Much-anticipated New Year’s Day clash sees two of the National League South’s top sides do battle at Plainmoor
United will see in 2025 in front of a packed-out Plainmoor on New Year’s Day, as Cornish rivals Truro City head to Devon to contest a top-of-the table encounter. Although Paul Wotton’s side head into the New Year in pole position, tomorrow’s match will prove to be another tough test for his side, with just four points separating the top eight sides in the division.
Who’s the Boss?
John Askey was appointed as Truro City manager in June 2024, after Paul Wotton left the Tinners to take over at Plainmoor.
After hanging up his boots, Askey had two spells in charge of the Silkmen with the second of those, between 2013 and 2018, resulting in Macclesfield returning to the Football League, despite severe financial constraints.
His achievements with Macclesfield resulted in a managerial move to Shrewsbury Town and then to Port Vale.
Askey returned to non-league circles in 2021-22 with York City and he led the Minstermen out of National League North.
After leaving York in 2022, he briefly returned to management with Hartlepool United and then onto Truro City for the 2024-25 season.
How have they been doing?
City are certainly enjoying their return to Cornwall, with the Tinners currently in fourth position, with their tally of 42 points from 23 games leaving them just two points off of United at the top of a congested National League South table.
City’s spirit certainly can’t be questioned, and they’ve made a habit of salvaging results when all seems lost, with Billy Palfrey’s 94th minute leveller on Boxing Day following up Will Dean 94th minute winner at St Albans five days earlier.
Player to Watch
Talismanic hitman Tyler Harvey remains the main man at Truro, and he’s once again amongst the goals in 2024/25 – juts as he has been for the majority of his career.
Having begun at his hometown club, Plymouth Argyle, a permanent move to Wrexham failed to bring out the best in him, however their loss has undoubtedly been Truro’s gain, as despite a spell with Bath City, Harvey has gone on to make Truro his home since, and has averaging a goal every two games in a White shirt to boot.
Played for Both
When young United goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe’s early promise was rewarded with a move to Wigan Athletic in January 2016, a bright future in the higher echelons of the game seemed assured, however it didn’t quite turn out that way.
Unable to get much of a look-in at Wigan, Dan had to turn to stints at Welsh side Rhyl and National League side AFC Fylde to get game time, before a switch to FC United of Manchester saw Lavercombe finally make his mark, as he clocked up over a century of appearances in three seasons, with his impressive form earning him the Player of the Season last season.
When a return to the South-West came calling in the shape of Taunton last summer, it was a move Dan couldn’t refuse, and he went on t repay the Club’s faith in him by producing a number of excellent displays for Town in 2023/24.
With Taunton suffering relegation last term, Lavercombe moved on to sign for Truro during the summer.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 1-0 Truro City | Isuzu FA Trophy | November 16th 2024
It was only some six weeks ago that Truro last made the trip to Plainmoor, as United secured a 1-0 FA Trophy win over City at Plainmoor.
After Connor Riley-Lowe’s first-half strike was ruled out, it was Dan Hayfield’s stunning second-half free-kick that eventually saw United into the next round.