New Torquay United era opens with a soggy draw at Buckland

The long-awaited first game under manager Paul Wotton and the new Bryn Consortium at Torquay United produced a very wet 0-0 draw at Western League outfit Buckland Athletic.

Adorned in their snazzy pink away kit, which looks even better in the flesh, the Gulls played two different teams under the lights of Homers Heath and looked understandably rusty at times, but Wotton was happy that primary objectives were achieved.

“It was a good workout and relatively injury-free,” said Wotton. “Jordan Dyer got a cut on his head and a couple more niggles, and being injury-free was the most important thing.

“The weather helped the ball to move a bit quicker but, as we know, there are a ton of things we’ve got to work on. We got minutes into the legs and everyone had a run-out.

“Austen [Booth] had to play 90 minutes because of the cut to Jordan but no dramas, and we look forward to getting back to work.

“There were some good bits of play and also some not so good bits of play. We surrendered possession an awful lot around the edge of their box and our final ball was not as good as it could have been, but that can be rectified on the training ground.

“We had two very mixed teams and a good night. The pitch was excellent and we thank Buckland for having us. It’s such a cliché and a boring response but pre-season is not about results, it’s all about being ready to go on August 10.”

The Gulls confirmed defender Ollie Tomlinson has agreed a new deal before kick-off and he was one of just five from the squad last season, with Dean Moxey, Austen Booth, Finley Craske and Brad Ash also starting the game.

United’s best two chances arrived in the opening ten minutes, Lirak Hasani clipping the post with a cheeky overhead and Booth heading against the bar after a delicious set-piece delivery from Matt Carson.

Brad Ash steered a shot narrowly wide as the Gulls probed around a compact Buckland defence. The hosts, who did a brilliant job accommodating more than 1,500 supporters on a soggy summer’s night, had their best chance when Sammy Stayt fired inches over.

There was a half-time surprise between the sticks for United, with Matt Wonnacott donning the gloves two years after leaving Plainmoor for Wigan Athletic and he had little work to do, as United controlled possession and territory without creating another serious chance.

Wonnacott did intervene to thwart Ryan Bush in the closing stages and Ben Carter lashed a free-kick inches over for Buckland but the game ended without scoring, and two Yellow Armies trudged home happy to have live football back on the menu.

United 1st Half: James Hamon, Dean Moxey, Austen Booth, Ollie Tomlinson, Lirak Hasani, Matt Carson, Finley Craske, Oscar Threlkeld, Ben Seymour, Brad Ash, Dan Hayfield.

United 2nd Half: Trialist A, Roddy Collins, Trialist B, Trialist C, Jay Foulston, Jordan Dyer, Sam Dreyer, Ed Palmer, Lirak Hasani, Jacob Wellington, Austen Booth.