Truro City edged closer to safety in the Blue Square Bet Conference South as they beat Dorchester Town 3-2 on Easter Monday.

Having lost 1-0 at home to relegation-threatened Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday, due to a controversial penalty, Truro were keen to get three points in Dorset to ease their relegation fears.

Dorchester had been going through a turbulent period aswell. Chasing a play-off position the club was rocked by the resignation of manager Alan Knight on April 4. Phil Simkin, taking charge on a permanent basis, was hoping to lead the club to a fourth straight win, but the new manager’s reign did not get off to a good start as Arran Pugh, Martin Gritton and Andy Watkins all hit the back of the net to give Truro the victory.

City boss Lee Hodges shuffled his attacking options from the side that has lost to Havant and Waterlooville.

He brought in Isaac Vassell, nephew of former England striker Darius, and left former Fulham striker Barry Hayles among the substitutes.

Tom Brooks also made a surprise return for City. Having left to join Bovey Tracey in February, the keeper was recalled to the Truro line-up after first-choice shot-stopper Ollie Chenoweth was recalled from his loan deal by Plymouth Argyle.

Truro were playing against the wind in the first half, but it was they who registered the first attempt of the afternoon.

However, after intercepting Mark Jermyn’s pass in the corner, Andy Watkins’ wild shot flew out for a throw-in on the far side.

Dorchester responded in kind as Scott Malsom, a transfer target for Truro back in September, cleverly flicked the ball over the head of Pugh and raced towards Brooks’ goal.

Unfortunately, under growing pressure from the retreating Steve Adams, the forward lost his footing at the vital moment and the ball bobbled harmlessly wide.

The wet and windy conditions were making life difficult for both sides, meaning chances were few and far between at the Avenue.

It appeared, given the slippery surface, that a mistake would lead to the opening goal and so it proved seven minutes from half-time as City took the lead.

Scott Walker’s floated free-kick looked harmless enough but miscommunication between Jermyn and Jones saw the latter let the ball slip through his fingers, handing Pugh the simple task of poking home into an empty net.

Dorchester sought an immediate rebuttal and they almost got it three minutes later.

Malsom showed great pace to win the race to Neil Martin’s through pass and nick the ball beyond Truro keeper Brooks.

However, the angle was extremely tight and Malsom was unable to squeeze his shot into the far corner of the goal.

The final action of the half saw Dovell shoot comfortably wide from 20 yards.

Dorchester continued to press as the second half got underway, with two teasing crosses almost yielding an equaliser.

The first, from Martin, was fumbled by Brooks but hacked to safety by his defenders, before the visiting keeper redeemed himself with a crucial touch, on Jake Smeeton’s centre, to take the ball away from the unmarked Nick Crittenden.

The home side were eventually rewarded for their pressure in the 64th minute.

Martin’s corner was initially cleared by the Truro defence, but only as far as the same player and his second delivery wasn’t dealt with, allowing Critchell to lash goalwards with the last touch appearing to come off the chest of Malsom.

However, the turning point in the match came moments later as Truro nudged themselves ahead once more.

Martin Gritton beat the offside trap, despite appeals from the home backline, and produced a cool finish to beat Jones from an acute angle.

The goal breathed new life into Truro and they went close to doubling their advantage when Penryn youngster Cody Cooke flashed a superb volley narrowly wide of the top corner.

They didn’t have to wait much longer for their next opportunity and this time it did bring a third goal.

A short corner caught the Dorchester side napping and Watkins glanced a header into the back of the net, despite the efforts of a Dorchester man on the line.

The points were in the bag for the visitors but there was still time for the hosts to at least reduce the deficit deep into stoppage time.

Crittenden's cross was met by Nathan Walker but pushed on to the bar by Brooks. Malsom's effort on the rebound was then parried into the path of Ryan Dovell and he scrambled home from a yard out. Dorchester grabbed the ball and raced back to the centre circle, but the final whistle sounded just seconds after the restart.

Truro City: Tom Brooks, Barry McConnell, Scott Walker, Arran Pugh, Steve Adams, Jake Ash, Adam Kelly, Cody Cooke, Martin Gritton (Barry Hayles 89), Andy Watkins, Isaac Vassell (Stewart Yetton 71). Substitutes not used: Joe Broad, Les Afful.