Strong first half provides encouragement for Torquay United

Torquay United manager Gary Johnson focussed on a positive first-half display after his team went down to a 6-2 defeat at Bristol City in the Gulls’ second pre-season friendly of the summer campaign.

United were excellent in their dominant 5-0 victory over Reading U21s in a friendly last week and they repeated that encouraging display in the opening 45 minutes in Bristol, holding their Championship hosts to a 2-2 draw at the interval.

City turned on the style against a much-changed United side in the second period but still a pleasing run-out for the Gulls.

Johnson said: “It was a great game for us because the first-half team, which is our strongest team at the moment, were fantastic with their fitness and sharpness in their play.

“Bristol City had the second half because they have a strong Championship squad and we had three or four who just came in on the day. You have to play trialists and look at people.

“We can take great heart from the first half because we’ve seen our team perform against a Championship team.”

United struck the opener inside three minutes, when a low cross from Lewis Collins was prodded over the line by Brad Ash. City replied just five minutes later, Jason Knight converting from close range.

The Gulls continued to compete confidently against a team playing four tiers higher in the pyramid and were rewarded with a second goal on 19 minutes, when Tom Lapslie pounced on some slack defending and slipped the ball to Aaron Jarvis for an easy finish.

City drew level with a slightly dubious goal on the stroke of half-time and added four more after the break.  

UNITED Starting XI: Mark Halstead, Shaun Donnellan, Ollie Tomlinson, Trialist A, Jack Stobbs, Tom Laplsie, Brett McGavin, Asa Hall, Aaron Jarvis, Brad Ash, Lewis Collins.

SUBS USED: Rhys Lovett, Callum Thomas, Dylan Crowe, Dan Martin, Trialist B, Trialist C, Trialist D.

After the visit of Plymouth Argyle to Plainmoor on Tuesday evening, United welcome Exeter City on Saturday, as preparations intensify ahead of the start of the National League South season at Dover Athletic on August 5.