Truro City have lost their opening match of the Conference South season, going down to a 2-1 defeat away at Billericay Town.

Chris Wild headed Billericay Town in front after 25 minutes, but then conceded an own goal to level the scores.

However, a goal in the 89th minute from Sam Lechmere gave Billericay the win.

City took an under-strength side with them to Essex, with Andy Watkins and Stewart Yetton both ruled out through injury. Former Falmouth Town player Dan Green was handed his Conference South debut at full-back, while Penryn teenager Cody Cooke lined up in midfield alongside Adam Kelly.

The match started quietly, with both sides performing well in defence and cancelling each other out. However, after 21 minutes Billericay got the breakthrough from a set-piece. Nathan Green and Harrison Chatting linked up well down the left and forced a corner. The ball was then crossed in for Chris Wild to head home.

Truro replied with a dangerous ball into the box, which was cleared by Nathan Green, but at the other end Lechmere almost doubled the home side’s tally with a volley from 22-yards out.

Billericay controlled the remainder of the half with shots from Alex Osbourn and Luke l’Anson heading wide of the City goal, but it was the visitors who had a glorious chance to equalise when Billericay keeper Jake Larkins played the ball straight out to Kieffer Moore, who hit the post from 15 yards out.

Truro were level three minutes into the second half though as a cross in from the right was scuffed into his own net by Wild. Encouraged by the equaliser the White Tigers pushed forward.  Billericay were then reduced to ten men as Sam May threw an elbow at a Truro City's Jake Ash.
Truro sensing an unlikely victory poured men forward.

They forced a succession of corners and saw a good headed chance go a foot wide of the post. However, it was Billericay who were to find the winner a minute before time as low cross into the six yard box found Lechmere, who was left with a simple finish to take the points.

Truro City : Tim Sandercombe, Dan Green, Williams, Arran Pugh, Cody Cooke, Jake Ash, Les Afful, Ben Adlesbury, Kieffer Moore, Joe Broad. Subs: Danny Carne, Hall.
 

Full Conference South Results as follows:

Basingstoke 2 - 1 Sutton Utd

Billericay 2 - 1 Truro City

Boreham Wood 3 - 0 Eastleigh

Bromley 0 - 0 Staines Town

Dorchester 2 - 1 Eastbourne

Dover 2 - 2 Farnborough

Havant and W 1 - 1 Chelmsford

Maidenhead Utd 3 - 1 Tonbridge Angels

Salisbury 2 - 1 AFC Hornchurch

Welling 1 - 1 Bath City

Weston-S-Mare 1 - 1 Hayes