Another Truro stalemate following missed chances
Jerry Gill has faced Truro City three times in his managerial career and all three have ended a stalemate, with the encounter at Twerton Park replicating the scoreline, and goalscorers, from that at Plainmoor last October. It was roles reversed though as this time Anthony Straker’s penalty gave City an early lead, before Tyler Harvey’s equaliser. Gill said: “I don’t think we were at our best today if I’m going to be honest, and we’re not going to be every week. “It was a funny game. I never felt that we gave the fans enough to really get behind us today. “We did more than enough to win, but if you don’t take your chances in a game, you’re not going to. “Freddie’s had several good chances, Ryan Brunt’s had a couple when he’s gone on, Manny’s had a one-v-one in the first half with the keeper which he should score. We’re talking about five really good chances.” City failed to build on their bright start. Although Truro didn’t create many openings, with one of the league’s leading marksman in tow, they always posed a threat. Gill continued: “I felt as the game went on, we lacked drive, lacked high energy levels. “We never really controlled the game like we do normally. “I never felt like they were really hurting us at any point, but as long as the game goes on at one-nil you always fear they might get an opportunity and might score from it. “One moment has cost us a win. It’s a mistake from us. Joe [Raynes] gets done and Ryan comes out when he maybe should have stayed at home and asked him to get beat at such a tight angle.” Truro’s effort alone earned praise from the City chief, with Leigh Robinson’s men picking up enough points to stave off a relegation threat for now. Gill said: “Credit to Truro, they’re ever such a hard-working team. “Leigh’s got them all organised with Meaks. They want to come to places like this and play as best as they possibly can. Every player does. “I’ve said it before, people coming to Twerton, they make it difficult for us. They want to put on a show. They’ve dug in and stayed in the game. That’s what they’ll be happy with. “We haven’t lost the game, we’ve added to our total, it’s another point, five wins and a draw at home and we have to look forward to the next one.” It was a coupon-busting day in National League South as Slough Town, in 12th, were the highest placed side to pick up a win, with Torquay remarkably beaten at home by bottom markers Westonsuper-mare. Gill said: “I’m a bit mindful of it around the stadium, listening to people around me as the game’s going on saying ‘Weston are beating Torquay.’ “You can’t control any of that. All you can do is control the controllables. That’s looking after our own house, making sure our performance levels stay to the max, or get around the top level that I know we can play at. “There will be lots of twists, lots of turns in this division. Friday saw Joe Raynes sign a contract to extend his stay at Twerton Park, with Gill hinting that others could follow suit, before giving some advice to the Bathonian. He said: “All the players have done terrifically. “I’ve earmarked a couple, we started with Joe and managed to get him done and over the line which is important because he’s a local lad as well, he’s come in from a lower level. “He’s had to prove his worth. He’s got a lot to improve on, still. He’s still a developing young man. “It’s his first season at this level as well. “He’s not the finished article, he’s done ever so well and he deserves his contract. But now is time for him to work a little more hard, if you like. Try and improve on this solid start he’s had at this level for Bath City Football Club, and that’s why he’s got his contract. “It’s so he can sustain performances and get better through that period, try and get to a level where if he’s hungry and wants to push on that’s great, but hopefully it’ll be with Bath City. “There’s a few others we’ll have to start talking to as well, and we want to. “We’ll look after that in-house and in due course you’ll see the ones that we’re trying to get tied up. “They’re all putting themselves in a position where we want to keep them at the football club.” Hemel are next up, a side who have suffered a dip in form recently. Last year’s play-off semi-finalists have only won one in 12, but Joe Deeney celebrated his first match in charge with a win at Twerton last November, a 1-0 ‘smash and grab’ thanks to Steve Cawley’s late goal. Gill said: “It’s always a good pitch at Hemel. We’ll go there, get training right again this week. “There’s no reason why we can’t go there and get three points, but make sure we don’t get beat first and foremost.”