Isuzu FA Trophy action returns tomorrow, as the Gulls take on Truro City at Plainmoor.
With the two National League South rivals both currently occupying places towards the top of the division, a change of competition won’t make this encounter any less competitive, as both sides begin their potentials roads to Wembley Stadium.
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 one point and two places above Wotton’s Gulls in second position with nine wins and four draws in their opening 17 matches leaving them just three points behind early pacesetters Weston-super-Mare.
It could’ve been even better on Tuesday, however Truro missed the opportunity to go top of the table, as they went down to a 1-0 defeat at Boreham Wood.
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 t 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 4-2 Truro City | Vanarama National League South | December 26th, 2018
Goals from Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala, Asa Hall and Saikou Janneh secured an entertaining victory for United over Truro City in front of a 3,863 crowd at Plainmoor.
Although Tyler Harvey’s opener did give Gary Johnson’s NLS leaders a brief shock, United were 3-1 up by the interval, an once that lead was extended further in the second period, theresult was no longer in doubt, despite future Gull Jared Lewington’s late reply for City.