The standards are set for Torquay United in the new football season

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton declared himself satisfied with the pre-season campaign after completing matters on the pitch with a 5-1 victory at Weymouth last weekend.

The Gulls led through a goal from Cody Cooke and, despite the irritation of conceding an equaliser late in the first period, a blitz of goals after the break saw them run out comfortable winners.

Cooke ended the game with a hat-trick, alongside strikes from Jordan Young and Matt Carson, and that positive mindset has definitely been a theme through pre-season.

“It was a good workout at Weymouth,” said Wotton. “I was a little bit disappointed with us in the first half, we were a little too comfortable, I didn’t like going in at 1-1 and I didn’t like the way we conceded the goal in the last few seconds of the half.

“We should have been a lot more positive in the final third because it was there for us to score goals. I gave them that message at half-time and they obviously came out and scored three in a six-minute period.

“It is what I would expect from us. We are all about driving standards, whether there are points on it or not.”

If there was one minor concern from the game, it was the early withdrawal of skipper Matt Worthington, but Wotton was quick to allay any fitness fears.

“Matt Worthington’s back just tightened up and it wasn’t worth the risk,” he said. “He was moving alright after the game, so no drama. Louis Dennis and Matt Jay being absent were precautions.”

Pre-season is now done and United can reflect on strong wins over Buckland Athletic, Newport County and Weymouth, plus an entertaining draw at home to Devon rivals Exeter City.

There was a blip with Plymouth Argyle rattling in five goals during a difficult second half for the Gulls, but Wotton is generally happy with the progress made over the past six weeks, and specifically the elevation in standards driven by the new signings.

It is now all eyes on Enfield Town and the start of nine rollercoaster months in the National League South.

“Other than the second half against Plymouth, pre-season has gone the way I wanted,” said Wotton. “The boys have worked really hard, we’ve recruited well, the new lads have settled into the group and they’ve driven up standards in training.

“The boys who were with us last year have raised their levels as well.

“I always do a six-week pre-season but it feels like it has been quite long this year. We have had a good week of training and be ready for Enfield.

“Everyone wants to get off to a good start and to get points on the board as soon as possible. We’re no different and Enfield will be no different.

“We will be ready and prepared.

“We’re happy with where we are. Sonny Fish being injured is disappointing but he’s the only one missing. They should all be fit for the Enfield game and we’re really looking forward to it.”

And with them every step of the way will be the Yellow Army.

“The fans are critical for us,” added Wotton. “They play such an important role in home games, and away from home. Even at Weymouth, we had 300 fans at the game.

“They are unbelievable and we will do our best to reward them with performances and results.”

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Wotton also said that increased places on the substitutes bench is bringing football closer to the way that rugby teams use their ‘replacements’.

National League South and North clubs will be allowed to name seven subs, up from five, this season and still use five of them.

It brings them in line with the NL Premier, where the seven-sub rule was introduced last season.

One effect of Wotton’s summer recruitment is that his bench already looks stronger, and the possibilities are not lost on the Gulls’ boss.

“We’ve been talking about it being a squad game for a while,” he said, “but that’s gone up a level now.

“Subs have never been more important.

“It used to be, and I remember this as a player myself, that you were disappointed when you didn’t make the starting XI, and being a sub felt like second-best.

“Of course, you still want to make that starting side.

“But look what’s happened in rugby, especially at the top levels.

“Their replacements are specialists in their own right. They call them ‘finishers’.

“They know they’re going to be used at big moments, and they’ve become crucial to winning matches.

“I think football is going the same way.

“I’m certainly putting more and more thought into our subs, and how we use them.

“And I think players on subs benches need to think about themselves the same as top rugby players do.”