Truro were the victims of an Eastbourne Borough smash and grab with the visitors prevailing 1-0.

Striker Alfie Pavey netted the all-important winning goal 11 minutes after half-time with Sports’ only significant effort of note throughout the 90 minutes, which was totally dominated by City.

Truro had a goal ruled out in the opening period with Tyler Harvey (twice) and Will Dean also coming close before the turnaround.

Despite falling behind, Truro’s dominance continued and as time ticked down, skipper Connor Riley-Lowe was denied on two sperate occasions by overworked Eastbourne custodian Finn Holter.

The Sports’ goal was living a charmed life and the crossbar and inside of the post came to their rescue also, thus denying Tom Harrison a first goal of the season and Jaze Kabia his fifth.

Truro boss John Askey made three changes to the side which was defeated in similar circumstances at Bath on Tuesday evening. Riley-Lowe, making his first start of the season, replaced Ryan Law on the left-hand side of a midfield five.

In the engine room, Billy Palfrey was also in from the off as Seidou Sanogo dropped to the bench.

And in attack, Dom Johnson-Fisher partnered Harvey in place of Kabia while recent signing Scott Burgess was also named amongst the substitutes as Andrew Neal was ruled out through illness.

In front of another bumper four-figure attendance, City raced from the traps and Yassine En-Neyah had two shots from the edge of the box deflected behind.

Harvey then took centre stage as desperate Eastbourne defending denied City’s leading scorer before Holter saved well from Truro’s number nine.

Johnson-Fisher was the next home player with a sight at goal but after getting himself into a good position, the former Whitehawk attacker couldn’t produce the finish to match his fine approach play.

Eastbourne were then dealt a blow 17 minutes in when defender Freddie Carter was withdrawn, replaced by Brayden Johnson.

A 21^st minute corner brought ironic cheers from the home faithful as Eastbourne finally threatened the City goal but a poor delivery was headed well clear by Will Dean.

Back up the other end and Dean was the next home player to come close. Sam Sanders was seemingly wrestled to the ground in the box but referee Matthew Norton waved play on and Dean hooked towards goal, with the ball sailing narrowly wide.

Just after the half hour, the opening goal of the game appeared to have arrived although curiously, it was ruled out by the man in black. Holter flapped at a cross and with the ball loose in the box, Johnson-Fisher tapped home.

Home celebrations were cut short though, as the referee adjudged a foul on Holter and Eastbourne, in a theme that continued throughout the match, had been let off the hook.

City then forced a succession of corners as they cranked up the pressure but credit to Eastbourne, who defended stoutly and another last-ditch block saw Harvey’s effort turned away after Harrison’s knock down.

After the break, Dean fired a free-kick across the face of goal with Holter scampering across his line and Harvey had yet another powerful strike kept away from danger by a defender in a pink shirt.

Shortly after Harvey’s latest attempt, the deadlock was broken and although George Alexander will claim an assist, Eastbourne owe a huge debt of gratitude to Michael Klass.

The former Maidstone midfielder picked up the ball and surged forward evading a number of home challenges and despite crossing into the box, it appeared that the ball was drifting out of play.

Alexander had other ideas and he hooked it back into the six-yard box for Pavey to sweep home for a second game in succession.

City were behind, but drawing on the inspiration gained from recent comeback wins against Enfield and Chelmsford, Askey’s troops were immediately back on the front foot.

Riley-Lowe’s first sight of goal was somehow kept out, it appeared, by the face of Holter before the outstanding Palfrey arrowed wide from the edge of the box.

Burgess and Kabia were then thrust into the fray with the former making his Truro bow. The recent non-contract signing picked out Harvey 11 minutes from time and another deflection behind rescued Sports.

From the resulting corner, Harrison was left unmarked at the back post, but his glancing header crashed off the woodwork and to safety.

Further home corners caused panic in the Eastbourne box as 90 minutes approached but the ball wouldn’t fall for a player in a red and black shirt.

Into the dying embers and Holter pulled off another fine stop from Riley-Lowe before Kabia hit the inside of the post.

Those late chances demonstrated aptly that it was just one of those days for Truro, whilst Eastbourne made their way back to the South East knowing that that had been fortunate in the extreme, to claim all three points.

Match Facts

City: Lavercombe, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Harrison, Sanders, Love-Holmes, Palfrey, Dean, En-Neyah (Burgess, 70), Riley-Lowe, Harvey, Johnson-Fisher (Kabia, 62. Subs not used: Sanogo, Law, Kuleya.

Eastbourne: Holter, Pitblado, Diarra, Quick, Carter (Johnson, 17), Odusanya, Sesay, Klass (Davis, 78), Clarke, Alexander (Ligendza, 83), Pavey. Subs not used: Davison, Harley.

Referee: Matthew Norton

Attendance: 1,641