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Next Game: Rushall At Home In The League On Saturday 30th November At 3.00pm

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Preview: Truro City vs Hereford FC



Following a stalemate at Edgar Street on Saturday we go again at 7:45 this evening, this time at Plainmoor, Torquay, in an FA Cup second qualifying round replay against Truro City, with Welling awaiting the winners in the next round.

There will be relief all round from the Hereford contingent that the travelling distance has been reduced by about 170 miles due to Truro’s temporary relocation to Devon, although quite how their home league gate is holding up to any degree in the face of such a long journey is anyone’s guess.

While a replay wouldn’t have been on many supporters’ wish lists at 3pm on Saturday, it does at least count as the final game in Eliot Richards’ and Calvin Dinsley’s suspensions, meaning that they’ll be back available for selection in the league game against Spennymoor on Saturday. It’s also new director of football Tim Harris’s first game officially in charge.

I’m certainly no tactical expert, but it’s been frustrating of late to see a lot of laboured, lateral-passing build-up play, giving defences an age to set up solidly when a cross or through ball is finally attempted, and that’s surely why the goals scored column looks so sparse. However, that style of play emerges when confidence is low. Recent results of course haven’t been good, but, as Marlon Jackson has acknowledged, all the off-the-pitch upheaval has done nothing to keep the players settled.

I firmly believe that this squad is good enough to get into the play-offs this season if the players are allowed to concentrate solely on playing football matches.
After a promising yet fruitless first half performance on Saturday from the Bulls, there’s a suspicion that what’s needed is an early goal from a yard out off someone’s backside to turn a corner and get the season moving again.

While the ‘concentrate on the league’ phrase is well-used, a decent Cup run can often spark an upturn in league form too. If that early goal can go in, then maybe it’ll give the players the confidence they need to start playing and passing again.

This is a strong, tall and direct Truro team, but they can be turned round with pace and precision. A bit of luck in front of goal can breed confidence, which in turn can result in a return to some of that pacey and precise football we saw against Blyth and in the second half against Leamington, performances which admittedly seem like a lifetime ago now, given all that’s happened in the interim.

It’ll be interesting this evening to see whether Tim Harris sees fit to tweak the formation or starting XI Gareth Davies and Ryan Green opted for on Saturday.
Lance Smith’s performance when less than 100% fit was one bright spot, and he’s showing that this certainly isn’t a division too far for him. Hopefully with a few days rest he’s fully fit and available to start, whether up front or out wide.

With Richards and Dinsley still suspended, it’s to be assumed that the promising experiment of playing Kieran Thomas in a midfield holding role is to be continued, particularly if Billy Murphy is still sidelined.

With Greener still struggling and Jordan Liburd taking a whack in the eye in the first match, it could be the two young Bristol City centre backs who start, although it’s thought that the captain will recover in time.

An autumn evening at the seaside with the promise of a glamour tie next against sleeping giants Welling. Who says the romance of the Cup is dead?

COYW