Maidstone suffered their first defeat of the season after late drama at the Gallagher Stadium.

Stones substitute Reiss Greenidge appeared to have rescued a point with five minutes remaining after cancelling out Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain’s first-half opener.

But there was another twist as Jaze Kabia’s 89th-minute effort was adjudged to have crossed the line by a linesman, much to the frustration of home fans.

Boss George Elokobi made three changes from the opening-day win at St Albans.

Arj Krasniqi and Riley Court came in for injured duo Jordan Higgs and Charlie Seaman, while Jon Benton made his first start in place of Shaq Coulthirst.

Truro, beaten by Dorking in the first match at their new ground last weekend, were good value for their half-time lead.

Maidstone looked strangely subdued in a flat opening 45 at the Gallagher and Truro made them pay.

The warning signs were there with George Fowler making a crucial challenge after a strong run by Dominic Johnson-Fisher took him into the box, then Alexis Andre Jr made a fine save after Will Dean’s clever pass sent Tyler Harvey through on goal.

Momentum was building for the visitors and they led in the 20th minute when Dean’s free-kick from the left was nodded back across goal for Oxlade-Chamberlain to head home from a yard out.

Sam Smith made a good block from Dean, who later blazed over when well-placed to score after a swift Truro counter-attack.

For Maidstone, a double goalline block denied Blair and then Court late in the half after Ben Brookes ran on to a lovely Sam Corne pass and squared across the six-yard box.

That was pretty much it for the home side in the first half, other than a couple of efforts off target from Blair, the first from Matt Bentley’s flick and then after a strong run into the Truro box.

Krasniqi made a good block from Seidou Sanogo just after the break before Benton fired wide from 20 yards at the other end.

Generally, though, City’s 4-4-2 system was proving hard to break down and they remained a threat on the break, Johnson-Fisher’s fierce strike going narrowly over after combining with Harvey.

Set-pieces were starting to look like the best route back and there was an opening when Fowler met Brookes’ corner in middle of the goal but he couldn’t direct his header on target.

Brookes then fired narrowly over after the ball sat up nicely 20 yards out while Blair went close after turning on the edge of the box.

A head injury to Fowler saw Greenidge join the action as Maidstone’s fourth substitute.

His very first touch saw him have a header cleared off the line from Brookes’ corner.

Moments later the same combination paid dividends, only this time Greenidge appeared to thigh the ball home from the corner for Maidstone’s 85th-minute equaliser.

United pushed for the winner but they were rocked when Truro regained the lead in the 89th minute, Kabia credited with the final touch after Dean’s free-kick led to a goalmouth scramble.

The linesman ruled the ball had crossed the line amid heavy City appeals for the goal to be given.

Stones substitute Bruno Andrade had an effort blocked on the goalline in the eighth minute of added time.

Maidstone: Andre Jr, Eweka, Fowler (Greenidge 83mins), Smith, Court (Fonkeu 78mins), Krasniqi (Coulthirst 58mins), Corne, Brookes, Benton, Bentley (Andrade 64mins), Blair. Subs not used: Holden.

Truro: Lavercombe, Harrison, Love-Holmes (Riley-Lowe 90+3mins), Sanders, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanogo, Dean, En-Neyah, Law, Harvey, Johnson-Fisher (Kabia 77mins). Subs not used: Jones, Kuleya, Palfrey.

Referee: Morgan Conn.

Attendance: 2,382.