Wotton reeling after 'galling' loss to Chelmsford

Paul Wotton's side missed the chance to go second in National League South

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton says he found his side's late 3-2 loss at Chelmsford City "galling".

A Cody Cooke penalty midway through the first half and Matt Jay's first goal for the club nine minutes before the break put the Gulls in control.

Jordan Greenidge pulled a goal back after an hour from the penalty spot before getting an equaliser in the 89th minute.

Charlie Ruff got the winner in the second minute of stoppage time as Torquay dropped to seventh in National League South, three points off second place and seven off leaders Dorking Wanderers.

Had Wotton's side managed to win the game, they would be second with two games in hand on the leaders.

"First half, we had a game plan to come here to do a job and I thought we did that," Wotton told BBC Radio Devon.

"In the second half, it was an awful game of football.

"The galling thing is I said at half-time 'don't give the referee a chance to even up the penalty decision' and we did, which is just ridiculous from us.

"We just got deeper and deeper, we looked tired, the defence looked out on their feet when you're missing players.

"We had a couple of chances on the counter-attack but Chelmsford didn't have any chances and with six minutes to go you've just got to be men and defend, and it's just galling really."

The loss was a third in six games for Torquay, who have taken nine points from a possible 24 in their last eight matches.

"We've got to be better, we can't be 2-0 up away from home - that's twice we've been 2-0 up against Chelmsford and thrown it away," Wotton added.

"It's a long way home, it's bitterly disappointing and the fans have got a right to be angry at the end.

"It feels so disappointing, it's kind of like one step forward, two steps back.

"It's a tough one to take, we've got to take it on the chin.

"Games like this, when you're 2-0 up, you've just got to roll your sleeves up and grit it out and dog it out, and maybe we're not ready to do that at the minute.

"It's too many goals we've conceded at the end of games, so bitterly disappointing."