TUFC 3
(Wright, 6′, Slough, 59′, Lolos 87′)
Truro City 0
Torquay United’s pre-season at Plainmoor began in style, as they made it two wins out of two with victory over Truro City.
Although there were a number of new faces in The Gulls’ line-up, the opening goal came from a familiar source, with Danny Wright notching early on, before Louie Slough followed suit in the second half, prior to Klaidi Lolos adding further gloss late on.
Manager Gary Johnson named four of his new men in the starting XI, with Marcin Brzozowski, Dan Martin, Tom Lapslie and Ali Omar taking their places alongside Torquay’s more established stars, in addition to an unnamed trialist.
The game was just six minutes old when Johnson’s side struck, as a left-wing cross to the back stick found its intended target, with Wright on hand to send a looping past former teammate James Hamon – and under the crossbar – to make it 1-0.
Proceedings were quite even thereafter, as both sides trading proverbial punches without seriously troubling either goal.
That changed in the 37th minute, as keeper Brzozowski produced a marvellous one-handed tip over the bar to deny Dan Rooney drawing City level, before The White Tigers went close again moments later, with Connor Lemonheigh-Evans was forced to clear the ball from close-quarters, as a City header threatened to make its way over the line from the resultant corner.
A couple of promising attacks just lacked the finishing touch at the other end, leaving United to be content with a single-goal advantage at the interval.
As is so often the case in pre-season games, a number of changes in personnel took place ahead of the second period, and it was one of the replacements who doubled the home side’s advantage just short of the hour mark.
After a rampaging run and shot from Wright forced a fine save, the subsequent flag-kick was floated towards the penalty spot by Armani Little, where Slough steered an excellent header over the head of Hamon to make it two.
The men in yellow were still receiving a decent workout from their opponents, who continued to keep Torquay’s backline alert – particularly from set pieces.
It was Johnson’s men who were looking more clinical in and around the box though, with young pro Alex Moyse nearly marking his Plainmoor bow with a goal, as he pounced upon a half-clearance on the edge of the box, by sending in a firm volley that Hamon did well to stop.
Moyse may have been unable to get himself on the scoresheet himself, however he played a key role in his team’s third goal, beating a Truro man before cutting inside and delivering a sublime ball onto the head of Olaf Koszela. Although Koszela’s effort was parried by Hamon, Lolos was on hand to fire home the loose ball, to give the evening’s scoreline a comprehensive look.
United saw out the remainder of the match with relative ease as the Yellow Army watched on with interest, with positive signs for the season ahead on full view all over the field.
With this game now firmly behind them, things go up a gear on Saturday, as League One Plymouth Argyle make the short trip to the English Riviera for a 3pm kick-off.
TUFC: 23. Marcin Brzozowski, 3. Dan Martin, 4. Tom Lapslie (19. Klaidi Lolos, 29′), 5. Ali Omar, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans (22. Alex Moyse, 70′), 9. Danny Wright (20. Scott Piper, 70′), 10. Armani Little (11. Jake Andrews, 74′), 14. Trialist A (2. Ben Wynter, HT), 18. Olaf Koszela, 21. Dean Moxey (16. Keelan O’Connell, HT), 31. Joe Lewis (26. Louie Slough).
SUBS NOT USED: 1. Mark Halstead.
Attendance: 957