St Albans City 2, Truro City 2

IT was heartbreak for Truro City on Saturday, as the White Tigers conceded a 93rd minute equaliser to drop two points in their relegation battle, after a 2-2 draw against St Albans City, writes Cameron Weldon.

With the news that the club has been sold, breaking on Friday evening, City headed to Clarence Park with mixed emotions of both optimism and uncertainty.

On the pitch it was a rather uneventful opening period which saw very little clear-cut chances. Harvey Rivers was called into action eight minutes into play as he denied Moyo before Aaron Bentley superbly blocked the strikers second effort.

Connor Riley-Lowe cleverly beat his man and went down in the box, but the referee saw nothing in it and waved play on.

Moments later came Truro’s best chance of the half, River Allen clipped in a beautiful cross which fell to the feet off Tyler Harvey, but City’s top scorer’s effort hit the post and went wide.

Dan Rooney found himself clean through after a slip in the hosts defence, but his shot was straight at Dean Snedker in the St Albans goal.

Both teams had good opportunities to take the lead but they went into the break level.

The White Tigers started the brighter in the second period and were quickly rewarded. St Albans centre half Michael Clark appeared to handle the ball and Truro were awarded a penalty which Tyler Harvey dispatched with ease to give the White Tigers the lead.

The Saints responded perfectly to the setback and equalised just four minutes later. A long throw-in was launched into the Truro box and Clark, the man who gave away the penalty minutes before, was on hand to head home.

Likewise, to the hosts bouncing back, Truro did the same. Three minutes after the frustration of conceding, Louis Rooney managed to get in behind the St Albans defence and squared the ball across goal for Connor Riley-Lowe who calmly slotted home past Snedker, to regain the White Tigers lead.

Falmouth Packet:

Both teams had a number of corners and half chances but neither side could take any of them. One of Truro’s unused substitutes Jordan Copp was then shown red from the touch line for dissent.

St Albans continued to probe the White Tigers backline, and had a huge chance go begging on the 90th minute mark as Diedhiou’s header went across goal but wide of the post.

Riley-Lowe then had a shot comfortably saved, before St Albans found their equaliser. Deep in stoppage time, Sole did superbly well out wide and picked out Diedhiou, who this time volleyed past Rivers to break Truro hearts.

The City players only have three days until they are back in action again, as they host Woking at Treyew Road on Tuesday night.

St Albans: Snedker, Herd (Da Costa 72), Bender (c), Diedhiou, Knight, Clark, Wyatt (Sole 72), Kamdjo, Ewington, Moyo, Banton (Merson 72).

Truro: Rivers, Thompson, Riley-Lowe, Richards (c), Bentley, Grimes, D Rooney (Harding 84), Allen, Rowthorn, Herve (L Rooney 27), Harvey.

Attendance: 724