Lee Hodges may start for Truro City at Bath

Truro City player-manager Lee Hodges will make a late decision on whether or not he starts against Bath City in today's Blue Square Bet South clash at Twerton Park.

Hodges returned to action on the pitch in the absence of talismanic skipper Jake Ash – who was ruled out by a groin injury – for Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Dorchester Town, and played as a sweeper behind City's new central defensive pairing of Ben Gerring and Paul Kendall.

The experienced 39-year-old former Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle player said: "It looks as though Jake will be out for a little while longer and so we've got to look at how we set up without him.

"It's all very well coming back in and playing, but 90 minutes straight off like that can sometimes not be the best way of going about it.

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"I will see how I am nearer the game, fitness-wise, because although we looked quite tight at the back and did well, it was defensive errors that cost us both goals the other night.

"It is all about doing the simple things again, like marking and tracking back with players."

Although Hodges will make a late decision on his own involvement today, he was quick to praise reserve goalkeeper Luke Payne for his performance on Tuesday as a replacement for Paul Hider, who has a back injury.

Hodges said: "Luke came in and did well. In fairness, he did not have that much to do, but what he did have to do he dealt with confidently.

"Like I said, he could not stop the goals, that was down to poor defending, with Kieffer [Moore] given a free header."

Former Truro top scorer Moore scored both Dorchester goals, with the second in the 89th minute. Truro's Martin Watts cancelled out Moore's 21st-minute opener three minutes later.

A frustrated Hodges said: "Again, we proved we can come back, we can score. That has not been the problem. We really need to defend better."

All those comments point to Hodges playing some role today at Bath.

Despite back-to-back defeats for the basement side, the popular Truro boss remains as enthusiastic as ever before the trip to Twerton Park. "Bath have had two 3-0 wins in a row, at Eastbourne Borough and home to Tonbridge Angels, but lost 3-2 at home to Dorchester, so there's everything to play for," Hodges added.

"It's the nearest thing to a local derby for the fans who like to travel, and so we will do our utmost to bounce back and try and put a smile on their faces by giving them something to cheer about."