City unable to hold Port

TRURO City's bid to lift themselves off the foot of the Carlsberg SWL ended in disappointment at Treyew Road on Saturday when they went down 3-2 to Porthleven.

On a heavy pitch the game was, for the most part, a scrappy affair, but after taking the lead City were beaten, according to boss Robbie Stephens, by a couple of goals that should have been ruled out for offside.

"When you are bottom of the table you know that decisions are going to go against you, but I thought the decision to allow Porthleven's second and third goals were terrible.

"It's so frustrating because there is nothing you can do about it. Decisions like this could affect the future of this club, but I'm one of those who has to speak his mind. If I think something is wrong I say so because that is the only way to do it. I don't want to moan behind someone's back so I try to speak to them about it face to face, but most of the time you can't even speak to the officials.

"Porthleven played very well, they're a good side that play good football and I have no problem with them. They are well organised and are one of the better sides we have played this season, but I find it so frustrating that these type of decisions (offside) appear to be easier to give against the bottom teams rather than those at the top of the table.

"I also cannot understand why Port's goalkeeper was not sent off. He was the last defender and he deliberately brought down our player in the box. Now, as far as I am aware, if you commit a 'professional foul' and are the last defender you are sent off. If the foul is not intentional there is no penalty, but if it is intentional then there can only be one outcome.

"I don't want players sent off, but the 'keeper wasn't even booked and if he had saved the penalty, what justice would there have been?

"Players make more mistakes than the referee and the assistants and I can live with it when they don't spot a handball in the box when they say they didn't see it, but I don't think here is any excuse for not getting offside decisions right especially when they're blatantly offside.

"The assistants are there because they want to do it, but I think the league should take a look at these people from time to time to assess them or have refresher courses to improve their lining. If they're not up to the job they should find referees who are."

Despite the disappointment of defeat, Stephens was full of praise for his side: "It is difficult to tell players they have performed well when they're sat in the changing room feeling deflated by what's gone on.

"We have to pick them up for the next game, but they shouldn't feel down about their performance because they worked hard and deserved something from the game."

Porthleven had Simon Webb making his debut having signed from Dartmouth and he impressed with his contribution until he was eventually substituted with ten minutes to go.

Porthleven looked the livelier side in the opening stages with Webb providing a great cross which Lee Doncaster headed behind, but as the half progressed the game became bogged down in midfield.

Dean Harris cleared a dangerous situation for City when he headed away a corner by Rollinson, but the opening goal came on the half-hour when a ball was played through the heart of the Fishermen's defence. Richard Keith raced out to clear the danger, but brought down Luke Wort in the box for Matt Salmon to put City a goal up from the penalty spot.

Five minutes from half-time the visitors were back on level terms when Steward made a good run and found Doncaster who laid the ball back into the path of Steward to strike his shot into the corner of the net.

Butcher was in action early in the second half when he dealt with David Woodfield's cross from Webb's free kick and then did superbly to save with his legs after Doncaster beat the offside trap to break through.

Paul Baldwin made a determined run for City, but put his shot wide of the target and Salmon headed behind after getting on the end of Luke Wort's corner.

City enjoyed a good spell of possession and Rusty Rowson brought a good save from Keith with a fine header from Greg Butcher's cross.

Rowson made a nuisance of himself to get in another header from a Harris free kick, but after 76 minutes Porthleven took the lead when Webb lifted the ball over City's defence for Woodfield to show the defence a clean pair of heels and cut in to drive his shot low and hard which appeared to take a deflection off Harris as he attempted to keep it out.

City showed plenty of spirit and hard work and they gained their reward three minutes later when they grabbed an equaliser. Ben Williamson failed to make his tackle and that allowed Rowson to cut in and score with a great chip shot over Keith into the top corner of the net.

A minute later City's joy was cut short when Porthleven snatched a third goal. Lee Ireland made ground along the flank and crossed into the box for Shane Clarke to head on for Andy Sargent to stretch and guide the ball into the net past Butcher.

This time there was no way back for City who although beaten can reflect on yet another positive performance against one of the league's better sides.

On Saturday City are home to St Austell in the Carlsberg SWL, kick-off 2.30 pm.

City: A Butcher, G Butcher, M Cain, D Harris, C Wolstencroft, C Davey, M Salmon, P Baldwin, B Goldring, L Wort, R Rowson. Subs: P Wolstencroft (for Salmon), S Hawke (for P Baldwin).

Porthleven: R Keith, H Morgan, B Williamson, J Ahern, R Powell,B Steward, S Webb, D Woodfield, A Sargent, L Doncaster, A Rollinson. Subs: D Holsey, M Laity, L Ireland, S Hadley, S Clarke.