Full-time: Chelmsford City 3-2 Torquay United
Chelmsford City pulled off a stunning late comeback to secure three points against Torquay United in an entertaining National League South encounter at the EMJ Community Stadium.
City trailed at half-time after Cody Cooke’s penalty and Matt Jay’s wonder strike gave the visitors a two-goal lead.
The Clarets’ fortunes changed in the second half; substitute Jordan Greenidge set a dramatic comeback into motion when he converted a 57th-minute penalty.
Robbie Simpson’s side left it late to equalise but did so in the 89th minute when Greenidge scored from close range to complete his brace. There was further drama in added time when Charlie Ruff scored for the first time since December, with the City vice-captain’s goal coming in a similar fashion to Greenidge’s strike moments earlier.
Ahead of kick-off, manager Simpson stuck with the same starting XI that beat Salisbury last weekend. Arthur Penney returned to the matchday squad and was named as one of the five Chelmsford City substitutes.
The Clarets thought they had taken the lead inside the opening five minutes when Ruff rounded Torquay goalkeeper James Hamon and found the back of the net. However, Ruff’s celebrations were short-lived and brought to an abrupt halt by the linesman’s flag, which signalled an offside offence.
The visitors grew into the game following this early scare and took the lead in the 21st minute. City goalkeeper Ted Collins was adjudged to have fouled Jordan Young after coming off his line and catching the Torquay attacker. Referee Chay Hathaway quickly pointed to the spot, and Cody Cooke then stepped up from 12 yards and converted a clinical penalty past Collins.
Torquay extended their lead further in the 36th minute. Matt Jay won possession off City defender Joe Rye in midfield and quickly unleashed an audacious long-range strike from just in front of the halfway line. The ball sailed over Collins’ head and into the net to put the visitors 2-0 ahead, leaving the Clarets with a mountain to climb.
Injury struck for City just before half-time as Jake Hyde had to be replaced by Greenidge in the 40th minute.
Like in November, when City went 2-0 down at Plainmoor before rescuing a 2-2 draw, the Clarets’ heads didn’t drop, and their efforts were first rewarded in the 57th minute when they were awarded a penalty of their own. Sam Oguntayo was brought down inside the area, and Greenidge stepped up to take the spot-kick. The substitute confidently sent Hamon the wrong way, slotting the ball down the middle to halve the deficit.
The Clarets pressed hard for an equaliser and came close in the 78th minute when Ruff’s header from a cross went just wide. Torquay responded with a chance of their own moments later, but Morgan’s shot fizzed past the post as the game opened up.
With time running out, Chelmsford City found their breakthrough in the 89th minute. The Gulls’ failure to clear Frankie Edwards’ long pass forward allowed Greenidge to pounce on the loose ball inside the box. He showed composure to fire home from close range and draw the Clarets level.
In the second of five minutes of added time, City completed their impressive turnaround. Archie Tamplin to delivered a dangerous corner into the box, which Edwards headed back across goal. In typical Charlie Ruff fashion, the City vice-captain was in the right place at the right time and poked the ball into the net from close range to seal a 3-2 win for his side.
City will be back in action on Tuesday when they visit Boreham Wood in search of a third consecutive National League South win.
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Barnum-Bobb (Edwards 46’), Rye, Barbrook, Oguntayo (Wilkinson 85’); Blackman (Penney 70’), Tamplin; Valentine, Ruff (C) (Bland 90+4), Crichlow; Hyde (Greenidge 40’).
Unused substitutes: none
Yellow cards: Edwards 90′
Torquay United XI: Hamon (GK); Craske, Hasani, Young (Morgan 56′ (Mussa, 88′)), Carson, Palmer, Cooke, Hayfield (Threlkeld 75′), Moxey (C), Thomas, Jay (Jenkins-Davies 64).
Unused substitutes: none
Yellow cards: Young 31′
Match officials: Chad Hathaway (Referee), Andrew Tregoning (Assistant Referee), Matthew Rowling (Assistant Referee), Simon Parbery (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 957
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