Senior Cup Semi Final Report

[allforone1889]

In what turned out to be a very entertaining Semi Final City booked there final spot thanks to yet another Stewart Yetton hat trick at Gala Parc on Wednesday evening. All credit must go to Falmouth Town who after falling two goals behind drew level early in the second half but were unable in the end to overcome the current holders.

Truro reverted back to their 3-5-2 formation and started well pushing Falmouth back into their own half the pace of Andy Watkins was to prove a thorn in Town's side all evening and there was little argument when Watkins was brought down and Yetton scored from the spot.

The Tigers showed their silky skills in the first half of the game Marcus Martin saw his effort rebound off the post before Tom Gardener scored his first goal for the club with a looping header into the far corner. This however started to inspire the fightback and after a scramble in the City area former City favourite Andy Bowker prodded the ball home.

As the first half drew to a close Falmouth were denied by a double save from Chapman, the second half saw Falmouth strive for the equaliser and on 58 minutes they did when Bowker laid off the ball to another ex City player Goldring to bring the sides level once more.

With both teams pushing forward it was City who regained the lead eight minutes later when Yetton scored from just inside the area after good work by Walker and Broad, City began to regain the bulk of the play and Yetton completed his hat trick with a fine header from Watkins cross it proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Falmouth but they are the be congratulated on their performance that tested Truro throughout.

[Guest Postie Pidge]

Falmouth’s Easter Monday dreams were shattered at Porthleven’s Gala Parc on Wednesday evening but they need not be disgraced. They submitted a fine performance and made the Western Premier League champions-elect fight for their right to meet Saltash United in the final.

With Lee Langmead, Rob Francis and Darren Burchell out, Luke Wort and Chris Peck were called up from the Combination team and Kain Bond came in as he is still registered for Falmouth in this competition despite Stoke Gabriel and Bideford being his first choice clubs.

Falmouth kicked off and for the opening minutes it was pretty even with both sides attacking but not testing either keeper. It took a shot on the turn from Matt Cusack in the sixth minute which bounced up in front of Jason Chapman but overall it was simple.

Truro broke quickly and Andy Watkins’ pace took him into the area where he was bundled over by skipper Brinton Nute, who was also cautioned. Stewart Yetton stepped up to beat Nathan Murphy from the spot.

Falmouth tried battling back but were struggling to pierce the well oiled defence. Andy Bowker nearly found a piercing when he charged down a back pass to Chapman who struck it straight at the Town lone target man and it went out for a goal kick.

Truro nearly doubled their lead in the 25th minute when an inch perfect cross from the left was headed goal wards but rebounded off the post with Murphy a spectator.

Tom Gardner sprayed a ball out to the right corner where after evading Nute’s challenge, Yetton was brought down by Fergus Nevin. Scott Walker took the free kick and following a flick on from a City player, Gardner headed unmarked into the top corner of the net, again with Murphy looking on.

Realising that the 4-5-1 wasn’t going to work with Town now two goals in arrears, Steve Massey made a change in the 33rd minute with Matt Godfree being replaced by striker Kain Bond. With two attackers, Falmouth stood more chance of breaking down the City defence and attacking was the only way they would get anything out of the game.

This sparked Town into life and within three minutes had injected life into the game. Jamie Morrison-Hill ran at Truro and crossed low into the area. After a few half clearances and weak crosses, the ball fell to Bowker who prodded the ball home from close range.

A minute before the break, Truro’s defence had a break from the relentless Town efforts when a good move was finished by Kevin Wills firing over the bar.

Falmouth dominated the early stages of the second period and Truro rarely forayed into the Town area despite attempts to move forward. Unphased by his blip in the seventh minute, stand in skipper Nute marshalled his defence well and worked together with Neil Bettis to thwart the high scoring City forwards.

It was in the 58th minute that Falmouth’s deserved equaliser came. Bowker won a throw off Graeme Power and once inside the area, Bowker received the ball and on the turn, played it back to Ben Goldring on the edge of the box who, under pressure from a sliding tackle struck a beautiful low shot into the corner of Chapman’s net to send the Town supporters into raptures.

