Truro City vs Plymouth

Playing into a strong wind in the first half, Plymouth struggled to create clear chances in blustery conditions at the Truro City Stadium. The first meaningful effort came from the hosts: Ben Starkie fired over from the edge of the area after a partially cleared corner (18'). Ronan Curtis responded for Argyle with a low left-foot drive that Truro goalkeeper Aidan Stone pushed wide (22').

Luke Jephcott, playing against his former club, curled a first-half free-kick narrowly past Murphy Cooper's post in stoppage time. Alex Hartridge also flicked a header wide from a Harvey White free-kick.

Plymouth emerged with greater urgency after the break. Bim Pepple drew a save from Stone (50') and the rebound fell to Owen Oseni, who shot wide. Curtis drove another effort narrowly off target (52'). Truro countered through winger Tom Tweedy, whose runs twice threatened — one lay-off to Tyler Harvey produced a shot straight at Cooper (58').

Cleverley made a triple substitution just past the hour mark, introducing Freddie Issaka, Michael Baidoo and Bradley Ibrahim for Xavier Amaechi, Bim Pepple and Harvey White. The change shifted Curtis up front alongside Oseni, with Issaka on the right and Baidoo on the left.

The breakthrough arrived with seven minutes remaining. Issaka, the Truro-born winger, collected the ball on the right and drove infield before slipping a pass to Baidoo, who beat substitute goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe low to his left with a crisp finish. It was Baidoo's third goal in four pre-season appearances, all as a substitute.

Truro rallied in the closing stages. Jephcott's shot from inside the area was deflected wide after Cooper misjudged a cross, but Argyle held on for the win.

Cleverley's triple substitution on 61 minutes changed the game's geometry. Issaka's direct running from the right stretched a Truro defence that had been compact and well-organised, creating the space for Baidoo's winner. The goal came from the first sustained period where Argyle's attacking shape genuinely unhinged their hosts.

Michael Baidoo (Plymouth Argyle) — Player of the Match. His third goal in four pre-season games, all as a substitute. Showed composure to finish low across Lavercombe when the game was drifting towards a draw.

Freddie Issaka (Plymouth Argyle). The Truro-born 19-year-old provided the moment of individual quality that decided the match — a driving run and perfectly weighted pass to create the winner.

Tom Tweedy (Truro City). The winger was the hosts' most dangerous outlet, using his pace to get behind the Argyle defence on two occasions. His deliveries created Truro's best chances.

Alex Mitchell (Plymouth Argyle). The new signing from Charlton Athletic, who completed his transfer for an undisclosed six-figure fee, played 45 minutes at centre-back alongside Mathias Ross and kept a clean sheet in his first run-out since returning to the club.

The provider payload records only one goal (Baidoo 83') and no cards — an accurate reflection of a game with few stoppages and little needle. The 1-0 scoreline captures a contest that was competitive but low on chances. Plymouth's three clean sheets in four friendlies (the only goal conceded came in the 4-1 win over Plymouth Parkway) tell the story of a side building from a solid defensive base. The attacking output, however, remains a concern: one first-half shot and a much-improved second-half output still yielded only one goal against a National League South side.

Plymouth made it four wins from four pre-season fixtures (4-1 vs Plymouth Parkway, 3-0 vs Bath City on 18 July, 1-0 vs Torquay United on 21 July, and now 1-0 vs Truro). The search for a new striker continues after Lorent Tolaj's £4m move to Bristol City, with Bim Pepple and Owen Oseni leading the line in the absence of a senior addition.

Cleverley told Plymouth Live: "The last two games we have not quite clicked in possession or as an attacking unit. That is what a large part of the work will be from now until the start of the season, just getting back to those real key avenues of attacking output."

He added: "There will be players coming in (new signings) at that area of the pitch to help with that, but the players that are in at the minute we need to help them through that and get back to our best that we saw at the end of last season."

Truro, who had beaten Exeter City 1-0 at home the previous weekend, suffered their first pre-season defeat. John Askey's side will open their National League South campaign on 8 August. Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain made his first appearance since April after recovering from illness.

Plymouth next face Bristol City at Home Park on 1 August in their final pre-season fixture before the Carabao Cup first-round tie against Exeter City on 10 August.

A professional if unspectacular win for Argyle, built on defensive solidity rather than attacking fluency. Baidoo's continued impact from the bench is a valuable weapon, but Cleverley's public frustration with the attacking output makes clear that new arrivals are needed before the competitive season begins. Truro more than held their own against a side two divisions higher and will take encouragement from the performance.