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Things got a lot tougher for Torquay United as they battle to stay in the National League this season. The Gulls were beaten 2-1 by crisis club Southend United at Plainmoor; they are four points below the safety zone with 14 games to go, and with two straight losses, the confidence that came from the win against Barnet last weekend will have taken a hit.

Southend could face a winding-up order next week but their players, who have not been paid recently, showed more quality and at times passion than Torquay’s to win a game that could be their last for the club.

The visitors took a 1–0 lead in the 27th minute and had chances for more goals, but Torquay substitute Lewis Collins scored with five minutes remaining to make it 1–1. However, with Torquay attacking for the winner, they fell open behind and a counter-attacking goal got the traveling supporters excited. To be fair, if the club closes on Wednesday, it could be the last goal fans will see their team score.

Read More – Torquay United ready for visit from club in crisis Southend United

Jacob Mensah was named in the starting 11 for the first time with Johnson making just one change from the squad that started at Dorking Wanderers. The missing man was midfielder Kieron Evans, who was sent off there, so Johnson switched back to 5-3-2 for this one. On the bench was forward Lewis Collins, who has missed the last two games due to concussion protocols.

It took Dillon De Silva 17 seconds to earn a corner and from a short kick the winger crossed the ball into the box, with a couple of Torquay headers coming close to the ball, but not close enough to make contact. In the sixth minute, Mensah had a great chance from De Silva’s cross, but his header was poor and straight for Southend keeper Blondy Nna Noukeu.

It was a very lively first 15 minutes, but most of the game was spent between the boxes. However, from a free kick down the right on 18 minutes, Southend captain Cavaghn Miley shot over the bar. Mark Halstead easily held off a shot from Noor Husin, and missed a Jake Hyde flick.

Callum Powell made it 1-0 for the visitors on 27 minutes after De Silva struggled to clear the ball from the danger area, and the Southend player ran towards him and past Halstead well. Tom Lapslie shot wide on the half hour mark, and Shaun Donnellan shot wide when it might have been better to find someone else with a pass. Halstead had to duck to deliver a decent shot from Husin in the 36th minute.

Jarvis was held on the right side of the Southend box on 37 minutes, but Dean Moxey could only hit the wall with his cross from the free kick. And Torquay had to defend most of what was left of the first half. Mensah was substituted at half time, he had not done well at right back so Donnellan moved to right back and Lewis Collins came into midfield.

A Ross Marshall header deflected from a corner on 50 minutes should have at least hit the mark, but Torquay looked better now. Collins won a free kick just inside the Torquay half on 56 minutes, but was defended well by Southend when Donnellan pumped the ball into the box. Collins shot just wide from distance in the 58th minute.

As the game progressed Torquay tried to get the ball into dangerous areas but it just wasn’t happening. Brett McGavin, who had a particularly uninspiring game, fiddled around on the edge of the box before passing the ball to De Silva, who hit it straight at the keeper. De Silva also shot over the top soon after, and was replaced by Ben Wyatt soon after.

Moxey was fouled on the left in the 74th minute, as time was running out and the visitors wasted more. The free kick into the area was cleared but the ball ended up in Moxey’s hands and his volleyed cross seemed dangerous, out of everyone’s reach. Aaron Jarvis was fouled 20 yards to the left of the box and from a free kick the keeper deflected a cross to Collins on the edge of the box, whose shot went low and straight at Nna Noukeu.

Ryan Hanson came on for Marshall on 82 minutes. And on 85 minutes, Southend couldn’t deal with Moxey’s long drive, and Collins did well with his chance from the edge of the box, finishing well to make it 1-1.

In the 88th minute, Lapslie was brought down 30 yards and McGavin’s cross into the box was just in front of Jarvis at the far post. McGavin then won a free throw, 22 yards and center. Jarvis bunted the ball to McGavin, whose shot was blocked by the wall. Jarvis had a second try and again the ball hit the wall again. Southend broke through and Miley ran towards goal, slotting the ball past Halstead and into the far corner.

Torquay attacked throughout the five minutes of added time, but not well enough, and Jarvis’s header from a free kick into the box flew past. And that was the last chance for a hugely disappointing loss. There is a lot of work to be done, with Bromley at Plainmoor on Tuesday night.

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