Truro City vs Southend United – Match Report

Enterprise National League

Gareth Davies, Truro City Stadium, Saturday

Truro City 0 – Southend United 1

Boss John Askey felt his Truro City side delivered their best showing of the season so far, despite going down to a narrow loss at the hands of Southend United.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Truro were the better side during the opening stanza with Yassine En-Neyah having their best opportunity. At the other end, Gus Scott-Morriss, the Shrimpers' leading scorer last term, had an early effort cleared off the line.

In the second period, Southend had a goal ruled out for offside before the winning strike came from Sam Austin, who turned home from close range.

City heads didn't drop and they looked the likelier to grab what would have been a deserved share of the spoils as time ticked down, with substitute Jake Taylor striking the bar from a corner.

"I'm obviously disappointed with the result but that is the best we have played all season against a good team," Askey said at full-time.

"If we put performances in like that, then things will change for us and although we lost, I am pleased with how we played and the effort the players put in.

"We worked hard in the first half and limited them to very few chances and had a couple ourselves. We had chances and haven't punished teams this year and that has been the story of our season so far."

Under blue skies and searing Cornish heat, Southend had the first sight of goal after just five minutes when an inswinging corner from the left was powerfully headed towards goal by Scott-Morriss. However, he was denied a second of the campaign by a last ditch clearance from Zac Bell.

That was Southend's only real chance inside the opening 45 minutes as City were dominant. En-Neyah failed to hit the target when released by Lirak Hasani and Ryan Law had an effort deflected wide.

The lively Dom Johnson-Fisher was causing Southend all sorts of problems with his pace, but after working himself into good positions, the former Whitehawk man was undecided if to shoot or pass – much to the relief of the visitors.

The second period continued in similar fashion, but two goals – one given the other disallowed – ultimately decided the outcome of proceedings. Sam Hopper headed home but was denied by the assistant's flag and then less than 90 seconds later, Andy Dallas found Scott-Morriss who saw his shot blocked.

The ball fell to Austin who made no mistake with Southend also having further chances through their outstanding defender Ben Goodliffe and Scott-Morriss with a free-kick.

Truro wouldn't roll over though and a number of late long-throws and corners were defended well by the Shrimpers, with their boss Kevin Maher overjoyed at a fourth game unbeaten.

"We are delighted with the three points and that is the most important thing," he said. "It is a long journey for everyone including the fans, who have turned up in huge numbers. We sent them home happy after not seeing a pretty game, but you take it.

"We drew 0-0 at home to York with two teams going at it in midweek, but today we had to win differently. Just because Truro are down the bottom, it doesn't make things easy in this league and we have been here long enough to know that, so you earn every point you get."

Truro City: Lavercombe, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dean, Sanders, Bell (Love-Holmes, 68), Hasani (Taylor, 68), Rooney, En-Neyah (Jephcott, 82), Law, Johnson-Fisher (Starkie, 73), Pyke (Harvey, 68). Subs not used: Stone, Riley-Lowe.

Southend United: Andeng-Ndi, Taylor, Goodliffe, Gubbins, Scott-Morriss, Husin, (Morton, 64), Hopper (Kendall, 64), Coker (Parillon, 64), Boyes, Dallas, (Spasov, 81), Austin (Appiah-Forson, 86). Subs not used: Hayes, Bridge.

Referee: Sam Mulhall

Attendance: 3,067

📷Sam Sanders of Truro City during the National League match between Truro City and Southend United at Truro City Stadium, Truro on Saturday 23rd August 2025 - PHOTO: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK