This week’s report covers the games played since (and including those played on) the 20th December. The previous loan report can be found here.
Alex Hartridge – Truro City – Vanarama League South
2017:
Truro kicked off their festive period with a home game against Gloucester City on Saturday, with Alex Hartridge starting at left back. The first half saw the hosts have the better chances in an even affair, but both sides failed to hit the back of the net before half time.
The second half continued in much the same vein, with the White Tigers having the better chances but failing to break through the visitors’ defence. Alex was then replaced by former City academy graduate Noah Keats on 61 minutes. Gloucester took the lead against the run of play a little over 10 minutes later, when Ed Williams converted from the spot.
Ben Harding did get a deserved equaliser for the Cornish outfit on 80 minutes, but they were made to earn their share of the points as Gloucester repeatedly caused them problems on the counter for the rest of the game.
Truro then faced a trip to Poole Town on Boxing Day as they searched for their first win in over a month. Alex found himself on the bench, with Keats taking his place in the starting lineup.
They came out 3-0 winners on a soggy afternoon in Dorset, as a Cody Cooke goal was followed up by a Tyler Harvey brace in a dominant second period for the visitors. Alex failed to make it off the bench, but Truro moved up to sixth going into the new year, three points off first placed Dartford.
2018:
Truro started the new year with a deserved 3-1 win over Boxing Day rivals Poole. Early goals from Niall Thompson and Ben Gerring gave the home side a comfortable lead going into half time. Alex then replaced Jamie Richards on 57 minutes, before a second Gerring goal (though the Truro match report claims it was Connor Riley-Lowe who scored) two minutes from time was instantly cancelled out at the other end by Ollie Balmer. The result moves the White Tigers up to fourth, still three points from top spot.
League: 14 appearances, 12 starts, 1,160 minutes, 1 goal.
FA Cup: 3 appearances, 3 starts, 270 minutes*.
FA Trophy: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes.
Last game:
1/1/2018, Truro 3-1 Poole Town, subbed on after 57 minutes.
*Assumption made that he played the full 90 minutes vs AFC Sudbury in 3rd Qualifying Round.
Kyle Egan & Archie Collins – Dorchester Town – Evo-Stick South Premier
2017:
Dorchester started their Christmas matches with a trip to Bishop’s Stortford (who have since signed former Grecian Jamie Cureton), with Kyle keeping his place in the starting lineup and Archie starting on the bench.
The first half was evenly matched, with a late Egan free kick being headed straight at the ‘keeper by Sam Lanahan.
The home side were the better side in the second half as the Magpies failed to assert themselves on the game despite the introduction of Archie on the hour mark. They deservedly fell behind seven minutes from time when Darren Foxley turned in after Tom Clifford rattled the post. The visitors could have nicked a point late on, but a “wonderful” late save by home ‘keeper Tyler McCarthy denied Luke Winsper.
It was a Boxing Day Dorset Derby next for Dorchester, as they made the short trip down to Weymouth having won just once in their last twelve away matches. The Magpies had also lost four of their last five league derbies, with their last win coming in August 2015. Kyle started, with Archie on the bench.
The opening period saw both teams create chances, with Egan twice putting in dangerous crosses for Phil Ormrod, who couldn’t reach the first, and Sam Lanahan, who fired over from 12 yards out.
Weymouth then grew in confidence and took the lead five minutes before half time through Charlie Davies, but the Terras had to hold on as the visitors applied pressure just before the break.
In the second half Weymouth’s Brandon Goodship curled an effort over the bar, which led to the match being stopped as the Terras’ fans behind the goal “refused to return the ball“. Goodship did extend the hosts’ lead on 69 minutes, as he cut inside before hitting a deflected effort past Chris Weale.
Dorchester bounced back instantly though, as first Kyle Egan slotted under Mark Travers on 70 minutes, before Lanahan capitalised on a Travers and Will Buckley mix up to tap into an empty net seven minutes later. Goodship had a final chance, but curled it over the bar as the teams saw out a 2-2 draw. Archie didn’t come on.
In an interview with the Dorset Echo, Kyle hoped the result would set his side “on the right road again” after two tough games. Full interview here.
2018:
Dorchester kicked off the new year with a home tie against Tiverton Town, with Egan retaining his place in the starting XI and Collins remaining on the bench.
