Truro City’s South West Peninsula League campaign began with a narrow reverse at the hands of Penzance.

The Magpies, now managed by Tinners old boy Mark Vercesi, edged a tight affair thanks to Silas Sullivan’s strike nine minutes before the break.

Both sides had chances to further trouble the scoreboard after the opener, but an inspired display by visiting custodian Morgan Jones and his opposite number Mikey Flores saw the scoreline remain at 1-0.

And in their quest to fashion an equaliser, City were forced to play the last six minutes a man light after substitute Teddy Horton picked up two bookings, which resulted in the midfielder receiving his marching orders from referee Steve Annis.

In front of a healthy three figure gate, it was the home side who settled into the game first and had early chances as Daryl Richards had a free-kick deflected behind for a corner, before Charlie Young called Jones into action for the first time.

At the other end, Mykey Davies couldn’t quite connect properly with the ball when well-placed and striker Ben Shaw, in on goal, was denied from distance by Flores.

The only goal of the game owed much to the passing accuracy of home playmaker Charlie Willis, as he played a pinpoint through ball for Sullivan, to break a flimsy City offside trap.

The diminutive forward stroked the ball under Jones and although it crashed off the inside of the post, did enough to find the back of the net.

Sullivan could and perhaps should have doubled his side’s advantage in the dying embers of the first half but missed the target.

After the turnaround, Penzance almost increased their lead through Richards’ low effort, which was blocked by Jones.

With both teams then emptying their collective benches as the game wore on, proceedings became scrappy and visiting frustrations boiled over when Horton, who was unlucky to pick up his first caution with 13 minutes left, was then shown a red card shortly after.

He tussled with Willis right in front of the away dugout and after a coming together, was adjudged to have kicked out at the home number eight.

But despite being a man down, City kept plugging away to find that all-important equalising goal.

However, they found the Penzance rearguard in defiant mood and but for another wonder saw from Jones as time ticked down, with Jacob Trudgeon the man to be denied, the margin of defeat could have been even greater.

Match Facts

City: Jones, Josh Turner, Fabby (Rutherford, 71), Royes, Burt, Davies (Richards 72), Higgins, Rosevear (Horton, 55), Shaw (McNally, 66), Flack (Chant, 89), Simmonds.

Penzance: Flores, Reynolds, Butler, S Young (Samnauskas, 75), Andrew, Tonkin, Sullivan (Jasper Turner, 70), Willis, C Young, Richards (Smith, 58), Tripconey (Trudgeon, 58). Sub not used: Trenoweth

Referee: Steve Aniss

Attendance: 176