Truro 0
United 1
(Jay 66′)
Matt Jay’s second-half strike saw United secure a priceless victory against Truro, as the National League South promotion race took another twist in Cornwall.
In what was always going to be a closely-fought affair, it was Jay’s superb effort after the change of ends that eventually settled the matter, as The Gulls secured their third 1-0 win over the Tinners this term.
Following last weekend’s home win over Slough, Gulls boss Paul Wotton decided not to tinker with a winning line-up, and named an unchanged matchday squad for the trip down to Cornwall to face his former side.
A tight first half brought no breakthrough in terms of goals, however it was the men in yellow who threatened the most, with Jay going close to breaking the deadlock on a trio of occasions, with ex-Torquay goalkeeper Lavercombe twice having to come to his side’s aid to keep the scoreline blank.
Truro, top of the NLS tree and buoyed by home advantage, did have a few moments of their own too.
Another ‘keeper facing his former club – James Hamon – had to be alert to paw the ball away from a packed goalmouth in City’s best opening, after Will Dean’s free-kick found a Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain’s head at the back post.
Goalless at the halfway point, but Wotton’s side are well-versed in these scenarios by now.
Torquay’s nerve was certainly tested after the restart, as City laid siege to the away goal. However, as has been so often this season, The Gulls’ wonderfully marshalled defence meant Hamon remained relatively untroubled in-between the sticks.
With the game scoreless and edging towards the three-quarters mark, there was still little to choose between the sides, before a moment of quality provided the game with its pivotal moment.
Having soaked up all Truro had to muster, Torquay broke upfield to launch an attack of their own in the 66th minute.
When Jay picked up possession from the left flank some 30 yards out, there still seemed plenty to do, but after taking a touch and looking up to set his sights, the Torbay-born frontman let fly with a sumptuous curling effort that beat Lavercombe’s dive towards the far corner, and put his side a goal up.
They nearly doubled that advantage in the 73rd minute, but on that occasion, leading scorer Cody Cooke fired over, after the ball was redirected back into his path, eight yards out.
Truro – needing a goal to retain top spot – have gained a reputation for gabbing late goals this year, and yet, so well did United deal with a flurry of corners, throws and high balls into the box, that Hamon remained largely underworked.
When he was called upon though, he proved to be equal to the task.
With the ball delivered to Tyler Harvey – so lethal at this level – some six yards out from goal in the 81st minute, the stadium held its collective breath waiting to see the net bulge.
In response, Hamon instinctively threw out a hand to divert the ball past his far post, and that proved to be enough.
The Assistant’s flag would have called for the referee to make a decision, but United’s No.1 wasn’t in any mood to gamble on that.
Several more set-pieces came and went, but it was to be United’s day.
Still nothing won, and plenty of work to do – but with The Gulls now just one point off the National League South summit with two games remaining, there really is only one place to be on Bank Holiday Monday.
See you at Plainmoor for the visit of Weymouth – we’ll need each and every one of you from hereon in.
TRURO CITY: 1. Dan Lavercombe, 2. Zac Bell (11. Dominic Johnson-Fisher, 70′), 3. Connor Riley-Lowe (c) (15. Andrew Neal, 87′), 7. Yassine En Neyah (10. Billy Palfrey, 79′), 8. Will Dean, 9. Tyler Harvey, 12. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14. Luke Jephcott (16. Tylor Love-Holmes, 79′), 18. Dan Rooney, 19. Jaze Kabia, 20.Ryan Law.
SUBS NOT USED: 6. Sam Sanders.
Yellow Card: Rooney 41′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon,, 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer, 7. Lirak Hasani (16. Ed Palmer, 89′), 8. Jordan Young, 10. Omar Mussa (18. Oscar Threlkeld, 62′), 19. Cody Cooke, 20. Dan Hayfield (Will Jenkins Davies, 57′), 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay.
SUBS NOT USED: 17. Offrande Zanzala, 25. Emmanuel Ilesanmi.
Yellow Card: Dreyer 37′
Attendance: 3,306