It’s time to kick off 2018! January can be a month of panic, scrambling to grab any available players in a hope of improving the team, meanwhile fitting these deals in and around league action. I’m hoping to avoid all that panic, the squad’s in decent shape, all I want is some consistency…
I’m looking for more consistency, but the wins we did get last month have certainly made an impression with the board. They highlighted the 3-2 win over St Albans as a particularly pleasing result, I have to say I was happier with the win over Welling. That competitions bar is looking far more healthy though. The dressing room atmosphere is up from average to good too, it seems we’re running quite a happy camp here at Treyew Road.
TRURO CITY (8TH) VS POOLE TOWN (13TH) – VANARAMA NATIONAL SOUTH
Poole at home, the second game in our festive double-header. No change to the line-up, the only difference is that at home I want us to take the initiative so we start on an attacking mentality. It kind of worked, we had the ball, we made chances, our strikers couldn’t finish. The most boring of boring 0-0’s, the one bright spark was the performance of Jordan Copp. The stand in left wing-back did an excellent job and was the only player who truly looked like creating anything.
BATH CITY (3RD) VS TRURO CITY (8TH) – VANARAMA NATIONAL SOUTH
This is what I want. Every. Single. Time. If we can play like this all season, we’ll be going up. I’m not sure it’s a great idea to go up, and let’s be fair, we won’t play like this all season. We were excellent here though. Our last-minute goal wasn’t a fortunate break, we were banging on the door all game. Jake Watkins put us ahead after 28 minutes, and we weren’t pegged back until the 66th, where winger Jack Compton scored from the spot. Andrew Neal on for Lewis Guy, Guy had a poor game and Neal is definitely a tryer. The chances come thick and fast until the end of the game, where finally Andrew Neal gets through 1 on 1 and buries it to grab us the win. Completely deserved, and a relief to see it happen.
TRURO CITY (7TH) VS CONCORD ROVERS (12TH) – VANARAMA NATIONAL SOUTH
We had to make a few changes for this one, there were definitely fitness concerns. Rose, Cooke, Harvey and Neal come in, replacing Gerring, Harding, Watkins and Guy. We went behind, maybe the changes made us a bit rusty, but Kyron Farrell scoring after 24 minutes was a poor start regardless. We roared back though, super-sub last game Andrew Neal equalised after 37 minutes, with goals from Cooke and Gerring after half-time putting us 3-1 up. An 88th minute Danny Parish strike set up a tense finish, but we came away with a good win from a very even game.
I’ve been and got myself a Director of Football! I placed a job advert after I had to ask Chris Todd for recommendations for a wing-back to come in on loan, and although Bashir was one of the few at a club, he was so much better than the other applicants that I was happy to pay the 2k compensation to get him in. I’ll still have the final say, but it’s good to have him here.
WHITEHAWK (2ND) VS TRURO CITY (7TH) – VANARAMA NATIONAL SOUTH
Just one change for this one, our superstar Jake Watkins comes back in for Andrew Neal. This sees a shift for Tyler Harvey, as he moves from our link-up DLF to the Advanced Forward. It’s a risk to start him over Neal, who is in decent form, but the best of Tyler Harvey could be the best we have. The game started off fairly even, and we were unlucky to go behind after only 11 minutes, Jack Powell unleashing an absolute rocket that McHale had no chance with. We tick over to the 25 minute mark and still 1-0, the game is even and a bit scrappy, just screaming for someone to do something special. Remember what I said about Harvey being a risk? Forget that, 27 minutes in and it’s 1-1, and it’s 2-1 after 36, a Harvey double. We go in at the break and we’re leading the 2nd best team in this division. I can’t help but toy with the idea of trying to shut up shop, stick a DM in and see it out. It’s just not going to work, we’ve proved time and time again that we aren’t solid enough for that. We kick off for the second half and nothing really happens until Ben Harding comes on, a slightly more solid option than Danny Racchi. 73 minutes and Tyler Harvey grabs his 3rd, a hat-trick for the guy I was worried about making an impact. That shows me. With 10 minutes to go Ed Palmer comes on to sit as a DM and soak up some pressure, Whitehawk have made changes to try to get back into it. The last action of the game? Tyler Harvey coming off to a standing ovation, well, the 13 away Truro fans are buzzing anyway! This could now be my favourite win of my tenure.
So Watkins and Harvey make the Team of the Week. Watkins got two assists and played really well, that was kind of over-shadowed by Tyler Harvey, who stole the show, but can only get into the Team of the Week in midfield?! I get that striker isn’t his natural role, but I’d love to see how well Phipps played to steal his spot!
TRURO CITY (7TH) VS HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE (12TH) – VANARAMA NATIONAL SOUTH
Only one change, Ben Harding back in for Danny Racchi, he’s just a better player. It didn’t really help though, Havant came down to Treyew Road and gave us an absolute thumping. Behind after 15 minutes through Scott Twine, we equalised on the half-hour through Jake Watkins, and it stayed that way until half-time. They were having all of the play in the second half and took the lead again through a George Barker penalty, given away by Callum Rose, I lost my rag and off he went. It didn’t help as two late goals from Andre Blackman and a Jamie Richards own-goal gave the scoreline the gloss that quite honestly Havant deserved. The stats show a reasonably even game, it wasn’t, and Tyler Harvey went from hero to invisible. Very Frustrating.
The end of the month brings a conversation with Noah Keats, remember him? He played a bit and scored a couple of goals right at the start of the season, back when we played with an attacking midfielder but Harvey was covering up front. He wants to play some first team football, which is kind of his own fault as he turned down a move back in October, I don’t actually think he’s played since. He gave me the same brilliant attitude that Ed Palmer did back along. ‘What can I do boss? I’m desperate to play in this team.’ I love that spirit, and if I can get Harvey in the team as a striker, maybe Keats can do the same, so I tell him to learn the DLF role, and if he does well I’ll give him a chance. It could be a master-stroke, and if not, he’s non-contract, so it’s a no risk move really.
We almost had the consistency I was looking for this month, but yet again, the stuffing gets knocked out of us with a really disappointing defeat. To be grumbling when we’re in the play-offs by a clear 6 points means I’m possibly expecting too much, we are far and away above expectations this year. A good February could see us consolidate this play-off spot, I dare not look any higher than that.
So that’s it for January, a good month, but still stuff to work on. Come back next time to see what February brings. Thanks for reading.
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