It was a hard fought point at Plainmoor, as Jake Hyde and Cameron James both scored to see the Clarets come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.
In what was an end-to-end game, the hosts started the better and found the back of the net twice in the opening 13 minutes. Cody Cooke opened the scoring, before Jordan Young added a second just 8 minutes later, on his Torquay debut.
But the Clarets stayed strong and got the comeback kicked off as Jake Hyde headed past James Hamon just as the game passed the 30 minute mark. It was hard fought for the rest of the game and Clarets’ captain Cameron James was the man to step up, equalising with less then 10 minutes to go to see Simpson’s men head home with a point.
Coming into the game, 1 change was made as Alfie Bendle came into the starting eleven, replacing Kalvin Kalala. Elsewhere, Arthur Penney returned from suspension and was named amongst the substitutes. However, the like of Kane Crichlow and Ruaridh Donaldson still remained injured and out of the squad.
The hosts started the quickest and found the back of the net after just 5 minutes. Jordan Young, on his Torquay debut, ran deep into the Clarets’ half and saw his effort blocked, before Cody Cooke followed up on the rebound to find the back of the net.
It was almost an instant response from the Clarets, as a searching cross from Sam Oguntayo went narrowly between Hyde and Foyo, but neither could get anything on it. And then, Torquay doubled their lead. A controversial goal at that, as Sam Oguntayo was shoved into the away dugout, requiring treatment, but the play continued. The hosts won a corner, and from that Jordan Young made no mistake, once again capitalising on a rebound.
However, the Clarets’ celebrations were almost cut short as Torquay had the ball in the back of the net. The ball had ricocheted to the edge of the box, where a driving effort found the back of the net. But, after a discussion with the linesman, referee Stacey Pearson acknowledged the multiple Torquay player impeding goalkeeper Woody Williamson, and ruled the goal out.
The Clarets trailed by just a single goal at the break and opted for no changes initially until Arthur Penney was introduced just before the hour mark. Unfortunately, within a minute of his entry, he was forced off as he suffered a dislocated shoulder injury. Best wishes to Arthur on his recovery!
It continued to be a tight affair, with the hosts having numerous chances to kill the game. However, keeper Woody Williamson kept the Clarets in it, producing a magnificent double save. Cody Cooke was first as his effort was saved down to the right by the Ipswich loanee, before seconds later he sprung across his goal to deny Jordan Young, with Cooke sending over afterwards.
And the heroic defending was rewarded. A great passage of play, which saw both Sam Gale and Cameron James operating on the right wing, caused chaos in the Torquay box. Cameron James was the man to find the back of the net, as the Clarets’ skipper fired in his first goal of the season to draw the game level.
With the scores level, there was time for nerves at both ends of the pitch. Cameron James almost doubled his tally, as an inch perfect corner was delivered straight to his head, with his header cannoning off a defender and being turned away on the goal line. But, with all 5 added minutes done, James produced a monumental block to clear from the box, greeted by great celebrations from the Clarets defence. And the full-time whistle brought an end to a highly competitive game, as the points were shared at Plainmoor.
Torquay United XI: Hamon (GK); Craske, Foulston, Dyer, Dreyer, Young, Mussa (Hasani 78’), Carson, Threlkeld (C), Cooke, Hayfield
Unused substitutes: Seymour, Ash, Tonks, Moxey
Yellow cards: Craske 40’, Dreyer 63’, Cooke 76’, Carson 90+1’
Goals: Cooke 5’, Young 13’
Chelmsford City XI: Williamson (GK); Williams, Appiah, James (C), Gale, Oguntayo; Tamplin (Penney 57’ (Kalala 60’)), Bendle; Ruff (Hockey 72’); Foyo (Eames 90+5), Hyde (Greenidge 87’).
Unused substitutes: Eames
Yellow cards: Tamplin 52’, James 65’
Goals: Hyde 30’, James 82’
Match Officials: Stacey Pearson (Referee), James Welsh (Assistant Referee), Neil LNE (Assistant Referee), Aiden Madden (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 3,466 (62 away)
Words by Josh Lowe
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