A lacklustre City side could have had no real complaints as they went down to their second home National League South defeat of the season at a soggy Treyew Road.

Although the final margin may have been just one goal – a spectacular strike at the start of the second half from Elliot Buchanan – the Hertfordshire visitors were worthy winners.

And City boss Steve Tully admitted his side had been second best on the day and would have to improve in they did not want to get into a relegation battle.

He added: "We looked leggy. We had no energy. To their credit they deserved their win.

"They came and did a professional job on us. There is a lot to sort out, but we will get there. We never really got going. The problem is are we going to score goals?"

The defeat dropped City to 16th in the table.

In the first half, it was the well organised visitors who made most of the running against a sluggish City side.

Keeper Martin Rice twice had to perform heroics to deny Sheldon Sellears, who then volleyed over from a Mason Walsh cross and had an effort cleared off the line.

City hardly had a shot worthy of the name and were glad to get in on level terms at the break.

But six minutes into the second period City when 1-0 down when Johnny Herd found Buchanan down the left and the striker let fly with a shot which dipped over a helpless Rice into the far corner.

City did try and press forward, but lacked ideas and conviction and there only real chance of an equaliser came in stoppage time when Matt Wright headed over from Ryan Brett's cross.

But they did not really deserve anything from the game as they were given a harsh lesson in life at this level.

TRURO CITY: Rice; White, Palmer, Farkins, Riley-Lowe; Dawson, Krac (Cooke 72), Ash (Green 60), Brett, Wright, Vassell (Yeoman 60). Subs (not used) : Pugh, McHale.

Yellow cards: Dawson, Krac, Riley-Low,

BISHOP'S STORTFORD: Lovelock; Vanderhyde, Herd, Merryfield, Lee, Allen, Sellears (Bywater 76), Church, Suarez (Thalassitis 63), Buchanan, Walsh (Ekim 81). Subs (not used): Labonne, Ekim,

Yellow cards: Vanderhyde, Allen.

Half-time: 0-0

Scorers: Buchanan (52) 0-1.

Attendance: 491.

Referee: Sam Allison