Charlton defender picks up first victory since joining Torquay United on loan

Lucas Ness picked up the first win of his Torquay United loan as the young Charlton defender played the full 90 minutes in their 6-1 thrashing of Aldershot on Tuesday night.

The 20-year-old signed a month-long deal with the National League side on October 29. His debut came at the weekend, a 4-0 reverse at Notts County.

But Ness again played the full match in midweek as the Gulls ran out emphatic victors. It was not enough to lift Gary Johnson’s side off the bottom of the table.

The former Met Police youngster has also previously had a loan spell with Hampton & Richmond.

“At the stage Lucas is at in his journey, he needs to be playing against men and he needs to be playing senior football,” said Charlton first-team coach Anthony Hayes. “To a certain extent he has outgrown the U21s, he is a third-year pro, and I’m sure he’ll benefit greatly from the loan.

“Although they are struggling at the bottom end of the National League we don’t really look at that. He’ll get plenty of opportunities to defend and he’ll come back to us a better player for the experience.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD