Torquay United providing a good watch in the pre-season campaign

Torquay United have too many sensible characters in their squad, to say nothing of the management, to start thinking that they’ve ‘cracked it’ after Saturday’s 3-1 friendly win over Newport County.

Yes, Paul Wotton’s Gulls earned a standing ovation from most of the 2,800 crowd after a first-half in which they led 3-0 and played so well that you’d have thought United were in League Two and Newport in the National League South (writes Dave Thomas).

But Wotton was quick to acknowledge that what his squad, strengthened by a raft of bright new signings, needs now is a harder test where they’ll have to do more chasing and less playing.

That’s exactly what they’ll get tonight (Wed) against Wotton’s old club Plymouth Argyle (7.30pm). The fixture should tick all the boxes for United.

Relations between the two clubs, and their supporters, are at an all-time high after the way Argyle gave the Gulls a big helping-hand last summer.

With new manager Wayne Rooney on board then, they helped to pack Plainmoor and allowed Torquay to keep all gate receipts as they emerged from administration.

Twelve months on, the relegated Pilgrims have yet another new ‘head coach’ in Tom Cleverley, with former Gulls midfielder Damon Lathrope as his assistant.

Again, Argyle fans will want to greet their new boss and set the Plainmoor tills ringing once more.

On the pitch too, this game comes at just the right time for Wotton.

“We won’t have nearly as much of the ball as we did today, and I’m pleased about that,” he said after the Newport friendly.

“It will help us to work on another side of our game.”

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Pre-seasons can be so deceptive.

We’ve all seen friendlies down the years when United looked like world-beaters in July and then struggled when the serious stuff started – and vice versa.

I remember some fans grumbling about manager Leroy Rosenior after an underwhelming friendly display in the summer of 2003.

How wrong they were!

Of course, there was much to like about the football United played against Newport, with new men Matt Worthington, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Louis Dennis slotting into a side that went so close last season.

And, just as in the 3-0 win at Buckland Athletic seven days before, Torquay importantly avoided any more injuries.

But that’s in the bank now.

They’ll have to do more old-fashioned grafting against Plymouth, and very possibly when they go to a Weymouth side determined to bounce back after relegation on August 2.

It may be a shame that this Friday’s game at home to Exeter City (7.30pm) hasn’t quite worked out as planned.

The Grecians have also arranged to play Championship side Swansea City in a testimonial match for long-serving defender Pierce Sweeney on Saturday afternoon.

Gary Caldwell may take the chance to test his players accordingly, with an EFL trip to Doncaster Rovers only a week away, but it remains to be seen what team he sends out at Plainmoor.

Never mind, Wotton will stick to his plan.

More than anyone, he knows that United won’t get out of the NLS pinging the ball around each week like they did against Newport.

But it sure was good to watch.