An assessment of Torquay United’s pre-season ahead of National League start

Pre-seasons can be notoriously deceptive, but Torquay United’s preparation this summer could hardly have worked out better (writes Dave Thomas).

A cobweb-clearing stroll at Buckland Athletic has been followed by a morale-boosting win over Newport County, a sober-up chasing from Plymouth Argyle and Friday night’s entertaining and surprisingly competitive ‘mix and match’ 1-1 draw with Exeter City.

What Paul Wotton’s Gulls need now, in their final warm-up game, is a thorough down-to-earth test, as close as possible to the level they’ll face when the serious stuff starts against Enfield Town at Plainmoor in ten days’ time.

And that’s exactly what they’ll get at Weymouth this Saturday (3pm).

The Terras, still stinging from their relegation from the National League South last season, want to bounce back immediately and are throwing some fresh resources at doing it. They’ll be in no mood for an after-you afternoon in front of their own fans.

Wotton had declared himself content with his squad, but that was before trialist Denzel Akyeampong won a load of new admirers for his display against Exeter.

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At the time of writing, there was no news of any offer for the 21-year-old right-back, who arrived at Plainmoor via Crystal Palace, Tooting Bec and Charlotte Independence in the USA’s League One.

These decisions are seldom as easy as they might appear from the outside, from both a football and a finance point of view, but Akyeampong could hardly have done much more to tilt the issue in his favour.

If there has been one frustration of pre-season, it’s been the injury to new striker Sonny Fish. Fish ‘nicked’ a cartilage in his left knee, had an operation nine days ago and is expected to be out for up to ten weeks.

At least two or three of those weeks will have fallen before the season proper starts, and he should be a welcome addition to the squad at a point when the early rounds of the FA Cup and Trophy muscle in on the league programme.

Thankfully, United don’t appear to have suffered too much other collateral damage from pre-season.

It was good to see new midfielder Munashe Sundire make his delayed first appearance against Exeter after a niggling calf strain problem.

Whatever else happens, Wotton will be a relieved man if there is a clean bill of health after this Saturday’s trip to Dorset. Things are looking good so far.

It’s also worth noting that United’s three home friendlies, helped admittedly by the respective visitors, have pulled in gates totalling nearly 11,200 fans. How many other clubs outside the EFL could have enjoyed support on that scale?

And what a great, timely boost for the Gulls’ board and management.