LOUIS Rooney scored the only goal of the game as Truro City beat Plymouth Argyle in their pre-season friendly at Treyew Road on Tuesday night.

Rooney pounced on a defensive error early in the second half to score against his former club and hand White Tigers manager Paul Wotton the first victory of his reign.

Truro had the better of the earlier chances, with trialist James Lorenz causing problems with a couple of early efforts.

Argyle had one or two half chances and one almost developed when Antoni Sarcevic broke free of the defence, but goalkeeper Jordan Wright was out to smother the effort and swat the rebound away from the onrushing Ryan Taylor.

Truro got back on the attack with a howitzer of a strike from Austen Booth which was well held by Michael Cooper, while Rio Garside tried his luck with a free-kick at the other end before Taylor saw his penalty appeal turned down.

Lorenz came close with a wonderful curling effort shortly before half-time, but it was Argyle who almost led when Joe Riley’s shot was tipped on to the crossbar by Wright.

But it was Truro who did edge in front early in the second half, with Rooney taking advantage of sloppiness in defence to lash the ball home from close range.

Calum Dyson and Alex Fletcher were Argyle’s new strike pairing in the second half and the pair exchanged efforts shortly after the first goal, while Noah Keats was away with a superb dipping strike at the other end.

The match was in the balance as Keats came close again with a low free-kick that sailed inches past the post, before Argyle youngster Klaidi Lolos, on as a sub, stung the palms of Wright with a belter from close-range.

Argyle edged closer and closer but to no avail. Tafari Moore’s cross was taken off Ryan Law with a superb intervention before Joe Edwards’ cross was tipped off the line.

Conor Grant also scored a late leveller in sensational fashion but his powerful long-range strike smashed against the crossbar, as Truro held on for an impressive victory.

Truro: J Wright, J Ward, H Mbayo, J Richards, M Ndiaye, A Booth, N Keats, J Roberts, B Diau, R Garside, J Lorenz. Subs: L Rooney, N Thompson, C Harvey, R Keats, M Gilbert, T Mitchell, C McGhee, A Callejo, T Annear.

Plymouth: M Cooper, J Riley, M Peck, S Wootton, N Canavan, A Smith-Brown, A Randell, A Sarcevic, D Mayor, R Taylor, L Jephcott. Subs: J Holmes, G Sawyer, J Edwards, C Grant, J Grant, C Dyson, T Moore, C Sangster, R Law, A Fletcher, K Lolos, T Purrington.