Truro City fell to a third defeat in six days as they were punished for a below-par performance against Dorchester Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

Having suffered a 1-0 defeat to Salisbury City, followed by a 4-1 thrashing at Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday, Truro were looking to get back on form at home to a Dorchester Town side, who hadn’t won since the opening day of the season.

However, the visitors were in no mood to head back to Dorset empty handed and pressed and harried the home side when they didn’t have the ball.

They successfully squeezed the midfield play, making it difficult for the likes of Danny Clay, Marcus Martin and Andrew Taylor to work their magic. Having said that, all too often Truro reverted to a long high ball up in the air that both Barry Hayles and Les Afful struggled to create real chances off.

As a result Dorchester grew in confidence as the match went on and deservedly took the lead on 74 minutes through substitute Nick Crittenden.

With Andrew Watkins still recovering from a groin strain, picked up in the defeat at Salisbury, City boss Lee Hodges had to revert to a 4-4-2 formation, giving Danny Clay a starting role in midfield.

And the home side started well with Jake Ash having a shot turned around the post and Afful hitting a fierce drive which, had it not been straight at Dorchester keeper Simon Evans, would have given City the lead.

It took half an hour for the visitors to really threaten as Steve Adams was forced to boot a ball out of his six yard box and then Steve Devlin headed wide when well placed eight yards from goal.

However, it was a game of few chances for either side as the talking point of the first half revolved around the non-dismissal of Dorchester’s tough-tackling midfielder Ryan Dovell.

On 45 minutes he crunched into a challenge on Ash in front of the visitors dugout and was promptly shown the yellow card. However, deep into first half injury time the player had not heeded the referee’s warning a slid in late on Danny Clay. Having made the challenge, Dovell looked across in the direction of the referee fearing an imminent yellow and red card.

However, much to the disbelief of the City players, including a furious Hayles, the referee just gave Dovell a talking to. Dorchester boss Ashley Vickers knew the midfielder had been fortunate to escape a red card and substituted the player at half-time.

The second half began with both sides trading chances. Devlin saw his header, destined for the bottom corner, saved by an impressive Sandercombe, while Hayles nodded his effort over the top having found himself unmarked 12 yards out.

As the half went on though it became clear that Dorchester were the more likely team to break the deadlock. First Nick Moss fired over from close range following a cross from the right and then the same player was denied by a good save from Sandercombe having been put in a one-on-one situation.

Sandercombe made a further stop from Chris Flood, before the deadlock was finally broken on 74 minutes. Flood was the provider as he played a ball into the box from the right.

Full back Ed Palmer had got sucked into a central defensive position, which allowed substitute Crittenden to ghost in at the back post and side foot a shot past a stranded Sandercombe.

This should have stirred City into life, but as every hopeful long ball upfield was cleared, at either the first or second attempt, frustration began to show.

Ash did win a free-kick on the edge of the opposition’s box, but his curled effort, in stoppage time, was easily tipped over the crossbar by Evans.

Watkins then made a last-ditch to attempt to salvage a point as he jinked his way towards goal from the right touchline. The former Plymouth Argyle striker went to ground in the area, but his fall was as transparent as the countless high passes that had been sent towards the Dorchester box in the second half and the referee waived away the penalty appeal.

Truro City: Tim Sandercombe, Barry McConnell, Ed Palmer, Arran Pugh, Steve Adams, Jake Ash, Andrew Taylor, Marcus Martin, Danny Clay, Barry Hayles, Les Afful.