Match Report: Torquay United 0 Truro City 1

Torquay United’s promotion hopes suffered a stunning blow when, after a dreadful start, they lost to Truro City in front of a near-4,000 Boxing Day crowd at Plainmoor (writes Dave Thomas).

Gary Johnson’s Gulls, beaten 2-0 at Chelmsford City at the weekend after falling behind early on, were far too slow out of the blocks again, and they were punished for it.

They were lucky not to concede more than defender Ben Adelsbury’s set-piece header in the 19th minute.

Truro thoroughly deserved that lead and should have been at least a couple of goals clear midway through the first half.

United did improve before the interval – not hard in the circumstances – and they forced City to soak up heavy pressure later in the game.

But it was still not the performance of a team with promotion claims – and they lost striker Theo Williams to yet another (hamstring) injury near the end.

The final whistle brought boos from the Plainmoor crowd, and at least one player had to be pulled away from a potential confrontation with Pop Side fans.

Johnson had two of Saturday’s missing men back – Brett McGavin returned from suspension and Will Jenkins Davies from a thigh injury.

Ryan Hanson and Dillon De Silva dropped to the bench.

But that still left seven other pros injured.

Truro, fresh from a 1-0 home win over Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday, included five ex-Gulls in their squad – goalkeeper James Hamon, centre-half Ed Palmer, left-back Ryan Law, plus Dan Sullivan and Matt Buse on the bench.

Defender Connor Riley-Lowe also lives in Paignton.

The Gulls were way off the pace for nearly 20 minutes and were very fortunate to be only one goal down.

Too many United players waited for things to happen against a Truro side making them happen.

Almost nothing stuck up front for Torquay, whose young forwards kept trying to do the difficult thing, instead of the easy pass, and gave the ball away as a result.

Adam Porter, Palmer, Tyler Harvey and Harvey Greenslade twice all could or should have scored during a torrid start for the Gulls.

It was no surprise, and no more than they deserved, when Truro took the lead in the 19th minute.

Dean took an inswinging corner from City’s left and United’s set-piece marking failed them again as Adelsbury headed home from six yards... 0-1.

It was 27 minutes before United gave Hamon any cause for concern, but Theo Williams didn’t get enough on Ross Marshall’s inviting cross and the ball went wide.

At least United finally roused themselves.

McGavin took a Williams lay-off, hit the post with a sweetly-struck 20-yard shot – the ball rebounded into the arms of the beaten Hamon.

Johnson was surely making a point when he took new Ipswich Town loanee Osman Foyo off and sent on De Silva after only 37 minutes, although Foyo had just been booked.

De Silva immediately put Williams in behind the Truro defence, forcing a good save off his line from Hamon, and the City keeper also tipped another McGavin drive round his left hand post.

That was better from Torquay, but it could hardly have lifted the tone of Johnson’s half-time team talk.

United dominated the second half, as they had to do, but they came up against a determined and disciplined Truro defence, and notably Hamon.

The White Tigers goalie pulled off a series of good saves, from Collins, sub Ryan Hanson and Archer. Collins also hit the top of the bar from 30 yards – Hamon was beaten that time.

De Silva had plenty of the ball, and chances to deliver telling crosses, but didn’t really take them.

Indeed, Torquay often ran out of ideas when they were confronted with the visitors’ packed defence.

Just before eight minutes of stoppage-time began Williams pulled up in mid-flight with what looked like a hamstring problem – how many more forwards are Torquay going to lose to injuries?

But hard as they kept trying, and close as they came a couple of times, they could force an equaliser – as inadequate as that would have been for a club in their position.

Torquay United (4-1-3-2): Halstead; Marshall, Tomlinson, Moxey, Harris; McGavin; Archer, Jenkins Davies (Hanson 68), Collins; Foyo (De Silva 37), Williams (Crowe 81); subs not used –Martin, Lovett.

Booked: Foyo 34.

Truro City (5-3-2)): Hamon; Riley-Lowe, Harrison, Palmer, Adelsbury, Law; Porter (Rooney 53), Dean (Buse 65), Brett; Harvey, Greenslade (Neal 71); subs not used – Melhado, Sullivan.

Booked: Porter 50, Harvey 56, Neal 90.

Referee: Phillip Eddie (Royal Navy)

Attendance: 3,764 (72 City fans)