TRURO City player-manager Steve Tully said Tuesday night's defeat was a 'wake-up call' for his players as the White Tigers failed to build on their impressive performance at Margate on Saturday.

After marking their Vanarama National League South return with a deserved point in Kent, which could easily have been three, City struggled in their first home game of the season as two goals from Ismael Ehui inflicted a first Treyew Road defeat since October.

Even after the visitors were reduced to ten men in the 69th minute following a straight red card to Harry Grant following a challenge on Shane White, Tully's men failed to find a way back.

And the City player-boss, who welcomes Arran Pugh and Dan Green back to his squad on Saturday (they are currently undertaking their A licences), will be looking for a positive response when Concorde Rangers are the visitors this weekend.

He said: "It was a wake-up call. We started very well, we created the better chances, we played the better football but we committed suicide in the second half.

"We were not doing the right things at the right time and that cost us. I know we're better than that, hopefully it's a lesson learned and we can get it right on Saturday."

Matt Wright had gone close to scoring for City with two efforts in quick succession, inside the opening seven minutes.

The striker also headed over White's cross minutes later as home fans sensed a goal was coming.

But Hayes, so dangerous on the break, were gifted a goal in the 12th minute when Elliot Benyon burst into the box, only to be bundled over by Rob Farkins and referee Adam Ricketts had no hesitation but to point to the spot.

Ehui stepped up and made no mistake, ramming the ball into the bottom corner.

Truro rarely threatened for the remainder of the half, with Ed Palmer's free kick from range sailing harmlessly wide the closest they came to levelling.

And the hosts suffered another sucker punch five minutes into the second half when the impressive Ehui unleashed a superb powerful effort into the bottom corner to double Hayes' lead.

With 21 minutes remaining Hayes were reduced to ten men when Grant was sent off for a challenge on White.

But even with a man advantage City, watched by a crowd of 503, failed to threaten as they went down to a rare home defeat.

Truro: M Rice, S White, C Riley-Lowe, J Ash (R Brett 58), R Farkins, E Palmer, A Dawson, S Krac, M Wright (L Afful 58), I Vassell, C Cooke (C Duff 73). Sub (not used): T McHale.

Hayes: M Norman, J Fenlon, M Worsfold, L Ferrell, D McKain, B Gerring, L Williams, J Nicholson (E Kovassi 70), E Benyon (T Collins 62), I Ehui (R Murrell-Williamson 76), H Grant. Subs (not used): C Crowley, H Hall.

Referee: Adam Ricketts (Bristol).

Att 503