United 1
Nabi 30

Forest Green Rovers 4
Winchester 5
Archibald 48
Trialist OG 59
Brown 64

THE opening pre-season friendly of the 2018-19 campaign ended in defeat for United at home to Forest Green but still a useful exercise in terms of fitness, and manager Gary Owers looking at a number of trialists.

The match also saw the debut of United’s new home kit which will be available for pre-order by contacting the club shop ([email protected] or call 01803 328666)

In the searing Plainmoor sunshine, FGR scored on five minutes through Carl Winchester but they were pegged back by a neat finish from Samir Nabi on the half-hour following a pass by Jamie Reid.

Scores remained level until early in the restart when Theo Archibald scored from close range and a trialist own goal made it very tough for the Gulls to recover, but still a big plus to see the involvement of some lads from the Under-18 Football Development Programme in partnership with Torquay Academy.

FGR added a fourth for extra gloss to the score-line but read nothing into the result, more heavy fitness work this week and then a trip to Poole Town on Saturday.

United: Bass (GK), Wynter, Davis, Essuman, Sokolik, Hall, Williams, Banton, Nabi, A Trialist, Reid SUBS: Gowling, Keating, Lavercombe (TA), MacDonald (GK), B Trialist, C Trialist, Pittman, Edwards (TA), Josh Baxter

Referee: Marc Whaley

Attendance: 396