Click here to listen to Glenn’s post-match thoughts and the latest on Benjamin and Modeste’s injuries.

 

Glenn Pennyfather refused to be downbeat about his ten-man City team’s opening result of the Blue Square Bet South campaign, instead taking a great deal of positives from their performance as a late strike from substitute Dan Smith snatched a late one-goal victory for Truro City.

 

The Clarets’ boss, who had signed a two-year contract to stay at the club earlier in the day, insisted his side were unfortunate not to have buried the game beforehand having crafted numerous opportunities at Melbourne. They also had to compete for ten men during the last 20 minutes after David Rainford was dismissed for two fouls.

 

“It was just one of those days,” explained Pennyfather after the game. “We created a lot of chances, there were things flashing across the goal, there were balls that were just a little bit too high and we were making the wrong decisions. Despite that we were still creating opportunities, especially in the second half.”

Glenn named six debutants in the starting line-up against the Cornish outfit, who were newly-promoted from the Southern League after their title last year. The visitors started brightly, too, Barry Hayles lurking with intent on 5 minutes, a left-wing cross proving just too high for Andrew Taylor and a free kick hitting the defensive wall later on.

 

Chelmsford, meanwhile, went close twice themselves through Ricky Modeste. He was harshly adjudged to have fouled goalkeeper Timothy Sandercombe in an aerial challenge on 13 minutes as he attempted to flick a header over him then, approaching the half-hour mark, he swung his left boot at a half-volley from adjacent to the penalty spot, his shot flying wide. A fuller contact would certainly have resulted in a goal.

 

The closest Glenn’s men came in the first half was via an unconverted Joel Benjamin cross inside from the left after Kezie Ibe had neatly laid the ball off to him inside his channel. Truro, however, were the beneficiaries of a lucky deflection into the path of Andrew Watkins seconds before the break, who gratefully sprinted through to face ‘keeper Stuart Searle but was perhaps unprepared as he carved well wide.

 

After half time Chelmsford looked more of a threat and Max Cornhill almost turned that into an opener when Ben Nunn overlapped on the right and the former East Thurrock United youngster struck agonisingly wide on 48 minutes. Sam Corcoran and Rainford went on to try their luck shortly afterwards as the hosts dominated.

 

However, the Clarets were reminded of their defensive responsibilities in the 66th minute when Hayles turned sharply 15 yards from goal and forced Searle into an acrobatic diving save low to his right to turn the ball wide. Better was to come for the away team as Rainford mis-timed a diving challenge, leading to his second yellow card.

 

“That did change the dynamics of the game slightly, but even after that we were still creating chances,” Pennyfather reflected. “We were still causing problems and could have nicked a goal.” He was right. The reshuffled Clarets sent a ball into Corcoran whose swerving header just lacked the angle to trouble Sandercombe while Corcoran’s own lofted delivery was guided over by the head of Cornhill at full stretch.

 

But the deadly punch arrived ten minutes from time. A needlessly-conceded corner was initially cleared, then the second attempt at a cross cannoned off a defender and up into the air. Smith judged the flight perfectly and sent a speculative shot across Searle inside the far upright from just inside the left-hand corner of the penalty box. Chelmsford toiled, but were unable to generate a response.

“We’ve come up against a team who have played a lot of games together,” explained Pennyfather, shifting his focus onto the next fixture. “They won their league at a canter last year and I felt today we were the better side. We’re not downhearted and on another day I think we’d have won it two or three. Now we’re looking forward to Staines Town on Tuesday, which will be a completely different game.”

 

City:

 

1 Stuart Searle

2 Ben Nunn

3 Aiden Palmer

4 Adam Tann

5 Kenny Clark

6 David Rainford (C)

7 Ricky Modeste

8 Sam Corcoran

9 Kezie Ibe

10 Max Cornhill

11 Joe Benjamin

 

12 Cliff Akurang (On for Ibe, 71)

14 Jermaine Brown (On for Modeste, 74)

15 Mark Haines

16 Warren Whitely (On for Benjamin, 46)

19 Joe Woolley (GK)

 

Truro City: Timothy Sandercombe, Barry McConnell, Scott Walker, Arran Pugh, Steve Adams, Jake Ash (C), Andrew Taylor, Marcus Martin, Andrew Watkins (Danny Clay, 84), Barry Hayles, Les Afful (Dan Smith, 71). Unused Substitutes: Edward Palmer, Joe Broad, Stewart Yetton.

 

Bookings: City: Rainford (38, foul and 70, foul). Truro: Taylor (68, delaying the restart of play), Hayles (85, foul).

 

Sent Off: City: Rainford (70, second bookable offence).

 

Referee: Lee Betts (Norwich).

 

Assistant Referees: Darren Stobbart (Bury St Edmunds) and Alan Dale (Ipswich).

 

Attendance: 928.

 

City Man of the Match: Aiden Palmer.