Torquay United punished for lack of sharpness

Manager Gary Johnson admitted that some of his players could have done more to prevent Torquay United squandering a 2-1 lead in the closing stages of a damaging 3-2 defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town.

“I felt we had a few that didn’t play their best game – I was disappointed with some of the lads, and I’ve said that we were disappointed,” said Johnson.

“We’ve had a long chat about what we need to do if we’re going to win this league – in some games we look very sharp and in other games we look not so sharp.

“We didn’t start well, and they got their goal.

“We got back to 2-1 up, and then we had to defend a set-play in the last 15 minutes, just after we’d scored what should have been the winner.

“It was disappointing that we didn’t defend the corner well and then we got done on a transition.

“I know the fans don’t like losing, but I can only say we’re still there or thereabouts.”

United started the day in third place, going for their seventh win in eight league and cup games. A win would have taken them to the top of the table.

But even though leaders Bath City and Worthing both dropped points, the Gulls ended it sixth - overtaken by Westcountry rivals Yeovil Town and Taunton Town to boot.

Second-half goals by Will Jenkins Davies and Ross Marshall seemed to have set up another victory. Instead, Marshall’s 84th minute header sparked a crazy spell of three goals in four minutes which saw Hemel pull off an unlikely win.

Torquay resume against Hungerford Town in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round at Plainmoor next Saturday.