Cornwall day out sees City pick up point

City picked up another point on the road this afternoon in a goalless draw against Truro City at their smart new ground. The home side enjoyed the better of the exchanges – and can look back on a controversial first half refereeing decision that went against them – but City produced a resolute defensive performance to secure a third successive draw.

The opening exchanges were even in a game that was largely dictated by the strong wind and firm pitch which made passing football difficult. Oxlade-Chamberlain forced a fine stop from Harvey Wiles-Richards on 13 minutes then five minutes later Kieran Parselle saw his half-volley drop wide of the post. The moment of controversy arrived in the 30th minute. A long ball forward saw Kabia get goalside of Ollie Tomlinson. He raced toward goal and appeared to felled by the defender right on the edge of the box. However, the referee saw different, booking the Truro forward for simulation, and City could breath again. The returning Ewan Clark tested keeper Lavercombe in the 37th minute with a shot from 20 yards but the game reached the break goalless.

With the wind now at their back the Tinners began the second half on the front foot but failed to create any clear-cut openings. A rare break forward for City saw Alex Fisher’s cross-shot just evade Clark at the back post. Just past the hour mark Johnson-Fisher’s picked out Oxlade-Chamberlain but his first touch was poor and the danger was cleared. Increasingly Truro’s attacking threat was restricted to launching long throws into the City box but, time and again, it was a Roman head that was first to the ball. A couple of times this tactic led to goalmouth scrambles but even the introduction of Truro’s top scorer and ex-City striker Tyler Harvey couldn’t fashion a late goal and City could return north with a hard-fought point.