The visitors started off on the front foot, pushing plenty of bodies forward at set-pieces to try and take advantage of their physical presence. It almost paid off as, after the league’s joint-top scorer Levi Landricombe had a volley deflected out for a corner, Weale was forced into a “smart flying stop” to deny Jamie Price.
Despite Tiverton’s early dominance, it was Dorchester who took the lead thanks to Antonio Diaz and Egan. The pair exchanged passes following a throw-in routine and, although Diaz’s ball to Egan looked to be going out of play, it held up on the heavy Avenue surface, enabling the right-back to chip a cross to the unmarked Lanahan to head home into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Diaz and Egan linked up again later in the first half, but the Spaniard fired wide as the hosts went into the break at 1-0. But just two minutes into the second period the Magpies doubled their lead as Thomas Blair, who had just come on for Phil Ormrod, dribbled past the onrushing Martin Rice and slotted into an unguarded net.
The hosts killed off the game on 65 minutes, as again Diaz and Egan linked up on the right, with the latter chipping a cross to the far post which Blair headed into the roof of the net. Dorchester almost immediately brought on Archie Collins as they comfortably held on to only their third league win since November. Kyle Egan was named man of the match.
Stats*:
Egan:
League: 25 appearances, 23 starts, 2,111 minutes, 2 goals, 5 assists.
FA Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes.
Challenge Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes.
FA Trophy: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes.
Dorset Senior Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes.
Last game:
1/1/2018, Dorchester 3-0 Tiverton Town, played the full 90 minutes, assisting two of the goals.
Collins:
League: 3 appearances, 71 minutes.
Last game:
1/1/2018, Dorchester 3-0 Tiverton Town, played the last 23 minutes.
*These stats aren’t recorded on any website, so the minutes played is an estimate based on time-stamps on social media or match reports. Does not include stoppage time.
Toby Down – Weymouth – Evo-Stick South Premier
Toby’s appearance against Biggleswade Town in November proved to be his last for Weymouth and as a City loanee, as he signed a permanent deal at Taunton Town on Monday. Below are his final stats for Weymouth.
Stats*:
League: 12 appearances, 8 starts, 752 minutes.
FA Cup: 2 appearances, 2 starts, 180 minutes.
FA Trophy: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes.
Challenge Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes.
Final game:
25/11/2017, Weymouth 2-0 Biggleswade Town, played the last 12 minutes.
*These stats aren’t recorded on any website, so the minutes played is an estimate based on time-stamps on social media or match reports. Does not include stoppage time.
Max Smallcombe & Ben Seymour – Bideford – Evo-Stick South West
Bideford kicked off their festive period with an entertaining 0-0 draw at Didcot Town. Ben Seymour was denied by the home ‘keeper once in each half, whilst Felipe Barcelos found Bideford shot-stopper Steve Oliver in equally as formidable form. Oliver was on hand to save an 84th minute Barcelos penalty, before producing an “excellent save“ to deny Dave Murphy.
Just like Dorchester, Bideford were also in derby action on Boxing Day, hosting Barnstaple Town in “atrocious conditions”. Unlike at SJP 43 miles down the road, the “bog of a pitch” at the Sports Ground held up enough to see the game through.
Ben was again in the starting lineup, but was less involved than in previous games. Craig Duff gave the hosts the lead from close range on 52 minutes, before Seymour was replaced by Ryan Turner 12 minutes later. Just as it looked like the Robins would hold on, Barnstaple caught them napping with a quick free kick which found Karl Rickard, who equalised with a low shot and earned the visitors a point.
Bideford’s following two games, against Kidglington and Taunton away, were postponed.
Max continued to be absent, but was pictured training with City’s first team last week, with it looking likely he’ll be back playing early in the new year.
Stats*:
Smallcombe:
League: 5 appearances, 5 starts, 426 minutes.
FA Cup: 3 appearances, 3 starts, 243 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist.
Last game:
20/9/2017, Bodmin 1-1 Bideford (FA Cup), was subbed off on 90 minutes, captained the side.
Seymour:
League: 13 appearances, 12 starts, 950 minutes, 10 goals, 1 red card.
Challenge Cup: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes, 1 goal, 1 assist.
FA Trophy: 1 appearance, 1 start, 90 minutes, 1 goal.
Last game:
26/12/2017, Bideford 1-1 Barnstaple Town, subbed off after 64 minutes.
*These stats aren’t recorded on any website, so the minutes played is an estimate based on time-stamps on social media or match reports. Does not include stoppage time.
Exiled Grecian 
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