MATCH VERDICT

Steve Harris

@steveharris84

TOMLINSON IMPRESSES

For many players, facing your former club is something of an occasion, especially when you are facing a number of your ex-teammates as well. This is something that surely would have been the case when Torquay centre back Ollie Tomlinson lined up against his former club, Plymouth Argyle.

However, Tomlinson produced a mature display in the heart of the Gulls’ defence, clearing a shot from Argyle’s Freddie Issaka off the line on 9 minutes before going on to make a number of other crucial blocks and clearances to keep the Pilgrims’ attack at bay.

Tomlinson spent last season on loan in National League South with Taunton Town and Chippenham Town which appears to have stood him in good stead, as Gary Johnson’s side aim to win promotion from the division at the first attempt.

BRADLEY ON TARGET

After Frank Nouble’s summer departure, finding a striker who could complement Aaron Jarvis was a major priority for Gary Johnson, and the signs are he has discovered one in the form of Bradley Ash.

Ash netted 18 times for a Weymouth side who managed to avoid relegation from National League South in 2022-23 and showed a willingness to run the channels and chase lost causes against the Pilgrims.

He was rewarded for his efforts in the 77th minute when he found himself in the right place at the right time to head home Jack Stobbs’ cross from the right to level matters for the Gulls. It was the first time that many of the ‘Yellow Army’ had the chance to see him in the flesh and he didn’t disappoint.

STOBBS & COLLINS

The arrivals of Jack Stobbs and Lewis Collins on loan from Oldham Athletic and Newport County respectively brought some much-needed pace and width to Gary Johnson’s side, and they appear to be carrying on where they left off after making their moves permanent.

Collins showed a willingness to take on his marker on the left hand side and whipped in a number of crosses, and Stobbs did the same on the right – including the cross that provided the assist for Bradley Ash’s equaliser.

DAN RETURNS

During the second half, left-back Dan Martin made a welcome return following issues in the 2022-23 season with injuries and long Covid.

He came off the bench in place of Brett McGavin on 52 minutes and initially slotted in as a left sided centre back before reverting to playing at left wing-back later on.

In his Gulls’ career to date, Martin showed glimpses of promising in the 2021-22 campaign, with a sustained run in the team, and despite his problems with injury and illness he still managed to bag his first goal for the club in 2022-23 a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe United in October 2022.

Having previously played in the National League South in a loan spell with Weston-super-Mare earlier in his career, he could yet be an asset to the Gulls if he can get back to full fitness.

ONE YEAR ON

Personally I’ve never looked too closely into the results of pre-season friendlies since the 2003-04 season, when the Gulls won automatic promotion under Leroy Rosenior – but failed to win in pre-season, however the difference between last year’s meeting with Plymouth Argyle and United’s most recent encounter with them is quite stark.

On the eve of the 2022-23 campaign, the Gulls were beaten 5-0 by their neighbours in green, but this time round, a spirited 1-1 draw has offered cause for optimism.

Last season, there was a two division gap between the two sides that has since extended to four following the Pilgrims’ League One title triumph and the Gulls’ relegation from the National League. However on this occasion, the gulf between both teams looked a lot smaller.

Argyle boss Steven Schumacher even said it was the best display he’d seen from a Torquay side since he has faced with the Pilgrims as either an assistant manager or manager, or words to that effect.