JAKE Ash rescued a point for Truro City with a controversial equaliser in injury time at Treyew Road.

The defender’s shot at goal, in the dying seconds of Truro’s match with Banbury on Saturday, was stopped on the line by keeper Joe Murrell, only for the linesman to flag that the ball had crossed the line - a decision the visitors protested against.

The draw was not really what City required as they look to make up the gap between them and the play-off places, which now stands at nine points.

However having trailed to David Stone’s first half strike and battered the visitors’ goal in the second half, with little reward, they will have been pleased not to have lost.

Stone’s opener came at the end of an uneventful first half. He latched onto a pass up the right from Joe Coleman, before out-pacing his marker and firing past Martin Rice from 15 yards out.

City were much the stronger side in the second half and were unfortunate not to be level on 53 minutes when Andy Watkins saw his shot rattle the crossbar. The home side continued to press, but found keeper Murrell in excellent form. Their frustrations were further compounded when substitute Scott Walker also hit the upright.

Banbury then began to slow the game down in the closing stages but, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, a long ball up field was knocked down for Ash who smashed it goalwards. The low shot was adjudged by assistant referee Darren Thompson to have crossed the line and a goal was given, much to the relief of the home crowd.

City were due to play Brackley away last night (Tuesday) and will face Leamington, currently ninth in the table, at home on Saturday as City search for their first win at Treyew Road since August.