Luke Jephcott’s second half strike maintained Truro City’s perfect start to the National League Cup as Fulham’s under 21s were beaten in their latest group fixture this evening.
Some superb goalkeeper from Alfie McNally kept the young Whites in the contest until the final whistle but the Northern Irish custodian could do nothing about Truro’s top scorer’s terrific finish from a fine pass by captain Connor Riley-Lowe that settled the contest nineteen minutes from time. By contrast, Fulham’s attacks were fleeting and fitful against a much-changed home line-up as Truro manager John Askey offered opportunities to fringe players after a difficult start to the league campaign for the Tinners.
Truro’s starting eleven showed eight changes from the side that were beaten by Rochdale on Saturday, with Seidou Sanogo making his first start in over a year and Dan Lavercombe returning in goal. The home goalkeeper was tested within the first sixty seconds but made a simple enough to stop a speculative effort from marauding midfielder Ollie Gofford. It was a different story once the home side gained a foothold in the contest with McNally’s first save of a busy evening keeping out a low drive from Riley-Lowe and Dom Johnson-Fisher shooting just wide of goal on the follow-up.
Truro forced a succession of set-pieces before McNally stood up well to deny Johnson-Fisher after he had surged behind a hesitant Fulham backline and when the lively Jephcott beat the Fulham goalkeeper with a superb left-footed effort, his strike cannoned to safety off the crossbar. The home side, emboldened by the introduction of Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain along the right flank, kept up the pressure after the interval with Ben Starkie somehow missing the target from six yards out after excellent approach play from Jephcott.
McNally then saved well from Shaun Donnellan and Sanogo headed narrowly wide on the hour mark before Jephcott was brilliantly denied a headed opener when the goalkeeper improvised an excellent save with his feet. Fulham threatened briefly on the break as Lavercombe pushed out an effort from Macaulay Zepa, but Tom Olyott drilled the rebound over from close range. The young Whites paid the penalty moments later when Riley-Lowe raced into the area and fed Jephcott, who finished clinically to give Truro the lead.
Fulham pushed for a leveller but the hosts came closest to extending the lead in the closing stages when McNally managed to keep out a low drive from substitute Harry Kite. There was no doubt on the balance of play that an enterprising Truro outfit fully deserved the three points.
TRURO CITY (3-5-2): Lavercombe, Donnellan (Dean, 57), Law (Sanders 57), Kinsey (Bell 66); Starkie, Riley-Lowe, Hasani, Sanogo (Kite 66), Rooney, Jephcott, Johnson-Fisher (C. Oxlade-Chamberlain,45). Subs (not used): Howard, En-Neyah
BOOKED: Kinsey, Starkie, Riley-Lowe.
GOAL: Jephcott (71).
FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-2-3-1): McNally, De Jesus (Quashie 45), Esenga, Nsasi, Amissah; Nwoko, Gofford; Olyott, Ali Wahid, (Zepa 45), Ridgeon; Loupalo-Bi. Subs (not used): Kaiser, Slade, Walters, White, Wingate.
BOOKED: Ridgeon.
REFEREE: Ross Martin
ATTENDANCE: 1,114
