Match Report: Chelmsford 2 Torquay United 0

Torquay United’s crippling injuries finally told when their run of four successive NL South wins was ended in a shot-shy defeat against Chelmsford City at a windy Melbourne Stadium.

Nine senior players were unavailable to manager Gary Johnson, who gave a debut to new loan forward Osman Foyo from Ipswich Town.

But the Gulls seldom looked like keeping up the pressure on leaders Yeovil Town and deservedly lost to goals by City’s Luke Jenkins in the third minute and their own Ipswich loanee Finley Barbrook in the 84th.

Far from shortening, United’s injury list had lengthened with the addition of Will Jenkins Davies (thigh).

That, and the suspension of Brett McGavin, had forced Johnson back into the transfer market, and he even threw new signing Foyo straight into the starting line-up.

Dillon De Silva also earned promotion from the bench, and the presence of Academy forward Thomas Chastey among the subs underlined the pressures on the squad.

Playing into the strong breeze, United found themselves under pressure from the start – and they didn’t cope with it.

Their zonal defence tactics at corners failed them after only three minutes when Jenkins met a Samir Carruthers corner at the near post and headed home...0-1 down.

Another slow start by the Gulls was nearly punished further when City’s Barbrook cut in from their left, fed Charlie Ruff and it took a fine save by Mark Halstead to deny him.

Torquay looked uncertain under set-pieces, they could get little going in attack and, for quite a while, the priority was just to stay in the game.

Dean Moxey needed treatment on the half-hour but continued, just before Halstead had to come to the rescue again, low to his right to keep out another Ruff shot.

One bright spot was the pace which Foyo brought to the right of United’s attack, and he helped to ease his new colleagues back into some sort of contention.

He had a goalbound shot blocked from De Silva’s cross, followed by a Lewis Collins drive deflected wide.

McGavin was clearly being missed in a makeshift, inexperienced midfield where their passing at crucial moments was lacking accuracy and vision.

Ross Marshall did head a Collins free-kick narrowly wide in the 40th minute, but deep into first-half stoppage-time Halstead kept United in the match with another good save from Freddie Hockey’s run and shot.

At least Torquay had improved a bit before the interval, but even with the wind behind them after the restart they did not carry it on.

The service to the forwards wasn’t good enough, and bookings for Archer and Harris added to the frustrations.

Left-back Harris was in danger of further trouble, so Johnson replaced him with Dan Martin in the 65th minute.

Ryan Hanson did well to recover from a heavy looking head knock before De Silva missed a real chance in the 70th minute.

Halstead was beaten when Josh Castiglione fired inches wide – if that had gone in, it would surely have been all over then.

Referee Tom Ellsmore was busy with his yellow card, City keeper Henry Gray picking up the almost inevitable caution for time wasting.

United’s youngsters kept trying, but Gray ended up with little to worry him and Johnson had few attacking options on the bench.

The hosts always looked capable of a second goal, and they finally got it through Barbrook six minutes from normal time.

It had been an afternoon to forget for Torquay, and Johnson will be praying for some better news from the treatment room before Truro City come to Plainmoor on Boxing Day.

Chelmsford City (4-4-2): Gray; James, Winfield, Jenkins, Ruff (Ochieng 87); Watts, Carruthers (Alfa 75), Barbrook, Castiglione; Francis (Brookes 80), Hockey; subs not used – Jones, Barnum-Bobb.

Booked: Jenkins 17, Carruthers 36, Francis 62, Gray 77.

Torquay United (4-3-3): Halstead; Marshall, Tomlinson, Moxey, Harris (Martin 65); Archer, Hanson (Crowe 80), Collins; Foyo, Williams, De Silva; subs not used – Lovett, Thomas, Chastey.

Booked: Foyo 13, Harris 58, Archer 64.

Referee: Tom Ellsmore (Surrey).

Attendance: 791.