Truro City’s captain, Connor Riley-Lowe, emphasizes that the club is at a critical juncture in their battle for survival in the National League.
This season marks the Cornish team’s inaugural venture into the fifth tier after securing the National League South title last year.
Advertisement
After transitioning to a professional status last summer, the Tinners have struggled, with only five wins in 28 matches, placing them second from the bottom of the table.
This Saturday, they face Morecambe, who are just above them in the standings, trailing seven points behind the safety line with 18 matches remaining in the season.
“We’ve now played against every team, and we know what to expect; it’s definitely crunch time,” Riley-Lowe shared with BBC Radio Cornwall. “We need to start securing results, or we risk facing relegation.”
Truro’s form has improved since Christmas, with just one loss—against league leaders Rochdale—and they’ve managed to collect six points while advancing to the semi-finals of the National League Cup.
Advertisement
Upcoming matches include most teams in their vicinity in the lower half of the standings.
“If we concentrate on our performance, we’re hopeful that results will follow,” he added. “In recent games where we’ve performed well, we’ve reaped the rewards. We played well against Wealdstone and won, and we got a point against Forest Green. Results can vary, but our priority is to deliver solid performances and gain some momentum.”
“It’s not just about the Morecambe match; we’ve got a busy schedule ahead, and we need to leverage that to create some momentum, starting Saturday.”
Advertisement
A Perspective on the Season
Truro City’s most recent league match ended in a 2-0 defeat against National League leaders Rochdale [Shutterstock]
Regardless of the outcomes in the coming months, Riley-Lowe wants to highlight Truro’s accomplishments. The former Exeter City player left his position as a PE teacher to focus on football with the Tinners this season, a choice shared by many of his teammates who have taken a leap from their previous careers.
After moving to a new stadium at the beginning of last season, the club has rapidly progressed from the Southern League to compete in the top tier of non-league football.
“I responded to a fan on Twitter earlier in December who was expressing concern about our upcoming matches, commenting on the travel to places like York, Rochdale, and Southend,” he stated. “I told him that we need to view the situation in context. If someone had told me three years ago, when we were in the Southern Premier League, that this would be our Christmas schedule, I would have gladly accepted it.”
Advertisement
“Neither the players nor the coaching staff are content being in the relegation zone, and we are putting in extensive effort to climb out of it. Nonetheless, we are aware that we are competing in a tough league where the club lacks extensive experience. We are not just learning on the field, but off it as well.”
Related Internet Links