Torquay United caretaker manager Robbie Herrera found some positives as the Gulls continue their search for their first win of the season.
United went in front during the first half thanks to a brilliant curling effort from young George Dowling, who was making his debut after joining on loan from Bristol City earlier in the week.
Experienced forward Ross Hannah came off the bench for Chester and scored an equaliser in the dying moments of the game.
“Mixture of emotions really. I thought it was a decent performance from the lads,” said Herrera. “They gave it a really good go, lots of positives to take from the game attacking wise and chances created, my only critic is we didn’t finish them off.”
Goal scorer Dowling was not the only debutant on the pitch during Saturday’s draw. Vincent Doral and Chinua Cole both made their first starts for the Gulls after joining in the week. Herrera was delighted with the impact all three made.
“Really pleased with the three. They gave everyone a lift. Chinua [Cole] and George Dowling both came in on Thursday. Vincent only came in yesterday, not even met the lads and he was in for today. I think we could have scored a few ourselves, especially the second half we had the better of the game, better of the chances so to get hit at the end is a bit of a sucker blow for the boys because I thought they deserved a lot more.
“We’ve got a young lad coming through, Neal Osborn, but he’s still a work in progress. He’s not quite ready for first-team duty yet. We’ve got Ryan Clarke coming back in the next few weeks but to have someone like Vincent around will push everybody. He’s a great addition to the squad and it will be good for competition for places.”
James Gray thought he had doubled United’s lead, only for the linesman to rule out his spectacular effort on goal for a high foot from Myles Anderson earlier in the build up.
“The fourth official has told me it was dangerous play, but I’d have to look back at it again. I remember Myles going up for the ball with the lad, it came out, we scored what I thought was a fantastic strike from James Gray, next thing I know the linesman is waving once there was a bit of remonstration from their players.
“It’s one of those things. It’s a little bit gut wrenching really. To me, it looked like a perfectly good goal. The two lads went for the ball, it came out and a fantastic strike.”
Story by Ryan Darby