Chelmsford 3
(Greenidge pen 59′, 89′, Ruff 90+2′)
United 2
(Cooke 21′, Jay 36′)
There was late heartbreak for United on Saturday, as Chelmsford came back from 2-0 down to emerge as victors at the Melbourne Stadium.
Cody Cooke’s penalty broke the deadlock, before a world-class strike from Matt Jay doubled Torquay’s advantage ahead of the break. However, a second-half turnaround saw a brace from Jordan Greenidge level things up, before an injury-time winner from Charlie Ruff saw Chelmsford snatch all three points.
Paul Wotton was forced into one change to the side that ran out winners over Hornchurch last weekend, with Sam Dreyer replaced by Dean Moxey in the starting eleven.
A scrappy opening produced little in the way of clear-cut openings, however as the first period edged towards its own halfway point, the men in yellow started to exert a measure of authority onto proceedings.
On 21 minutes, they had a goal to back up that superiority.
With Cooke’s flick-on alerting Jay and Jordan Young, a clumsy challenge on the latter inside the box left the referee with a straightforward decision, and a penalty was duly awarded.
Cooke, so reliable this term, once again delivered when it mattered by slotting home the spot-kick to put United a goal up.
The lead was doubled in spectacular style nine minutes before the break.
Jay, in his sixth appearance for The Gulls, opened his account for the Club with a strike few saw coming. Having picked up possession around the halfway line, Jay was still level with the centre circle when he spotted home glovesman Ted Collins off his line.
With his vision majestically complimented by his supreme touch, United’s No.27 lofted a remarkable 45-yard lob over the stranded Collins and into the net to draw applause from Gulls and Clarets supporters alike, and put his side two goals to the good in the process.
Rather than settle for that advantage, Wotton’s men continued to go in search for a third, although they had to settle for a two-goal margin at the change of ends.
Following the restart, both sides had the chance to alter the scoreline, but it was the home side that did so just short of the hour mark.
This time it was a foul challenge inside the box that benefitted The Clarets, and with the referee pointing to the spot once more, Greenidge confidently beat James Hamon from twelve yards to drag his side back into the game.
With the result now well and truly up for grabs, the match opened up in the final half-hour, with opportunities arising at both ends of the pitch.
Torquay looked to be soaking up the pressure well, until a late sting in the tail brought despair for United.
With a minute to go, the ball was worked into the path Greenidge, with the towering striker gleefully slamming the ball home to make it all-square.
Having played – and defended – so well for so long, a point seemed scant consolation for Wotton’s side and the club’s wonderful travelling support, however, second later, even that was taken from them.
Two successive corners had Torquay visibly rocking, and from the second one, home skipper Ruff sparked scenes of jubilation amongst the home support, as he steered the ball home to turn the game on its head.
United had little time to respond, but also have a swift opportunity to put things right on Tuesday, as they head to Somerset to take on Weston-super-Mare.
CHELSMFORD: 1. Ted Collins, 4. Archie Tamplin, 5. Joe Rye, 6. Harry Barbrook, 7. Ryan Blackman (15. Arthur Penney, 71′), 9. Jake Hyde (31. Jordan Greenidge 40′), 10. Kane Crichlow, 16. Charlie Ruff (c) (25. Jacob Bland, 90+3′), 17. Sam Oguntayo (18. Finley Wilkinson, 85′), 20. Jazzi Barnum-Bobb (26. Frankie Edwards, HT), 27. Nico Valentine.
Yellow Card: Edwards 90′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske, 7. Lirak Hasani, 8. Jordan Young (29. Dylan Morgan, 56′, 10. Omar Mussa, 88′), 14. Matt Carson, 16. Ed Palmer, 19. Cody Cooke, 20. Dan Hayfield (18. Oscar Threlkeld, 75′), 21. Dean Moxey (c), 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay (22. Will Jenkins Davies, 64′).
Attendance: 957