By David Harrison at the Truro City Stadium

SWPL PREMIER WEST (SATURDAY)

Truro City Reserves 4 Launceston 1

THE Clarets broke fresh ground on Saturday with a first visit to the new Truro City Stadium at Langarth where they took on City’s SWPL team.

The fates transpired against Neil Price’s young squad even before kick-off. Launceston were without seven starters while Truro had nofirst team game, allowing them the opportunity to include several players with National League South experience.

With the likes of Andy Watkins, James Close, Jaden Wood, George Beardsmore and Ollie Northam all unavailable, Price was forced to make wholesale changes to his starting line-up.

He gave a first Launceston start to Nick Salop and a second to Ryan Dawe, following his promising debut at Newquay.

On a pristine playing surface, the Clarets started brightly and created a few half-chances.

However the class and experience of Truro soon became apparent and the lively Alfie Flack looked to have given his side a 10th minute lead, only to be flagged offside.

Respite was short-lived however and Lawson Turpin pounced on some defensive uncertainty following a corner to open the scoring after 17 minutes.

Truro soon took a firm control of the midfield, with the impressive Dan Rooney pulling the strings.

The home side doubled their lead in the 23rd minute when a good move involving Rooney and Turpin saw Lewis Slade deny Rooney, only for the loose ball to land at the feet of Owen Rosevear who made no mistake.

Rosevear completed a difficult half for the Clarets when he headed a deep Toby Burt cross into the top corner, giving the overworked Slade no chance.

With a 3-0 half-time deficit to overcome, against a good side sensing more goals, things looked bleak for the Clarets.

However, within two minutes of the restart they were right back in the contest as they scored unquestionably the goal of the game, an unstoppable 30-yard drive from Josh Harris.

This Launceston side are in real need of some good fortune to help turn their season around, but unfortunately, in the 51st minute, they got the exact opposite.

Mikey Davies launched a long ball into the penalty area from wide on the left. The goalscorer was as stunned as anyone to see his sliced effort fly into the far top corner beyond the helpless Slade.

That effectively ended the game as a contest. Price had introduced substitute Dan Clifton at half-time and subsequently gave the energetic Aaron Hughes another opportunity. Both showed the manager they’ll have plenty to contribute in future.

The game rather petered out in the final quarter but Mark Elvidge had put in a tremendous shift for Launceston, invariably ploughing a lone furrow up front.

Jude Jago and Archie Wall, ably supported by Harris and Carl Aldridge, worked tirelessly at the back against a lively and inventive Truro front line.

A largely inexperienced Launceston midfield struggled to build any meaningful possession but battled manfully and will benefit from the experience. Jacob Ham, Ryan Dawe and the debutant Salop all came out of the game with credit.

Hopefully luck will turn soon for the Clarets, enabling a positive run of mid-season results, as was the case last year.

That starts with a trip to Holsworthy on Wednesday night (7.30pm) which is followed by an away clash at promoted St Day on Saturday (3pm).

LAUNCESTON: Lewis Slade; Josh Harris, Jude Jago, Archie Wall, Carl Aldridge, Nick Salop, Mike Steele (captain), Jacob Ham, Ryan Dawe, Mark Elvidge, Isaac Varga. Substitutes: Dan Clifton, Aaron Hughes.

Clarets man of the match: Mark Elvidge.