Falmouth Town's unbeaten run in 2014 came to a disappointing end at Bickland Park after John Dent's side were beaten by 3-0 by St Austell.
A sublime strike in the second half from Theo Stubbs, along with goals from Chris Reski and Martin Watts, were enough to see Phil Lafferty's side take all three points.
And to make matters worse for Town, they finished the game with ten men after midfielder Harry Evans was shown a second yellow card in the 91st minute by referee Nigel D'arcy for a clumsy, rather than malicious challenge on St Austell forward Chris Reski.
Poor refereeing decisions were a constant theme throughout the game, with St Austell defender Dan Lean booked during a tepid and goalless first half for complaining about the ball being flat, and Evans booked for kicking the ball away.
After the restart Lilywhites boss Lafferty was sent to the stands for dissent, but it was Town who looked the more likely side to score, with Andy Westgarth dragging a shot wide of former Falmouth keeper Jason Chapman's upright on the hour mark.
St Austell always looked dangerous going forward, and they finally breached the Falmouth defence on 66 minutes - and in some style - when Reski's high ball over the top was struck first-time on the volley by Stubbs. Town keeper Danny Burrows was a bystander as the ball rocketed into the back of the net.
The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Falmouth, and after Reski had put them two up from substitute Mike Body's through ball in the 77th minute there was no way back.
Former Truro City midfielder Watts drilled in the third from just outside the six yard box three minutes later, before Evans saw red late on to compound a miserable evening for Falmouth.
Falmouth: Burrows, Timmons, Whipp, Cooper, Pope, Richardson (Robertson 75), Wearne (Allen 85), Evans, Westgarth, Bell, Batchelor (Webb 80).
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