CITY slipped to their first defeat of the new season after a five-goal thriller in Essex.

Despite finding themselves 2-0 down at halftime, Truro rallied and struck back through Harvey Greenslade.

In a frantic finish, Rocky Neal thought he had earned his side a point with a goal in the sixth minute of injury time.

Only for Braintree to dramatically find a late winner in the last minute of the game settling the contest 3-2 in the home side's favour.

The hosts started brightly and forced James Hamon into a great stop at his near post inside the opening 90 seconds of the encounter.

Braintree opened the scoring on 22 minutes. Tom Stevenson charged down the left and slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Truro nearly responded perfectly. Captain Connor Riley-Lowe clipped the ball forward for Dan Rooney who tried to lob the keeper, but he was denied by a smart save.

Up the other end and Ryan Law was forced to hook the ball off the line as Braintree searched for a second.

That second goal came 4 minutes before the interval. Tom Blackwell ran in behind rounded Hamon and tapped the ball into the empty net to double his side's lead and give them clear daylight going into the break.

Truro were much improved in the second half and Ed Palmer came close when he headed a Will Dean free-kick over the bar.

City reduced the deficit on 51 minutes. Rooney did well to press the goalkeeper. The home shot-stopper panicked and misplaced his pass straight into the path of new signing Harvey Greenslade who gobbled up the chance and buried the ball into the back of the net.

Reenergised and on top Truro had plenty of opportunities to draw level.

Neal did well to hold the ball up before he picked out Porter who ran to the line and crossed to Palmer but the defender couldn’t direct his shot past the keeper.

Porter and Neal linked up again when the midfielder whipped an inviting cross into the box, but the striker's header was off target.

Braintree were looking dangerous on the break and twice saw attempts go high and wide.

Palmer who kept popping up in forward areas had two more big chances. He first had a powerful shot from the edge of the box deflected for a corner. He secondly played a good ball across goal begging for someone to tap home, but nobody obliged.

Braintree twice had the ball in the back of the net in the space of a few minutes. Firstly, a finish at the back post was ruled out for a foul on Hamon before the offside flag was quickly raised by the referee’s assistant.

As the clock kept ticking. The referee indicated an additional 6 minutes. With 96 minutes on the watch City equalised. Will Dean delivered a brilliant corner into the box which Rocky Neal managed to head into the top corner to level the scores.

There was still time for a fifth and final goal of the game. Braintree won a corner and Kyran Clements headed home to win the game for his side and succumb Truro to their first defeat of the campaign.

Braintree Town 3 - 2 Truro City