Horror home defeat for Torquay United against Chelmsford City

Torquay United suffered a brutal 5-0 defeat at home to Chelmsford City on a bleak day at Plainmoor.

Nursing a long injury list, the Gulls fell behind early to a sweet strike from Charlee Adams and were in big trouble when Jett Murphy added a second before the break.

A sorry afternoon got far worse in the second half, as Lyle Taylor, Harry Barbrook and Ben Tompkins piled on the misery.

United were painfully sluggish in the opening stages and Chelmsford seized on their opportunity, breaking the deadlock with a sumptuous strike, Adams lashing into the top corner after a half-cleared set-piece.

The goal rocked already shaky looking confidence in the Yellow ranks and United were just unable to find any real tempo in their play. Dylan Morgan did inject some impetus with a jink inside and powerful strike saved at the near post by Noah Phillips, on loan from Leyton Orient.

The Gulls continued with their disjointed performance and the makeshift back four was exposed again by a slick move creating room for Barbrook, who should have done better than a skewed effort into the Wollens Stand.

It was a stay of execution for United, as Chelmsford deservedly doubled their lead with a swift break down the right and when the ball was squared to Murphy, he had the freedom of Plainmoor to slot past a stranded James Hamon.

United boss Paul Wotton made three changes at the interval, introducing Matt Jay, Kieran Wilson and new loan signing Will Tizzard, and there was a brief improvement in tempo, but the Clarets were comfortable in defending their penalty area.

The result was sealed on the hour when Lyle Taylor out-muscled Nashe Sundire, who had an extremely difficult game for the Gulls, and sauntered through before popping a delightful lobbed finish over the advancing Hamon.

The final two goals were worrying in the sense that it was all too easy for the visitors. Barbrook notched after United allowed a loose ball to bobble around their penalty area and it was a similar story for Ben Tompkins notching the fifth deep into stoppage time.