Falmouth Town 2, Truro City 1

Falmouth Town brushed aside a four-division gap between them and their opponents to win the Aubrey Wilkes Trophy at Bickland Park on Saturday.

Town regain the trophy from City who won 6-0 in this fixture at Treyew Road last summer.

Town took the lead through a bizarre own-goal before Jack Bowyer doubled the advantage after half-time. Connor Riley-Lowe scored a late penalty for City but Town held on to maintain their 100% record in pre-season so far.

Truro started stronger and should have led on 13 minutes when Hayden Turner broke free in the box and shot but Ryan Barnes did brilliantly to save from point-blank range.

But Town took the lead three minutes later when Matt Buchan forced a backpass to keeper Cam Atkinson, who completely missed his clearance and could only watch as the ball trickled into the empty goal.

The hosts’ tails were up and they had the better of the rest of the half, with James Ward inches away from heading in a second from a David Broglino corner.

Truro hit back after half-time with Noah Keats striking the post from close range before Louis Rooney fired narrowly over the crossbar.

The visitors were well on top but Town went two up 15 minutes from time after brilliant work from Ryan Martt to win the ball before playing in Bowyer, who sprinted into the City box and fired past Atkinson.

The visitors responded five minutes later when they won a penalty for handball, with Riley-Lowe sending Barnes the wrong way to halve the deficit.

Town held on despite late pressure with Barnes denying Riley-Lowe before Joe Cooper superbly dispossessed Jared Lewington as the striker prepared to shoot.

Falmouth: R Barnes, D Blizzard (J Webber 65), O Moody (R Martt 55), J Ward, J Cooper, M Duff, L Brabyn, D Broglino, M Buchan (H Clarke 55), J Bowyer (S Pickup 80), T Nixon.

Truro: C Atkinson, N Thompson, B Palfrey, E Palmer, A Hartridge, C Riley-Lowe, M Smallcombe, L Gardener, N Keats (A Booth 76), L Rooney (J Lewington 64), H Turner (J Copp HT).

  • Falmouth travel to Penlee Park to face Penzance in their opening Dave Gardner Memorial Tournament match on Wednesday (kick-off 7.30pm).