Sutton United vs Truro City FC – Match Report

Enterprise National League

Tom Howe, Gander Green Lane, Saturday

Sutton United 0 – Truro City 3

Truro City delivered one of their most accomplished performances of the season in sweeping aside Sutton United to win 3-0 at Gander Green Lane.

The result marked just a second away win of the National League campaign for the Tinners, their first win of any kind since February 7th and a first clean sheet since January 17th.

A stunning free-kick from Will Dean, a poacher’s finish from Jack Stretton and a coolly converted penalty from Luke Jephcott provided the goals on an afternoon in which City were the only side in the bottom five to take points.

Despite injuries ravaging the squad – with 12 first‑team players unavailable for Saturday’s trip to the capital – victory brings renewed vigour into the Tinners battle against relegation, with Truro now nine points adrift of Brackley Town, who nervously occupy the final position of safety.

Manager John Askey was forced into four significant changes to the City side beaten 2-1 at Scunthorpe United in midweek. Connor Riley‑Lowe, Christian Oxlade‑Chamberlain, Stretton and new arrival Kieran Wilson all starting.

Tom Dean, younger brother of midfielder Will, was named amongst just five substitutes, having swapped Exeter City for Truro City – alongside Wilson – just 24 hours prior.

City set the tone early on as, in just the third minute, Oxlade‑Chamberlain seized on a loose ball and fired goalwards to earn the afternoon’s first corner. Moments later, Stretton’s intent helped create space for debutant Wilson, whose delivery narrowly evaded the outstretched boot of Jephcott.

📷Goal celebration for Will Dean of Truro City during the National League Match between Sutton United and Truro City at VBS Community Stadium, London on 21 March 2026. (Photo: Josh Smith/PPAUK)

At the other end, Tom Harrison needed to be sharp to cut out Osman Foyo’s cross before Oxlade‑Chamberlain recovered well to deny the same player after he had broken through the offside trap. Max Kinsey, meanwhile, displayed calmness beyond his tender years, chesting a dangerous Sutton attack back to his goalkeeper, Aidan Stone, to relieve the pressure.

It was Stretton who came closest to breaking the deadlock before the half-hour though, with the in-form striker outmuscling his marker and drawing an excellent save from goalkeeper Jack Sims. Stone was required to be equally as alert soon after, parrying Jermaine Francis’ effort and watching the rebound sail wide.

When the first goal did eventually arrive, it was certainly worth the wait. From a dead ball situation, Will Dean curled a sublime strike into the top-right corner, giving Sims no chance and sparking jubilant celebrations from the travelling contingent.

City nearly doubled their advantage five minutes later when a Sutton mix-up handed Stretton a golden opportunity, although his effort from an acute angle was to bounce back off the post. Jephcott and Harry Charsley both saw attempts blocked before the half was out, as City went into the break with a deserved lead and growing control.

A half-time change saw Freddie Issaka replaced by Ryan Law but the momentum remained entirely in Truro’s favour. Within seconds of the restart, Jephcott nodded over from a corner, and by 49 minutes, City had their second. Jephcott turned provider this time, sliding a perfect ball into the arriving Stretton, who swept home his maiden Truro goal from inside the six-yard box.

The former Derby County and Burton Albion marksman – who was virtually unplayable throughout – continued tormenting Sutton’s back line, repeatedly harrying defenders and nearly capitalising on another loose ball before the hosts scrambled clear. All too often have City been punished for missed chances this term so it was vital that Stone remained dependable whenever called upon. He produced a smart stop from Besart Topalloj before Kinsey headed away the danger.

City kept probing, eager to avoid dropping valuable points and from a winning position too. Riley‑Lowe saw a shot cleared off the line following Oxlade‑Chamberlain’s long throw, while Jephcott flicked a header into the side netting. Oxlade‑Chamberlain almost caught Sims off his line from 45 yards, and Stretton forced another save before making way for Saikou Janneh to warm applause.

The decisive third goal arrived on 84 minutes after referee Declan Bourne spotted a handball in the penalty area and awarded a spot kick. Jephcott stepped up to send the ball past Sims to seal a memorable and much-needed victory.

Truro will look to take their momentum into back-to-back home fixtures against Solihull Moors (Wednesday, March 25) and Boreham Wood (Saturday, March 28). This is one that could go right down to the wire, with now just seven games left of the Tinners’ first-ever campaign at Step One.

Tinners: Stone, Riley-Lowe, W Dean, Harrison, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jephcott, Issaka (Law, 46), Kinsey, Stretton (Janneh, 80), Wilson (Bell, 69), Charsley; Subs not used: Howard, T Dean

Sutton United: Sims, Pruti, Harris (Eze, 62), Jennings, Foyo (Simper, 54), Njoku (Rodari, 73), Bell, Topallaj, Muller, Francis (Ogbonna, 54), Donkor (Urpens, 73); Subs not used: Haigh, Taylor

Referee: Declan Bourne

Attendance: 3,943 (201 away)

📷Goal scored by Luke Jephcott of Truro City during the National League Match between Sutton United and Truro City at VBS Community Stadium, London on 21 March 2026. (Photo: Josh Smith/PPAUK)

John Askey Post Match Reaction

by Gareth Davies

Truro City boss John Askey hailed his side’s comprehensive win at Sutton United as ‘remarkable’.

Twelve points adrift from safety before the game, with no fewer than 11 regulars out injured, influential midfielder Caleb Roberts also added to Askey’s selection headaches when recalled from loan by parent club Plymouth Argyle on Thursday.

But the Tinners, who could only name five subs, were totally dominant against a Sutton side who have now conceded eight goals without reply in their past two home matches.

Will Dean gave Truro the lead in the first half with the outstanding Jack Stretton doubling the Cornish outfit’s tally three minutes after the restart. Sutton never looked like mounting a comeback and icing was put on Truro’s cake thanks to Luke Jephcott’s penalty seven minutes from time.

“We scored three and perhaps it should have been six or seven given the chances we had,” Askey said at full-time. “I’m not complaining as to get three goals and not concede, given all we are having to contend with, is really quite remarkable.

“We have been in every game recently and we now go into Wednesday’s game against Solihull a little more buoyed than if we came here and didn’t get a result.”

Under gloriously sunny skies in the capital, all the gains were made by City and Stretton was denied in a one-on-one situation by home custodian Jack Sims before Will Dean, joined by his younger brother Tom in the City ranks after signing on loan from Exeter, broke the deadlock.

He curled in a fine free-kick from 25 yards out, finding the top corner with pin point accuracy to give Sims absolutely no chance.

Stretton almost profited a defensive howler when Sims and captain Edon Pruti got themselves in a tangle, only for the former Derby and Stockport man to strike the post.

Jermain Francis had an effort on goal which was saved by Aidan Stone before the break as Sutton looked to restore parity.

After the turnaround, Stretton doubled City’s advantage when he turned home Jephcott’s fine centre. But for Sims, Stretton could have taken the matchball home and once again, the home stopper came to Sutton’s rescue.

The points were finally made safe inside the final 10 minutes when a penalty was awarded to City for handball and Jephcott made no mistake, to hand Askey’s side a glimmer of hope in their survival hopes.

Understandably, his opposite number Chris Agutter was left frustrated at full-time and he said:

“We had loads of ball and territory but lacked a threat and didn’t get our shape right behind the ball. Truro will be disappointed they didn’t score more because they had good chances on the counter-attack.”

📷Goal scored by Jack Stretton of Truro City during the National League Match between Sutton United and Truro City at VBS Community Stadium, London on 21 March 2026. (Photo: Josh Smith/PPAUK)