TT BLOG
Alan Wills – @alanjwills
Alan reports back from Chelmsford
Chelmsford City 0-2 TORQUAY UNITED – 29.11.2025
SUMMARY
After 19 matches last season, our yellow-clad heroes had 34 points. So the 36 points they had amassed before this game, after four straight league wins, represented a slight improvement. Hopes were therefore high, especially with all of the goals our quartet of marauding forwards have scored recently, including a 7-0 demolition of Eastbourne, the biggest league win since 1957.
However, with long term injuries to Cody Cooke and Munashe Sundire, plus Ed Palmer struggling with something short term, the squad was looking rather threadbare. Callum Dolan also had two more games of his suspension to go, with Matt Worthington recovering from recent surgery, at least according to his recent post on X.
This was to be our first look at 18 year old loanee forward from Exeter City Kieran Wilson, joining our other recent loanee 20 year old Bolton Wanderers midfielder Sonny Sharples-Ahmed.
Despite flashing the cash in the Summer, Chelmsford had experienced a mixed start to the season, and were sitting in 10th place on 27 points, nine points behind Torquay in 3rd. They had fared better at The Dunmow Group Community stadium where they had won their last three home games, compared to them losing their last three away games. Former Gull Tom Lapslie was coming back from injury, so was on the bench for Chelmsford.
Our previous trip to the land of white veneers, fake tan, and manscaping had promised much, especially after Torquay were 2-0 up at half time with a goal from the halfway line from Matt Jay.
However, an injury to Dylan Morgan which ended his season, and might have made all the difference to our promotion hopes, and late goals from Chelmsford put a huge damper on the away day, as the home side won 3-2.
From my point of view though, the highlights of that particular afternoon (apart from Matt Jay’s worldie) were three of the four musketeers riding to the ground on e-scooters, and us getting a “party bus” complete with flashing lights and a smoke machine back into town after the game playing Robert Miles’ Children at full volume!
The sizeable Yellow Army were clearly hoping for a better experience this time, despite the damp weather, and enforced segregation along one side of the eight lane running track.
Paul Wotton managed to name an unchanged team again, with doubtfuls Dylan Morgan and Dan Hayfield recovering in time. Kieron Wilson was added to the players on the bench, but we still only managed to fill six out of the seven substitute spots.
The first period was a tight affair with few clear cut chances created from either side. Early on, Louis Dennis had burst into the left side of the penalty area, but his shot nestled into the side setting as he was forced wide by a Chelmsford defender. Jordan Thomas then managed to force a corner following a marauding run down the right wing, but Young’s cross from the flag into the box just eluded Foulston’s head.
Chelmsford then upped the ante with a header straight into the arms of James Hamon, a corner which Hamon also claimed, and a free kick on the edge of area which Lyle Taylor skied over the bar. This was followed by a few more corners, easy saves for Hamon, and shots well over the bar onto the running track behind the stand.
The half continued in a similar vein, with both sides attacking down the wings. Morgan went on a tricky run down the left, and won a corner, which was easy for the Chelmsford keeper Haigh to gather. Jordan Thomas’ long range shot went just over the bar, after good play around edge of the penalty area.
The closest Chelmsford came to a goal was when Jordan Dyer blocked a shot from Lyle Taylor on the line, but an offside decision had already been called by the referee.
In the last few minutes of the half both sides went closer to a goal. Jordan Thomas slipped a through ball to Jordan Young, which Haigh saved, then the busy Sonny Blu Lo-Everton shot over from range. A minute later, Young crossed into the penalty area but Dylan Morgan just missed the header in front of goal. Chelmsford made two dangerous crosses into the box, but both Barbrook and Uchegbulam hit their efforts well wide of the goal.
All in all, a solid first 45 minutes.
The second period started slowly. The only event of note being Chelmsford getting a corner off Sam Dreyer, and Hamon punching it clear. It started to turn in United’s favour on 56 minutes when the tiring Morgan went off to make way for debutant loanee Kieron Wilson, whom took his place on the left wing in a direct positional swap. However, he’s a very tall lad that you can see doing a job as a centre forward at some point.
Our free scoring heroes in yellow immediately sparked into action, with Lo-Everton stinging the fingers of Haigh, before the breakthrough arrived. Substitute Kieron Wilson cut in from the left hand side, and hit a perfect shot into the top right hand corner of the goal from the edge of the penalty area.
The segregated Yellow Army on that side were situated right behind it and what a humdinger it was, five minutes into his debut for The Gulls!
