27 April 2016

Truro City 1 Whitehawk 1

Truro City are in the end of season National league South play-offs, despite conceding a last gasp equaliser to ten-man Whitehawk on Tuesday evening.
And they now need just one point from their final two games at Havant & Waterlooville on Thursday and at home to Wealdstone on Saturday, to clinch fourth, which brings with it the chance of a home final.
In the play-offs they will meet either runners-up Ebbsfleet Utd (if they finish fifth) or third-placed Maidstone Utd (if they finish fourth), with the first leg of the semi-final at Treyew Road next Wednesday and the second leg the following Sunday May 8 in Kent.
         

Matty Jay's goal just before the hour mark looked to have given City all three points against their very physical play-off rivals, who had big defender Jordan Rose sent off ten minutes before half time for senselessly picking up two yellow cards in the space of a minute.
But in the 90th minute the Brighton-based visitors scrambled an equaliser, when top scorer Danny Mills scored from close range from a cross by substitute Jake Robinson after City had failed to clear their lines.
But despite the frustration of not being able to see the game out City boss Steve Tully saluted his players' achievement in winning a play-off spot.
"It has been a great a great achievement and we are not going into the play-offs just to make up the numbers," he said.
City's form has stuttered in recent weeks, with three defeats in their last four games, including a 2-0 defeat at relegated Basingstoke on Saturday.
But against Whitehawk they were back to something like their best and should really have taken all the points.
After a bright start by the visitors, whose play-off fate now rests with Saturday's trip to rivals Hemel lHempstead Town on Saturday, City began to get on top with Cody Cooke missing a great chance after eight minutes when he was put clear by Ben Adelsbury, but could not beat Whitehawk keeper Craig Ross.
There was then little between the teams until Rose lost his head.
The big defender was first booked for pulling back Jay and almost immediately had a wild hack at Matt Wright and was rightly shown a second yellow ten minutes before the break. giving City a big boost.
But at the start of the second period Whitehawk looked dangerous with Martin Rice saving well from Sam Rents and then David Martin.
City had chances to kill the game off with substitute Isaac Vassell on his 100th City appearance facing a great save from Ross with a close range header.
Adelsbury and Brett also went close, but Whutehawk were always a threat going forward and in the final minute of normal time City were unable to clear the ball and Robinson's cross gave Mills a simple chance to score his 22nd goal of the season, leaving City still that elusive point away from fourth.
But it is still remarkable achievement to reach the play offs after winning promotion last season, also via the play-offs.
Perhaps lightning will strike twice.
CITY: Rice; White, Ash (capt) (Dawson 46), Richards, Brett; Adelsbury, Cooke, Green, Afful (Vassell 55), Jay, Wright (Knowles 70). Subs (not used): Mitchell, McHale (GK).
Yellow card: Brett.
WHITEHAWK: Ross; Arnold, Rose, M'Boungou, Rents, West (Graham 40), Ijah (Gargan 81), Martin, Mendy, Osborn (Robinson 55), Mills. Subs (not used): Torres, Fraser
Red card: Rose (35) (two yellows).
Yellow cards: West (32), Martin (62),
Goals;: Jay (58) 1-0, Mills (90) 1-1.
Crowd: 402.
Referee; Samuel Allison
http://www.westbriton.co.uk/Truro-City-reach-National-League-play-offs/story-29181593-detail/story.html

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