One step forward, two steps back for Torquay United

Torquay United suffered a heartbreaking late loss at Chelmsford to crank up the pressure in an increasingly tight race for promotion from the National League South.

The Gulls led 2-0 at the break, thanks to a Cody Cooke penalty and Matt Jay’s superb lob, but manager Paul Wotton warned against giving the referee an opportunity to award a counter penalty for the hosts.

It was a warning that went unheeded, as Chelmsford pulled one back from the spot and then scored twice in the closing minutes to pinch a victory that leaves United seventh ahead of the Tuesday trip to Weston-super-Mare.

“In the first half, we had a game plan to come here and do a job, and we did that,” said Wotton. “In the second half, it was an awful game of football.

“The galling thing is that I said at half-time, ‘don’t give the referee a chance to even up the penalty decision’, and we did, which is just ridiculous from us.

“We got deeper and deeper, we looked tired, the defence looked out on their feet and we’re missing players. With six minutes to go, you’ve got to be men and defend, so it’s galling.

“The second one has bounced around the box and for the third one, people will say it’s sour grapes, but the corner comes in, their lad heads it out for a goal-kick and the referee gives another corner.

“We then lose our man, it’s a blatant foul, but it’s very difficult for people to think it’s not sour grapes and I don’t want to come across like that.

“We can’t be 2-0 up away from home [and lose], it’s bitterly disappointing and the fans have a right to be angry at the end. It feels like one step forward, two steps back. We’ve got to take it on the chin.

“It was never going to be a great game of football, the pitch is difficult, the arena’s difficult with no atmosphere and a long way from home. Games like this, you’ve just got to grit it out and dog it out, but maybe we’re not ready to do that yet because we’ve conceded too many late goals.

“Ultimately, when you’re 2-0 up, you’ve got to see the game out.”

After Weston, United host promotion rivals Boreham Wood on Saturday, followed by successive away games at Tonbridge and Chippenham.

Improving their form on the road will be key for the Gulls in the closing weeks of the campaign and Wotton badly needs some good news from the treatment room, with Sam Dreyer missing the Chelmsford game through illness and Dylan Morgan limping off with a muscle problem.

“The Dreyer one did us a bit in the morning,” added Wotton. “He was vomiting in the night and couldn’t play, which is why we had four on the bench. It’s too early to assess what Dylan has done but we’ve got to come back fighting.

“The league is crazy tight; we’ve got 13 games to go and we have to go into every game believing we can win.”