FC Halifax Town were denied 7 wins in a row with a 2-1 away defeat by Truro City in the Enterprise National League with Will Harris second half strike putting Town ahead, Shaun Donnellan’s late equaliser before Luke Jephcott strike deep in injury time gave the Tinners victory
Town boss Adam Lakeland made one change with Thierry Latty-Fairweather in for Sean Tarima from last weekend’s 3-1 win at Southport in the FA Cup.
The home side started on the front foot, a long throw from Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain caused issues in the first couple of minutes but the shot was blocked to stop the home side going ahead.
A flick on for Josh Hmami saw him down the left-hand side, he looked to get his cross in but just inches in front of Owen Bray and out for a goal kick in the first real attack for the Shaymen.
Town got the first corner of the game in the 11th minute, Will Hugill’s cross had been blocked, Jay Turner-Cooke’s ball in went all the way to the far post as he looked for Shaun Hobson and went wide for a goal kick despite his appeals for another corner.
The Tinners were forced into an early change as Dan Rooney had to go off injured and was replaced by Yassine En-Neyah on 18 minutes.
Owen Bray fouled by Connor Riley-Lowe just outside the box to give the Shaymen a chance from a set piece in a good area. Turner-Cooke’s effort deflected off the wall for a corner. Hmami’s ball was played short into the box to Bray, back to Hmami but his cross was able to be cleared by the home defence.
Max Kinsey was able to find Luke Jephcott from 20 yards forced a save from Sam Johnson as he tried to slot the ball past him
Aiden Marsh had a sight of goal in the 29th minute, his shot saw Johnson flat-footed and whistled past the post. The home players wanted a corner for a deflection, but referee Aji Ajibola gave a goal kick.
The home side wanted a penalty with just under 10 minutes from the break. The cross into the box was headed back across goal and En-Neyah goes down in the six-yard box but no penalty given by the referee.
A charging run by Angelo Cappello got himself into the box and went down under a challenge but again the referee wasn’t interested in giving a penalty.
Town nearly went ahead with a minute left of the half, Bray down the right-hand side his first time cross looked for Will Harris and he forced a fine save from Dan Lavercombe from close range.
Into the second half, Truro made their second change with Dominic Johnson-Fisher on for Aiden Marsh with 51 minutes gone on the clock.
Harris with his back to goal, he found Hugill but his shot from the edge of the box was always rising and over Dan Lavercombe’s goal.
Substitute Johnson-Fisher was put through on goal, he was forced wide, and his shot was deflected wide by Shaun Hobson for a corner. Town counterattacked with Hmami leading the charge, he looked for the run of Bray, his cross was blocked but the offside flag was up against him.
Bray on the right-hand side, his cross found Cooke at the far post, looked to head goalwards but wasn’t able to connect properly and went out for a goal kick with an hour on the clock.
Town broke the deadlock on the 65th minute, Will Harris capitalised on a back pass and he had the simple chance to slide the ball past Lavercombe for 1-0 for his third goal of the season.
Johnson had to be alert on 77 minutes to save from Luke Jephcott from close range and he made a great save to stop Truro going level.
Another save from Johnson in the 81st minute was needed to stop the home side going level, but the home side got their equaliser from the corner, Shaun Donnellan was there at the far post to score for his first goal for Truro
A late chance for the Tinners saw Johnson-Fisher force another save from Johnson but they weren’t to be denied and they won the game with seconds left. Johnson-Fisher and Bell combined, cross found Jephcott and he fired past Johnson for 2-1.
The Shaymen will be in action on Tuesday in the National League Cup against Leeds United, 7pm kick-off.
Match Stats
Truro City
1 Dan Lavercombe, 3 Connor Riley-Lowe ©, 4 Will Dean, 8 Dan Rooney (7 Yassine En-Neyah 18), 12 Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14 Lirak Hasani (19 Rekeil Pyke 70), 15 Luke Jephcott, 20 Ryan Law, 21 Max Kinsey (2 Zac Bell 70) 25 Shaun Donnellan, 26 Aiden Marsh (11 Dominic Johnson-Fisher 51)
Subs: 24 Aidan Stone, 16 Tylor Love-Holmes, 29 Harry Kite
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather, (20 Jack Jenkins 80) 16 Jevon Mills, 5 Shaun Hobson, 11 Angelo Cappello, 4 Will Hugill, 27 Jay Turner-Cooke, 8 Josh Hmami, 10 Jamie Cooke, 17 Owen Bray (31 Owen Devonport 69) 9 Will Harris (3 Adam Adetoro 84)
Subs: 12 Nat Ford, 19 AJ Warburton, 29 Sean Tarima, 32 Oliver Smith
Referee: Aji Ajibola
Goals: Harris 65, Donnellan 82, Jephcott 90 +4
Yellow Cards: Hasani 41, Hobson 90 + 6
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2004 (109 away)
Truro City 2 FC Halifax Town 1
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