Dover Athletic 3 Truro City 2
A brave second half fightback by City just failed to earn them a battling point at high-flying Dover.
Trailing 3-0 at the interval at the Crabble Stadium, the Cornish visitors looked in for a hammering.
But two goals early in the second half from Cody Cooke and Kieffer Moore brought them right back into the match.
However, they were just unable to force an equaliser against the Kent side as their winless run stretched to nine games.
There were two new faces in the City line up, with former keeper Paul Hider starting in goal in place of Luke McCormick, who has joined Oxford Utd and Ben Gerring lining up in central defence after his move from Taunton Town.
McCormick played for Oxford in their 1-0 defeat at Southend.
Hider has returned to Treyew Road from Bideford, where he has been understudy to another former City keeper Tim Sandercombe.
And it was a mixed return for Hider who combined some fine saves with some costly mistakes.
Goals by Tyrone Sterling (6), Ian Simpempa (26) and Calum Willock (45) put Dover in command at half time before City came out fighting after the break.
Cooke finished well for his first goal of the season and top scorer Kieffer Moore soon added his 12th, following up to net after a shot by Andy Watkins had been blocked.
But an equaliser just would not come, while at the other end Hider produced some great saves to keep City in the game.
Yet again it was a case of so near yet so far for Truro who are next in action at Hayes and Yeading next Saturday when they will be hoping their luck starts to change.
Joe Broad marked his 300th appearance for the club with a man of the match performance.
Dover Athletic: Mitch Walker, Chris Sessegnon (Terry Dixon 69), Tom Wynter, Lloyd Harrington, Ian Simpempa, Tyrone Sterling, Ricky Modeste, Daryl McMahon (Calum Willock 39), Ben May, Moses Ademola, Barry Cogan
Subs: Sean Raggett, Steven Watt, Lee Hook
Truro City: Paul Hider, Calron Hall, Martin Watts, Ben Gerring, Jake Ash, Joe Broad, Cody Cooke, Marcus Martin (Barry Hayles 88), Kieffer Moore, Andy Watkins, Les Afful
Subs: Bobby Hopkinson, Matthew Wright, Ben Williams, Lee Hodges.