ATTACKER Ben Starkie praised Truro City’s performance as the Tinners avoided an FA Cup shock on Saturday by seeing off three-league lower Cirencester Town to reach the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

The Cornishmen, pushing for an immediate return to the National League following their relegation back in May, started as firm favourites against their Hellenic Premier Division opponents who arrived from Gloucestershire having knocked out Truro’s league rivals Farnham Town in a replay.

However, despite the visitors bringing down a noisy contingent of supporters who backed the Centurions superbly all afternoon, Truro ensured a potential banana skin was avoided with ease as Starkie’s brace plus goals from strikers Tyler Harvey and Harvey Greenslade set up a tie at National League outfit Sutton United over the weekend of October 17.

Speaking shortly after the final whistle, Starkie said: “I think all the boys enjoy the FA Cup. The more you win and the further you get the bigger the prize and it’s a nice cup to be in, so we’ve got to be pleased. And it’s always nice to get a couple myself.”

He continued: “When you come up against a so-called underdog they’re going to leave everything out there so it’s important you make them go against the momentum early, and we got that early goal to give us the momentum. At 2-0 you’re never safe, so we talked about keep pushing and keeping the energy up and keep working hard, and we got the job done.”

Starkie had no preference ahead of Monday’s draw, but is determined to reach the First Round Proper which sees clubs from League One and Two enter.

He continued: “The job’s the same, whatever the team. It’s about going out there, getting the win and making sure we’re in the First Round Proper. But first of all we’ve got three big games coming up in the league which are very important. So we need to focus on the league now and work hard.”