunton’s lot in the first half as they spent almost all of the opening 45 minutes on the back foot.

Dan Rooney was impeded on the edge of the box and Tyler Harvey struck the free-kick towards goal. Visiting custodian Dan Lavercombe could only parry the ball to the feet of Harrison who coolly dispatched.

Lavercombe was certainly at fault for the opener, but he redeemed himself with a number of fine stops to keep Truro’s lead at just one goal.

He saved well from an Adelsbury header before Sullivan combined with Riley-Lowe, as the latter fired towards goal from a tight angle.

Harvey also saw a headed effort kept out with City then denied by the woodwork. Rooney’s low shot look destined for the bottom corner, but Lavercombe’s fingertips diverted the ball onto the post.

Taunton were at sixes and sevens at the back and Harvey capitalised on a poor clearance to sting Lavercombe’s palms after 33 minutes.

As the interval approached, Truro were once again foiled by the goalframe as Neal’s shot from a tight angle hit the outside of the post and rippled the side netting.

Leading by a single goal when it should have been more at the break, City were in a similar position at Welling on Tuesday and after shipping two goals in five minutes against the Wings, history looked like repeating itself again.

Within 30 seconds of the second half, Taunton almost drew themselves level, but Hamon and Harrison eventually managed to smuggle the ball clear.

Then, on 55 minutes, Taunton were left scratching their collective heads as to how City remained ahead with Zac Smith and Stearn contriving to both miss the target from a matter of yards out.

It was a huge let off and Truro made Taunton pay as Palmer headed home from Will Dean’s corner to put real daylight between the two teams.

But 20 minutes from time, Taunton should have sent City nerves jittering but failed to do so. Substitute Marcus Day was fouled by James Melhado in the box and referee Tom Ellsmore pointed straight to the spot.

Stearn would take the spot kick and his stuttering run-up did not have the desired effect. His dreadful effort was kept out by Hamon and the ball was smuggled to safety by City.

Taunton heads visibly dropped from this point forwards as they rarely threatened the City goal whilst Wotton and his charges kept their powder, whilst managing the game perfectly to prevail for only the second time in 2024.

City, Hamon, Palmer, Adelsbury, Harrison, Melhado, Dean, Rooney (Brett, 70), Sullivan (Kavanagh, 64), Riley-Lowe, Neal (Bray, 74), Harvey. Subs not used: Law, Sanders.

Taunton: Lavercombe, Bell (Day,45), Ball, Chamberlain, James, Jarvis (Bolton, 68), Tabu (Stearn, 45), Smith, Evans, Dolman, Slough. Subs not used: Brown, Grubb.

Referee: Tom Ellsmore

Attendance: 196