MAC’S BLUES CRUISING BUT GULLS TAKE HEART

CHESTER extended their unbeaten run to seven matches, but they were made to work hard for this latest victory by a spirited Torquay side, who can consider themselves slightly unfortunate not to at least have gleaned a share of the spoils.

The only goal of the game came after 26 minutes when Ryan Lloyd pounced after Brendan Moore had pushed away a poor penalty from Elliott Durrell.

Following the game, an upbeat Chester boss Jon McCarthy enthused: “We tried to focus the lads. What’s gone before like the six-game unbeaten run has gone. We now have to focus them on the game in hand with every match that comes around.

“The lads were physically tired today after what they have achieved, and to focus yet again is a big mental effort.

“To not concede a goal in seven games can be mentally taxing, but I am running out of superlatives for my players, they have been excellent, their work rate is unbelievable.

“Torquay have got some very good players, and we knew they would come here battling. We talk about how we are going to deal with the opposition prior to each game, and currently, thankfully, we are coping well, hence the seven-game unbeaten run.”

Torquay’s player-manager, Kevin Nicholson, wasn’t too despondent despite the defeat, telling The NLP: “They were very good at defending the lead, and it was just a couple of mistakes that let us down. It was very naive firstly to give away the penalty, and then not to follow the penalty in when it had been saved. This is a young group and I am sure they will learn from that. “We created chances and their keeper has pulled off some very good saves, there were long spells when we played the game in their half. “However, if you are 28 and have been around the football game for a while, there are mistakes you don’t commit, but we are so honest and so young that occasionally we do. “They are the form team in the league at the moment, and I thought we gave as good as we got.” Torquay had some early chances and Courtney Richards went close on two occasions. The home side took the lead midway through the first period, after referee Andrew Miller adjudged that Joe Ward had brought down Craig Mahon in the area. Durrell’s resulting spotkick was well saved by Brendan Moore, but Lloyd, following in, hit the rebound low into the untended net. In the second half Torquay came forward strongly and on two occasions Chester keeper Liam Roberts was forced to make top-drawer saves; the best coming after 75 minutes when he tipped a goalbound effort from Damon Lathrope onto the bar and away for a corner kick. In the dying embers of the match, Reid brought out an excellent save from Roberts with a rasping 18-yard drive.