Rutherford strike not enough to secure Hawks the points
The Hawks fell to only their second defeat of the season as Truro City left Westleigh Park stunned after pulling off a 1-0 win in the National League South. The Hawks went into the game having scored 8 goals in the last 2 matches and conceding just one in the process. Lee Bradbury would name a unchanged starting XI to that which thrashed Weston Super-Mare on Saturday.
The Hawks would have the first opportunity of the game 9 minutes in as Wes Fogden saw his curling effort from the edge of the penalty area go wide of the goal. And within a space of a matter of minutes they had two more opportunities to break the deadlock as Ryan Woodford’s ball forward found Bradley Tarbuck who impressively put the ball into the penalty area for it to be put away. Within seconds Bradley Tarbuck was at the epicentre of the action as he crosses the ball into Jason Prior who’s header required a magnificent save from Tom McHale in the Truro goal to stop the deadlock being broken.
And as the opening 20 minutes continued the Hawks kept pressing up the field as Woodford provided a ball into the penalty area and again Bradley Tarbuck has an effort that just goes wide of the goal with Woodford minutes later having an effort of his own but his cross come shot went wide of the target as well.
Truro would have their first opportunity of the game on the 21st minute mark as Tyler Harvey had his own cross come shot with his effort being matched by that of Ryan Young between the Hawks’ sticks.
It would take another quarter of an hour for the next opportunity for either side to present itself as a Hawks corner finds its way into Andreas Robinson who heads the ball wide of goal. And then right before the half time whistle Rory Williams’ free kick right on the edge of the penalty area goes slightly over leaving fans pondering over their half-time Orange if the distance was a few yards further would it have hit the back of the net?
But goalless it would prove to be at the interval on a fair evening at Westleigh Park
HALF TIME: HAWKS 0-0 TRURO CITY
The Hawks would come out the traps flying at the start of the second period as within 60 seconds Rory Williams’ effort went wide from goal after a lucky deflection from Theo Lewis saw the ball present itself to the former Gosport man. Minutes later Williams would be at the heart of the action as he played a ball into Bradley Tarbuck who’s effort once more found its way past the post on what was starting to become a frustrating night for the Hawks.
But Truro were growing in confidence and did created some half chances of their own perhaps some warning signs that there was still life in the white tigers yet.
Then after 65 minutes the Hawks would take the lead in the most spectacular fashion as Jason Prior from around 25 yards out plays the ball into the substitute Alfie Rutherford who gets past two defenders and then lashes the ball home to send the Bartons Road end into a frenzy. 1-0 to the Havant and ‘looville as the fans cried.
But the lead would last for a mere 7 minutes as Truro City played the ball from the left and found Noah Keates who slots the ball home from 12 yards to level up the scores at Westleigh Park.
But within minutes the Hawks came close to going back in front as the ball was played into Alfie Rutherford but his effort blocked by Ed Palmer, the stalwart of the Truro City defence. Then minutes later ball again put into the penalty area but again Truro City dealt with the danger.
Then on 85 minutes the Hawks had a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area in a similar position to that which was given in the first half with George Barker stepping up and his great curling effort requiring a spectacular save from Tom McHale in the Truro City goal.
When the board for stoppage time delivered by Edge the Kitman read 4 minutes the Hawks fans were hoping of seeing the Hawks score a winner but no one could quite in visage the finale which Westleigh Park saw as in the third minute of stoppage time as Cody Cooke broke away from the Hawks defence and then slotted the ball past Ryan Young to send the away fans delirium and the home fans silenced.
And that would be how the game finished as the Hawks walked off the field angry, frustrated and bemused as to what just happened in another phonetic 90 minutes of Vanarama National League South Football with Lee Bradbury’s men looking to use the energy to gain a result against Gloucester on the road Saturday.
FULL TIME: HAWKS 1-2 TR
URO CITY
Henry Deacon
Henry Deacon Media 