Truro City 3 - Hampton & Richmond 0

Truro City are up to second in the National League South standings after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over struggling Hampton & Richmond, writes Gareth Davies. 

The win, City’s third in succession, was never in doubt once Tyler Harvey had given the hosts a 58th minute lead, heading home a Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain long throw.

Harvey repeated the dose seven minutes later to put John Askey’s Tinners in complete control before captain Connor Riley-Lowe sealed all three points 14 minutes from time, with another headed effort.

City, without a game last weekend due to Boreham Wood’s FA Cup run, named the same side that defeated Hemel Hempstead Town 1-0 at the TCS on October 5.

There were changes on the bench however with Tavonga Kuleya and Tylor Love-Holmes replacing Scott Burgess and Pharell Johnson.

Under glorious autumn skies, the first half saw both sides keep their respective powders fairly dry although Truro had the better share of possession and territory.

The visitors, with just one win away from home all season, looked nervous playing the ball out from the back, but City couldn’t capitalise on the Beavers’ frailties.

Harvey, who was a thorn in the side of Hampton all afternoon had the game’s first sight of goal after ten minutes, but his effort was deflected into the arms of visiting custodian Ted Curd.

Sam Sanders planted a Will Dean cross into Curd’s grateful arms before Riley-Lowe’s teasing ball into the box evaded all in a red and black shirt.

Hampton’s only chance of note in the opening 45 minutes came from an Alex Wall free-kick which was off target and deflected wide for a corner.

After the turnaround, City raced from the traps and Harvey was denied by the woodwork from Dean’s teasing corner. The visitors were pinned back in their own half by City, who, with every set piece and Oxlade-Chamberlain throw, were knocking on the Beavers’ door.

The dam eventually burst just shy of the hour mark when a long-throw found the head of Harvey for his seventh of the season.

Now City’s leading marksman, Harvey glanced another header just wide before he notched again in the 65th minute. Jaze Kabia was needlessly felled in a good area and Dean’s free-kick to the back post was met by Harvey, who left Curd with no chance.

With 15 minutes left, Hampton had their only chance of serious note as substitute Gianni Crichlow burst free, but from a tight angle, he could only find the side netting.

Within a minute, City had gone up the other end and bagged a third as Dean claimed another assist. His free-kick into the box wasn’t cleared and Riley-Lowe, with his back to goal, headed past Curd for his first of the season.

Hampton had another half chance as time ticked down with leading scorer James Roberts having his shot inside the box blocked by Riley-Lowe.

But City saw the game out with ease to claim a deserved win, the side’s seventh overall this term, with the small matter of league leaders Farnborough away from home up next for the Tinners on Tuesday.

City: Lavercombe, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Love-Holmes, 83), Harrison, Sanders, Riley-Lowe, En-Neyah, Dean, Palfrey (Rooney, 76), Law, Kabia (Johnson-Fisher, 87), Harvey (Neal, 83). Sub not used: Kuleya.

Hampton & Richmond: Curd, Wiltshire, Revan (Williams, 69), J Taylor, French, Keeya, Gray (Massampu, 69), Martin Sorando, Vilhete, Wall (Crichlow 69), Roberts. Subs not used: A Taylor, Campbell.