It was a stunning strike, but not to be outdone, two minutes later having been felled himself on the edge of the penalty area, top scorer Jordan Young hit the free kick into the top left corner of the goal, cueing wild celebrations among the hardy fanbase whom had made the trip.
On 78 minutes, former Appreciation Society (TLAS) favourite, Tom Lapslie entered the fray, these days sporting a bushy beard, but still clearly recognisable with his shirt tucked into his shorts, and black boots.
It didn’t take him long to make his mark on the game, scything down Jay Foulston and immediately receiving a yellow card for his recklessness. Jay seemed ok though, and Tom was sure to check that. As the game moved into the final few minutes, Dennis was fouled and then replaced by Sonny Fish. Young was felled again, and upon jumping up was walking with a slight limp. Hopefully he’s ok.
There were six minutes of injury time, but United seemed quite comfortable. The best chance for Chelmsford being when Adigun crossed from the right hand side, and the ball went across the face of goal with no-one getting a touch.
There was a good tackle by Jordan Thomas. Sharples-Ahmed came on for Young. Sonny Fish did his best to run down the clock by shielding the ball in the corner.
The final whistle went, and the players, clearly delighted, went over to the Yellow Army on the pitch side of the running track and there were several fist pumps from Paul Wotton.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. HAMON – 7.5: Caught everything that he needed to, but in truth he had no really difficult saves to make, and another cleano!
3. FOULSTON – 7.5: Defended well, and tried to get forward. Got clattered late on by Lapslie for his efforts.
4. DYER – 7.5: Recovered from a nervy start to put in a solid performance alongside Dreyer in central defence. Great clearance off the line.
5. DREYER – 8: Helped restrict Chelmsford to relatively few chances. It was another great shift by big Sam, whose brother looks uncannily like him.
26. THOMAS – 7.5: Continued his great form since returning to the side with some good runs down the right, and important tackles.
20. HAYFIELD – 7.5: Determined to hang onto his midfield spot. Dan and Sonny Blu pushing forward has been a feature of this current winning run.
24. LO-EVERTON – 9: Man of the Match.
11. MORGAN – 7: Tried to get forward down the left, but was visibly tired so made way for Kieron Wilson early in the second half.
8. YOUNG – 8.5: Always dangerous going forward, topped off by a trademark free kick into the top corner. His fourth goal this week!
27. JAY – 7.5: A pivotal member of the forward line, but perhaps needs a goal to be rewarded for his efforts.
7. DENNIS – 7: Wasn’t able to add to the five goals he had scored this week, but a vital part of our forward line.
Subs
23. WILSON – 8: Very lively when he came on early in the second half, and a brilliant goal on his debut.
17. FISH – 7: Came on late, and helped to see out the game, including shielding the ball to prevent Chelmsford breaking away
22. SHARPLES-AHMED – N/A: Came on in injury time, but I don’t think he got a touch of the ball.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Sonny Blu Lo-Everton
Sonny’s form since returning back to fitness has been a feature of the uptick in form from United in recent weeks. His forward runs from midfield and shots from range have been attributes that the team had been lacking previously, and he has made a big difference to our attacking play. Another dynamic performance from the man with four names.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Jordan Young: Continues to excel going forward, and keeps scoring goals.
Sam Dreyer: Solid in defence again today.
TACTICS
Paul Wotton continued with the 4-2-3-1 formation which he has used throughout this current winning run. It was an unchanged side from Tuesday, with the usual back four of Thomas, Dreyer, Dyer, and Foulston, and goalkeeper Hamon. Hayfield and Lo-Everton in midfield, with Morgan, Jay and Young behind Dennis up front. The tactics of trying to impose our attacking style on the opposition, even though we were the away team, seemed to work yet again.
THE OPPOSITION
Chelmsford had some good players going forward, particularly on the wings. Lyle Taylor seemed to be the most likely to score, but we restricted them to half chances really.
THE OFFICIALS
Didn’t really notice them, which is always a good sign. They seemed to get their decisions correct, and there was nothing controversial.
KEY MOMENT
The introduction of debutant Kieron Wilson and his subsequent wonder goal changed the complexion of the game, and from then on there was only going to be one winner.
CONCLUSION
Another great away win after struggling to win away for the first few months of the season, and our first ever win at Chelmsford! Five wins in a row, including three away wins, and Torquay United have risen to the top of the National League South for the first time this season on goal difference.
Let’s hope the league looks like that on the last day this season!
COYY – Alan
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