NLS: Torquay United V Chelmsford City 3pm 2/11/24

link - it’s a different atmosphere here - Wotton (extract from press call)

link - lineup out and Young starts

Very entertaining game against a good Chelmsford side, one where we perhaps should have won. The game started with all eyes on new signing Young and he didn’t fail to disappoint. Latching onto a loose ball in his own half he outpaced defender on the right and with possibly Cooke or Mussa taking a defender away down the channel it allowed him the space to cut inside, working his way into the area and while his shot was partially blocked it came out to Cooke in the centre for him to slot home for an early lead. Not long after we had a corner which was not dealt with by Chelmsford coming out to Young again for him to shoot into the corner of the goal to the rapture of Plainmoor.

Unfortunately, after such a good start, we perhaps sat back for a bit and Chelmsford dominated the next 10 to 15 minutes starting to work some opportunities and you knew the goal was coming after a number of scares and eventually, it was knocked in from a cross. I thought our defending at times was poor over elaborating and losing possession when we could have just put a boot through it. The pivotal moments of the match came before half time when we managed to win another corner and again Chelmsford didn’t deal with it and it came back to in to Dreyer who finished well from 10 yards out. The ref gave the goal, but the Chelmsford players appealed to the Lino and after discussing with the ref the goal was disallowed. It was never flagged. I have seen a video and one of our player from the initial cross was bundled over into the mouth of the goal and was only just standing up when Dreyer slotted the ball home between him and the keeper who was probably unsighted, but not by him. Overall think this was exceedingly harsh.

We tried to control the ball a bit more in the second half and despite good free kick just over from Young really had some good chances 20 minutes from the end when first Cooke got the ball away in the area which was saved by the keeper amd eventually came out to Young whose shot was fired over when perhaps should have scored. Mussa then shortly after had a great chance in the area but his shot was fired high and wide. However, with about 10 minutes to go, but the disallowed goal decision and missed chances came back to haunt us as Chelmsford managed to work the ball into the area and although the shot was saved by Hamon, it was not held and from the loose ball was eventually knocked home.

Hassani came on for Mussa who pulled a muscle in his leg and hopefully it isn't too bad. Thought Hasani did well in his brief stint and on another day we would have got the winner right at the death when I think Carson crossed from the left to be cleverly deflected by Hayfield but at point blank range just deflected again by the keeper and narrowly went over the bar from a yard out.

While disappointing, we didn’t get all three points today, the big positive is Young who gives us something different mainly, pace to burn and a sweet left foot and think if he stays fit will cause havoc for us in this division.

By my calculations, that's Cooke's fifth booking of the season so he will presumably miss the next league game at Salisbury or, if not that quickly, then Tonbridge at home next Saturday.

Disagree with your triple negative Rob.

If his intention was to disappoint, then he DID fail and he failed badly.

If his intention was to impress, then he didn’t fail to impress.

Should have stopped at double