Truro City vs Rochdale – Match Report

Published On: 15 September 2025Last Updated: 15 September 2025By CornishStuff

Enterprise National League

By Tom Howe, Truro City Stadium, Saturday

Truro City 0 – Rochdale 1

Truro City were frustrated at the TCS as an early goal saw them fall to a narrow 1-0 defeat against National League leaders Rochdale, writes Tom Howe.

The visitors edged ahead through Kyron Gordon’s 11th minute strike and despite this early setback, City responded with a resilient display, particularly after the break, when they carved out a succession of good chances. Dom Johnson-Fisher was a constant menace, while Harry Kite and Will Dean both also went close to restoring parity.

Home custodian Aidan Stone, who required treatment following the Rochdale goal, produced a string of fine saves to keep City in the contest, while the backline – marshalled superbly by the likes of Ryan Law and Sam Sanders – stood strong against lofty opposition.

Manager John Askey made just the one change to the starting XI of seven days prior at Carlisle United, with Johnson-Fisher replacing Luke Jephcott in attack. Shaun Donnellan was handed his home debut, while Seidou Sanogo returned to the matchday squad for the first time since the defeat at Tamworth on August 19, taking up a place on the bench.

📷Sam Beckwith of Rochdale under pressure from Dominic Johnson-Fisher of Truro City during the National League match between Truro City and Rochdale at Truro City Stadium on 13 September 2025. - PHOTO: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK

The opening exchanges saw Dale threaten early, with a cross from the league’s leading marksman Mani Dieseruvwe claimed confidently by Stone, while Aidan Barlow slipped at a key moment to offer City a chance of regrouping.

Rochdale’s breakthrough soon followed however, with Gordon getting his boot through a sea of bodies to prod home. Back on his feet, Stone was immediately called into action to deny Ethan Ebanks-Landell as well as Dieseruvwe from adding to the scoreline.

City began to grow into the game from this point, with Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long throws again causing problems and Johnson-Fisher showing flashes of brilliance, while Tyler Harvey and Dean each had sights of goal, although to no avail.

The second half belonged to Truro. With the wind at their backs, the Tinners launched wave after wave of attack. Sanders, Harvey, and Kite all went close, while Johnson-Fisher twisted and turned his way through the Dale defence, narrowly missing the target on multiple occasions. Donnellan and Dean also tested Manchester City loanee, Oliver Whatmuff, who seemed desperate to leave with a clean sheet.

City’s best chance came in the 56th minute when Johnson-Fisher bent a shot inches over the bar. Kite and Oxlade-Chamberlain were also unlucky not to have scored. The former had Whatmuff scrambling to reach a well struck effort that whistled just past the post, while the latter missed from close range – his blushes spared by the linesman’s flag.

Stone made a miraculous save to keep out Dieseruvwe, unaware himself that the flag had already gone up, while a series of late City corners bore little fruit as the Tinners pushed hard for an equaliser that, ultimately, proved elusive.

Next up for Truro is a return to National League Cup action, with Fulham under-21s visiting the TCS on Tuesday evening (7.00 pm).

That’s followed by a trip to seventh-placed Scunthorpe United next Saturday (3.00 pm), when Askey’s side will be looking to turn their promising performances into points.

Truro: Stone, Bell (Starkie, 79), Dean, Sanders, En-Neyah (Hasani, 68), Harvey, Johnson-Fisher, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Law, Donnellan, Kite (Jephcott, 89) Subs Not Used: Lavercombe, Riley-Lowe, Sanogo, Kinsey

Rochdale: Whatmuff, Gordon, East (Pettit, 84), Ebanks-Landell, Allarakhia (Mancini, 73), Gilmour, Dieseruvwe, Rodney (Berkoe, 73), Adebayo-Rowling (Moss, 84), Barlow (McBride, 63), Beckwith. Subs Not Used: Amantchi, Humbles

Referee: Richie Watkins

Attendance: 2,201

📷Truro City manager John Askey and Truro City assistant manager Stewart Yetton during the National League match between Truro City and Rochdale at Truro City Stadium on 13 September 2025. - PHOTO: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK

Stewart Yetton Post Match Reaction

Assistant boss Stewart Yetton said it was a ‘frustrating day’ for his Truro City side after they were edged out by Rochdale.

In typically blustery Cornish conditions Dale went ahead after 12 minutes through Kyran Gordon’s close range effort. The visitors, who, after this victory, top the National League pile, had further chances to extend their lead in the opening period but were twice thwarted by home custodian Aidan Stone.

However, after the break, with the wind in Truro’s favour, the home side were in command. Livewire striker Dominic Johnson-Fisher and midfielder Harry Kite coming closest to forcing a leveller, which never arrived.

“They had the wind in the first half and they were a good side, who passed the ball around nicely,” Yetton said at full-time. “We went in 1-0 (down) at half-time and we were disappointed with the goal because it was from a set-piece.

“But in the second half we had a lot of possession and territory, but lacked quality to make that count. Overall it is a very frustrating day and we are disappointed, just like the players are, with the end result.”

Gordon’s goal, after a Ryan East corner caused havoc in the Truro box, was the first chance of note for either side.

And after getting their noses in front, Dale’s outstanding defender and captain Ethan Ebanks-Landell saw a header pounced by Stone at his near post. Mani Dieseruvwe almost capitalised on Kite’s short headed back pass but City’s goalkeeper kept his side in the match.

Truro were perhaps relieved to only be a goal behind at the turnaround but in the second stanza, they turned the tables on Rochdale.

Johnson-Fisher almost found the top corner on two separate occasions while Kite’s half volley whistled agonisingly over.

Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain had an effort saved by Oliver Whatmuff in the Dale goal, but the offside flag would have denied the former Kidderminster man had he netted.

It was similar at the other end as a Dieseruvwe header was somehow kept out by Stone and then the flag went up.

As time ticked down, Truro cranked up the pressure in search of what would have been a deserved equaliser, but Dale held firm.

“It was definitely a game of two halves,” Rochdale chief Jimmy McNulty admitted. “Conditions were a factor in the team that was on top, being in that position during each half. That will be the patterns of games here because it is not an easy place to come with the wind and what feels like a snug pitch.

“Long throws coming into the box, which go all the way to the goalkeeper are very tricky to deal with, but I thought we were fantastic in the first half. I would have to watch the game back, but I feel our first half performance was better than Truro’s second half, so we were full value for the win.”