Truro City v WFC - Match Thread
Jan 10, 2024 12:09:25 GMT
Kenty in Weardale and worthingwire like this
Post by Keithsson on Jan 10, 2024 12:09:25 GMT
It's a long old poke this one...
Match Centre - Link
Match Tickets - (Pay on the day only)
Coach - WFCSA Travel
Ground Guide - Bolitho Park
(Not the greatest of guides this one but as Parkway isn't an National League Club they don't feature on the usual source).
I was hoping that by the time I started this thread that total confidence in the fixture going ahead would've been achieved by Plymouth Parkway playing last night against Didcot. As it happens though the game was called off after a pitch inspection. I can't find details anywhere as to exactly why it was off though (snow/waterlogged/frozen pitch).
The forecast for the week ahead down in 'Guz' would seem favourable though... it hits a balmy high of 7 degrees on Friday/Saturday and there's no rain forecast and no more sub zero nights. However. Bolitho Park hasn't been able to host a match since Boxing Day, as its mostly surrounded by trees... a bit like Dover's ground there may be a stubborn frozen area. Odds are with that forecast surely its got time to dry out and thaw out but be prepared for anything!
I'll work on the assumption its on, fully prepared to write this hour or so of my day off should fate conspire to towel flick us in the love spuds again. This is a game we REALLY don't want to have to play on a weeknight!!
I seem to recall Paul Damper advising us ahead of the home game that we'd never played a team from Cornwall before... so there's no point me trying to look back at previous fixtures/results. There is only this one...
WFC v Truro City Highlights (07/10/23) - YouTube
The game being infamous for the injury to Aarran and the two red cards its easy to forget what a gritty 'backs to the wall' fight it was to still get something from the fixture. We'll need all that grit again, but hopefully we used up all our bad luck that day.
Unlike fellow newcomers Aveley, who shot out of the blocks and have only fallen away gradually whilst still retaining contention, The Whites have been up and down like an uppy-downy thing. Day one league leaders they quickly dropped to 20th, rose as high as 9th, fell back to 21st and are now back on the up in 15th with 34 points from 23 games. We lie 5th now (43/26) after Maidstone's 2-1 win over Dartford last night. The league remains as tight as it has been all season, so although they are ten places behind us, nine points is all that divides us... and they have three games in hand over us.
NLS Table - Link
And if they can maintain the form they're in there's every chance they'll be troubling the play-off race before long. They are joint top with Chelmsford for the form team in the NLS right now, trailing only on goal difference. With 15 points from the last 18 available the only blot on an otherwise perfect record in this period is the 2-1 defeat at Maidstone back in early December... and that's hardly any disgrace. We on the other hand find ourselves in 7th place for overall form with 10/18.
One crumb of comfort is our respective home and away form. Remembering that Bolitho Park is over 50 miles from Truro its perhaps not surprising that their home matches aren't exactly easier local games either. They are 18th for home form (7/18) to our 4th for away form (10/18). They have won their last two home games though, 3-1 v St Albans and 1-0 v Havant.
NLS Form (last 6 H&A) - Link
Any comfort we take from their home record needs context though. Our worst results on the road have happened at some of our longest trips, and this is the longest, longer even than Alfreton despite only having to travel as far as Plymouth. If the game does indeed go ahead the pitch won't be great anyway. We will therefore need to overcome two hurdles we've often tripped over to make our superior away form count, distance and poor surface. But it can be done!
Squad wise hopefully Michael Klass will be back and everyone remains fit and healthy through this week's training sessions.
All Saturday matches...
(reduced programme due to it being an FA Trophy weekend... including Chelmsford who we can catch but no-one can dislodge us from 5th).
Eastbourne Borough v St Albans City
Havant & Waterlooville v Maidstone United
Hemel Hempstead Town v Tonbridge Angels
Taunton Town v Dover Athletic
Truro City v Worthing
Weymouth v Slough Town
If you are travelling down its probably best for the novice visitor to Plymouth to let the coach or the train take the strain... its a bleddy long way and back in a day, it sorts the men from the boy drivers!
But if you are travelling to an independent timetable I'd recommend going early and making sure you take in a proper Pasty somewhere (I doubt the one's in the ground will be!) and the City Centre is best avoided. What Hitler didn't destroy in the 40's, the post war City Planners finished off in the 50's. If you want ambiance and/or a good hostelry therefore... head to the Barbican area and/or upwards from there the Hoe for scenery.