Despite now being level, Falmouth were unable to capitalise and keep the pressure on and possibly take the lead. They suffered a hammer blow in the 66th minute when they slipped to 2-3. Walker, on the right flank played a one-two with captain Joe Broad before scuffing his cross into the area. Fortunately for him, predatory marksman Yetton was on hand to fire the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

It was to get worse for Falmouth for within three minutes they were back to a two goal deficit. Walked played a pass out to Broad who sent over a cross to the far post where Yetton was unmarked and his free header sealed the game for Truro.

In the 74th minute, Falmouth were harshly penalised for a handball decision just outside the penalty area. Walker took the free kick and although he beat the five man wall, it was just too high and cleared the bar.

Two minutes later, Truro made a change with Mark Vercesi replacing Wills and Falmouth followed suit not long after with Brown and Peck replacing Goldring and Matt Cusack.

Both teams were desperate to add to their tally but nothing was forthcoming as the defences were on top.

Truro made a second change with five minutes remaining, Chris Reski made way for Sam Matthews.

A minute from time, a Falmouth attack ended with Bettis firing recklessly wide.

Town didn’t disgrace themselves and at times were better than City but now the focus is back to the League campaign and getting their title hopes back on track, starting with Dartmouth on Saturday.

Town: N. Murphy; L. Beer, F. Nevin, N. Bettis, B. Nute, B. Goldring (C. Peck 79m), J. Morrison-Hill, M. Godfree (28m), A. Cusack, A. Bowker, M. Cusack (W. Brown 79m). Subs (unused): G. Squires & L. Wort.

City: J. Chapman; T. Gardner, G. Power, T. Smith, M. Martin, J. Broad, K. Wills (M. Vercesi 76m), C. Reski (S. Matthews 85m), S. Yetton, A. Watkins, S. Walker. Subs (unused): D. Stamp, T. Chambers & J. Vaughan.

Referee: Rigas Gatzianidis (Breage)

Assistants: Mike Carter (Camborne) and Steven Annis (Mawgan)

[Guest john]

may have been different if we had our strikeforce available, lee langmead, adam carter, glen squires.

good luck to truro however they have made credit to falmouth.

[truros mr mourinho]

still didnt know,that the falmouth defender was not sent off for the pen,clearly the last man and should have walked,but the ref must have thought lets not spoil the game for the big crowd,and keep it even :SM_carton:

[Peck1961]

Thought it was a decent game last night, and for large parts, Falmouth were Truro's equal and on occasions looked more than capable of picking up the win, especially when they got it back to 2-2.

To say that Truro showed they usual silky skills last night might be slightly 'over egging the pudding' a little bit.

Given the so called quality of their team I thought Truro were poor at times, particularly for the 30 mins spell before & after half time, when their passing was ragged and they just didn't seem to be aware of the huge amounts of space that Reski was being left in on the right wing to twiddle his thumbs and instead kept choosing to go down the ineffective Walker's left hand side.

To be honest I've Truro a few times over the last month or so and they just haven't impressed me, they will go up this season as Champions, don't get me wrong, but I just feel the squad is gonna need some shaking up next season if they want to continue their run of promotions, because it just seems that a few players are getting a little too comfortable in their roles.

[Common Tater]

Just a thought. Many of Truro's players will know they won't be playing next season - the ones who can't turn full-time pro. Will they feel the same incentive as the others? Might this not explain the recent flat performances?

[Peck1961]

Just a thought. Many of Truro's players will know they won't be playing next season - the ones who can't turn full-time pro. Will they feel the same incentive as the others? Might this not explain the recent flat performances?

You make a very good point, and one I hadn't really thought about.

As you say it's only human nature to not care about what happens to the side if you're not gonna be around to enjoy it in future seasons, and with so many non-Truro persons on the playing staff, the likelihood of an affection for the club is also surely diminished a little?