Match Report | Truro City 1-1 Forest Green Rovers

Forest Green Rovers earned a point on the road in Cornwall on Easter after being reduced to ten men and taking the lead.

There wasn’t much to shout about in the first half, with the wind playing havoc for both sides.

Anrham Kanu was sent off just before the hour mark. It was Rovers, though, that took the lead in the 75th minute after guiding in a Kyle McAllister cross at the back post.

Truro hit back, however, in the 84th with Rovers failing to clear their lines and Luke Jephcott capitalising, bringing the hosts level with a deflected effort.  

First Half:

It was the hosts who had the first chance of the half, with Jack Stretton battling with Laurent Mendy for the ball. Abraham Kanu did well to come across and cover, pushing the forward wide, whose shot went wide of Harry Isted’s goal.

Isted was tested in the 10th minute with a looping cross, proving difficult to judge, which just sailed over.

D’Mani Mellor had a decent opportunity to put Rovers ahead in the 13th minute, the Rovers front man opting to head back across goal rather than on target following a Kyle McAllister delivery.

Truro took full advantage with the wind behind them in the first half, utilising long throws from both flanks. Robbie Savage’s men did brilliantly well to deal with the directness of the hosts' play.

Half-time: Truro City 0-0 Forest Green Rovers

Second Half:

Rovers turned the tempo up a notch in the second half, with Nick Haughton picking up the ball from kick-off and attempting to beat Stone from 35 yards, which was saved by the Tinners’ shot-stopper.

Rovers were reduced to ten men just before the hour mark. Abraham Kanu was given his marching orders after bringing down Stretton following a one-on-one footrace towards the Rovers' goal. With Stretton getting the better of Kanu, the Royals loanee dragged down the forward, leaving the referee with no option but to end Kanu’s game there and then.

Rovers seemed to deal well with being a man short, with Kyle McAllister driving forward and skipping past a couple of challenges in an attempt to play through substitute Neil Kengni.

It was Tom Knowles who broke the deadlock in the 75th minute, the half-time substitute latching onto a Kyle McAllister cross. The Scotsman did brilliantly to turn his man and hang the ball up at the back post for Knowles to poke home for the wideman’s ninth of the season.

Knowles tested Stone again from distance, the keeper doing very well to keep his side in the game as the clock ticked towards 80 minutes. It would prove to be a vital save.

And it was Truro who found the equaliser as the home side pushed forward. Luke Jephcott capitalised on Rovers failing to clear their lines following a through-ball situation, the forward latching onto a loose ball from Gabe Kircough. Jephcott had time to pick his spot, his deflected shot trickling in past Rovers bodies, desperate to block it.

Robbie Savage’s side will feel it is an opportunity missed despite being down to ten men, with Scunthorpe losing away to Gateshead, opening up fifth spot with three games to go. Rovers host a Braintree side that suffered relegation today after a nine-year stay in the National League.

Full Time: Truro City 1-1 Forest Green Rovers

Truro City: Stone, Bell (Oxlade-Chamberlain 46), Riley-Lowe ©, W.Dean, Harrison, En-Neyah (Charsley 83), Jephcott, Issaka (Wilson 83), Kinsey, Stretton, T.Dean.

Subs not used: Howard, Law, Janneh, Love-Holmes.

Forest Green Rovers: Isted, Mendy, McAllister ©, Haughton (Kengni 64), Clarke (Kircough 61), Campbell, Mingi (Knowles 46), Buyabu (Babalola 80), Nwoko, Kanu (Sent off  59), Mellor (Ahmed 80).

Subs not used: Pagel, Pemberton.

Attendance: 2428 (Away: 194)