Safe travel to all heading down and come on you Rebels!
Match Centre - Link
Match Tickets - (Pay on the day only)
Coach - WFCSA Travel
Ground Guide - Bolitho Park
(Not the greatest of guides this one but as Parkway isn't an National League Club they don't feature on the usual source).
I was hoping that by the time I started this thread that total confidence in the fixture going ahead would've been achieved by Plymouth Parkway playing last night against Didcot. As it happens though the game was called off after a pitch inspection. I can't find details anywhere as to exactly why it was off though (snow/waterlogged/frozen pitch).
The forecast for the week ahead down in 'Guz' would seem favourable though... it hits a balmy high of 7 degrees on Friday/Saturday and there's no rain forecast and no more sub zero nights. However. Bolitho Park hasn't been able to host a match since Boxing Day, as its mostly surrounded by trees... a bit like Dover's ground there may be a stubborn frozen area. Odds are with that forecast surely its got time to dry out and thaw out but be prepared for anything!
I'll work on the assumption its on, fully prepared to write this hour or so of my day off should fate conspire to towel flick us in the love spuds again. This is a game we REALLY don't want to have to play on a weeknight!!
I seem to recall Paul Damper advising us ahead of the home game that we'd never played a team from Cornwall before... so there's no point me trying to look back at previous fixtures/results. There is only this one...
WFC v Truro City Highlights (07/10/23) - YouTube
The game being infamous for the injury to Aarran and the two red cards its easy to forget what a gritty 'backs to the wall' fight it was to still get something from the fixture. We'll need all that grit again, but hopefully we used up all our bad luck that day.
Unlike fellow newcomers Aveley, who shot out of the blocks and have only fallen away gradually whilst still retaining contention, The Whites have been up and down like an uppy-downy thing. Day one league leaders they quickly dropped to 20th, rose as high as 9th, fell back to 21st and are now back on the up in 15th with 34 points from 23 games. We lie 5th now (43/26) after Maidstone's 2-1 win over Dartford last night. The league remains as tight as it has been all season, so although they are ten places behind us, nine points is all that divides us... and they have three games in hand over us.
NLS Table - Link
And if they can maintain the form they're in there's every chance they'll be troubling the play-off race before long. They are joint top with Chelmsford for the form team in the NLS right now, trailing only on goal difference. With 15 points from the last 18 available the only blot on an otherwise perfect record in this period is the 2-1 defeat at Maidstone back in early December... and that's hardly any disgrace. We on the other hand find ourselves in 7th place for overall form with 10/18.
One crumb of comfort is our respective home and away form. Remembering that Bolitho Park is over 50 miles from Truro its perhaps not surprising that their home matches aren't exactly easier local games either. They are 18th for home form (7/18) to our 4th for away form (10/18). They have won their last two home games though, 3-1 v St Albans and 1-0 v Havant.
NLS Form (last 6 H&A) - Link
Any comfort we take from their home record needs context though. Our worst results on the road have happened at some of our longest trips, and this is the longest, longer even than Alfreton despite only having to travel as far as Plymouth. If the game does indeed go ahead the pitch won't be great anyway. We will therefore need to overcome two hurdles we've often tripped over to make our superior away form count, distance and poor surface. But it can be done!
Squad wise hopefully Michael Klass will be back and everyone remains fit and healthy through this week's training sessions.
All Saturday matches...
(reduced programme due to it being an FA Trophy weekend... including Chelmsford who we can catch but no-one can dislodge us from 5th).
Eastbourne Borough v St Albans City
Havant & Waterlooville v Maidstone United
Hemel Hempstead Town v Tonbridge Angels
Taunton Town v Dover Athletic
Truro City v Worthing
Weymouth v Slough Town
If you are travelling down its probably best for the novice visitor to Plymouth to let the coach or the train take the strain... its a bleddy long way and back in a day, it sorts the men from the boy drivers!
But if you are travelling to an independent timetable I'd recommend going early and making sure you take in a proper Pasty somewhere (I doubt the one's in the ground will be!) and the City Centre is best avoided. What Hitler didn't destroy in the 40's, the post war City Planners finished off in the 50's. If you want ambiance and/or a good hostelry therefore... head to the Barbican area and/or upwards from there the Hoe for scenery.
Safe travel to all heading down and come on you Rebels!
