Bridgwater Town’s interest in the Red Insure Cup ended in the first round on Tuesday night, after a 2-1 defeat to Truro City writes Brian Austin.

Town – bidding to make progress in the same competition they reached the final in last year - paraded new signing Matt Villis in the centre of defence and Jamie Laird was switched to left back.

Steve Orchard moved to the midfield alongside Trowbridge and Kirk but Town were still missing the injured Marcus Duharty up front for the second game in succession.

Bridgwater began in positive fashion against their higher league opponents and Pepperell and Mercieca were soon causing problems down the flanks.

As early as the fourth minute, Lairds cultured left foot sent Pepperell away down the right and his low cross was gathered by Truro's keeper, Brooke, at the second attempt.

A minute later Mercieca skilfully worked his way inside from the left but his effort was cleared by the classy centre back Mamsy Sabro for a throw-in.

Young and Pepperell then combined to set up a half chance for Orchard but he was unable to fully control the ball and the danger was snuffed out.

In the eighth minute Young brilliantly made space for himself just inside the area and his thumping right foot shot beat Brooke but crashed against the post and was cleared.

Truro broke and in their first real attack, Yetton sent a header flashing just wide.

Town came back on the attack and a Pepperell free kick from the left was cleared for a corner from which Villis at the far post was just unable to keep his close range shot low enough.

Mercieca then set up Orchard but he shot tamely wide,then a swift interchange of passes set up Young but his first time shot was deflected for another corner.

On twenty one minutes Jamie Price crossed but Mercieca couldn't get his shot on target. Kirk was then fouled thirty yards out and the ball broke to Mercieca but the referee failed to allow the advantage with Mercieca bearing down on goal and the resulting free kick came to nothing.

Pepperell then brought the best out of Brooke forcing the keeper to dive to his left to pull off another excellent save and on thirty one minutes Young had strong appeals for a penalty waved away after he appeared to be brought down in the box.The referee thought otherwise and awarded a corner.

The goal Town deserved finally arrived in the 39th minute when a long quick clearance by Hutchins found Young.

Surrounded by three Truro defenders, somehow he managed to control the bouncing ball and stab it past Brooke.

Truro then threatened at the other end but Yetton shot over when well placed.

The half ended with Town deservedly a goal up and the irony was that for all their neat football and patient build up their goal had come from a route one move.

Chris Young, who had been outstanding in the first half, failed to appear for the second half following a recurrence of a ham-string problem and his place was taken by Jamie Howson.

Howson was soon in action as he cut in from the left but his cross come shot was wide of the far post.

Towns commitment to playing total football from the back proved their undoing in the sixty fifth minute as the eager Truro forwards closed the back four down quickly and Hutchins was forced into a hurried clearance which fell straight to Green who set up Yetton for an easy finish and the equaliser.

Town went back on the attack playing some neat football but the final ball was sadly lacking and time and time again attacks petered out as they ran out of options.

Truro came more into the game as an attacking force but were unable to carve out a clear opening.

Hutchins was looking assured in goal comfortably cutting out several crosses and was always on the look out to set up another attack.

Price and Pepperell combined again down the right but Price's cross was too near the keeper and minutes later the same combination created a golden chance for Howson but somehow post and defenders managed to scramble the ball away.

In the 76th minute Truro took the lead when a shot from White took a wicked deflection and left Hutchins stranded.

Town refused to give in and went straight back on the attack.

A Pepperell free kick from out side the box caused chaos in the Truro area but somehow the ball stayed out of the net and was cleared for yet another corner.

In the last minute Kirk had a glorious chance to take the tie into extra time but he headed just over from a Pepperell cross.

This was a game Town should have won as Truro were far from at full strength but the lack of someone who can receive the ball with his back to goal and hold it up and bring others into play was cruelly exposed once they had lost Young at half time.

Town played all the football but lacked penetration and too often attacks floundered as they ran out of ideas and options up front.

Everyone worked hard and their effort could not be faulted, but Truro are through to the second round and Town will be left to concentrate on their ultimate aim of promotion this season.

Crowd: 257 Team: Hutchins (6) Price (6) Villis (6) Pitcher (6) Laird (8) Trowbridge (6) Kirk (7) Orchard (6) Pepperell (6) Young (8) Mercieca (6) Sub: Howson (6) Referee: Richard Hulme