Match Report: Truro City 1 Torquay United 2

Truro City 1
Palmer 90+3

Torquay United 2
Jude-Boyd 24
Ash 39

It tells the story of our wettest of winters that Truro City v Torquay United, Cornwall v Devon, was played on a Monday night in Gloucester.

The Gulls won’t care if it was played in Greenland, as they a huge step toward safety with a 2-0 victory, thanks to first-half goals from Arkell Jude-Boyd and Brad Ash.

United were the better side throughout the evening and deserved the victory that lifts them five points above the bottom four.

Teams below Torquay do have games in hand, including Truro and their hosts on Tuesday, Taunton Town, but this win was massive, despite former Gull Ed Palmer grabbing a last-gasp consolation for the White Tigers.

United interim boss Aaron Downes made three changes from the 1-0 defeat at Welling on Saturday. Ross Marshall missed out through suspension after being sent off on the weekend, Kevin Dawson limped off with an injury and Ethon Archer dropped to the bench.

Ollie Tomlinson, Ash and Brett McGavin returned to the starting line-up but there was an early reminder of the weekend ill discipline that had cost United so dearly, as big striker Duane Ofori-Acheampong picked up a booking inside two minutes.

Ofori-Acheampong actually came close to opening the scoring after a super cross by Jude-Boyd, who just failed to picked out the target-man in the box, but it was his last contribution, hauled off on 19 minutes for Archer.

Downes was presumably, and understandably, spooked by the prospect by playing the majority of another game with ten men, and his reshuffled pack was soon celebrating the crucial opening goal, Jude-Boyd adding another to his growing collection with a lovely curling finish after cutting inside from the right.

United had their noses in front and were playing with renewed confidence. The decisive second arrived when Dean Moxey surged down the left and swung over the ideal cross for Ash to prod the ball beyond Truro goalkeeper James Hamon.

Will Jenkins Davies was denied by a fine save with the legs from Hamon, as United entered the half-time interval with a very welcome cushion.

The Gulls were given a major let-off nine minutes into the second half, when former Torquay Academy graduate Dan Sullivan made contact with a header from Ryan Law’s cross that beat Mark Halstead but cannoned away off the post.

United responded with a swift counter involving Ash and Archer, who forced his way into the box for a shot that was initially spilled by Hamon but the rebound was fired into the side-netting.

In general, however, the Gulls were content to manage the game with a calm assurance. Truro, who are equally desperate for points to pull clear of relegation, were unable to lay a significant glove on United’s defensive unit.

Jude-Boyd enjoyed another rampage down the right and his cross for Tomlinson was headed straight at a relieved Hamon. More slick work from the same wing resulted in a cheeky flick from Archer that failed to hit the target.

Austen Booth replaced Jenkins Davies for the final few minutes of a rare joyful away day for the Yellow Army. Palmer headed a very consolation but there was no denying Torquay the three points that could mean National League South football is guaranteed next season.

Truro: 1 James Hamon; 2 James Melhado (7 Adam Porter H-T), 3 Connor Riley-Lowe (capt), 5 Ed Palmer, 8 Will Dean, 10 Dan Sullivan, 14 Josh Hinds (12 Dan Rooney 65), 15 Andrew Neal (16 Dominic Johnson-Fisher 75), 17 Finn Tonks, 18 Tom Harrison, 20 Ryan Law Substitutes (not used): 6 Sam Sanders, 11 Luther Munakandafa.

Booked:

United: 1 Mark Halstead; 2 Arkell Jude-Boyd, 4 Tom Lapslie, 8 Asa Hall (capt), 11 Brad Ash, Brett McGavin, 18 Will Jenkins Davies (5 Austen Booth 90), 19 Duane Ofori-Acheampong (30 Ethon Archer 19), 21 Dean Moxey (capt), 23 Ollie Tomlinson, 27 Jack Stobbs (10 Lewis Collins 73). Substitutes (not used): 22 Rhys Lovett (GK), 24 Calum Thomas.

Booked: Ofori-Acheampong 2, Tomlinson 21, Halstead 88