Halstead plays out of his skin.
United keeper Mark Halstead shrugged off conceding five goals in the Gulls' 5-0 midweek defeat to Plymouth Argyle with a man of the match display against Exeter City. The former Morecambe keeper made a string of crucial saves to keep Sam Nombe and Tim Dieng at bay, including one save from Dieng a minute before the break which he tipped onto the bar.
Shaun MacDonald's return to Plainmoor saw Halstead spent much of last season warming the subs bench. However, when MacDonald, who won United's player of the year award for the 2021-22 campaign, went off injured against eventual champions in the Gulls' penultimate game of the season, which handed an opportunity to Halstead. He produced a creditable display against the Hatters, which United lost 1-0, and against Southend United on the final of the campaign which ended 1-1.
He looks set to be between the sticks when the Gulls face Oldham Athletic on the opening day of the 2022-23 campaign.
Brett McGavin's first Plainmoor goal.
It might have come in a friendly, but Brett McGavin's 81st minute volley could yet go down as the one of the most memorable goal that he will score in a Torquay United shirt. A free-kick from Kieron Evans caused havoc in the penalty box and Dean Moxey, who famously had two seperate spells with the Grecians, had a close range effort palmed away by City keeper Scott Brown into the path of McGavin who volleyed home.
McGavin scored three goals in 36 appearances during his loan spell at King's Lynn Town from Ipswich Town lasr season, but he will surely be aiming to reach double figures for the Gulls in 2022-23.
A real game ahead of the real thing.
Since Torquay United were relegated from the Football League for the second time in the 2013-14 season, the Gulls haven't played a competitive game against either Exeter City or Plymouth Argyle. In fact, assistant manager Aaron Downes is the only member of either United's playing or coaching staff to have featured for the Gulls in a Devon derby, so for the majority of the United squad a game against Exeter is something of a novelty. In the end, it proved to be a competitive encounter in front of a crowd of 2,634 - and you never know, we may see a return to competitve league encounters between the two sides in the near future.
A nice problem to have.
With skipper Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie both yet to make an appearance in pre-season, manager Gary Johnson will have to decide to restore them to the starting line-up for stick with Shaun Donnellan and Ryan Hanson. Then there is the question of where Cardiff City loanee Kieron Evans will feature. He started Saturday's game at left wing-back before moving into the centre of midfield after triallist A entered the fray. Then there's the question of who will feature up front; will Johnson go with Corie Andrews and Stoke City loanee Will Goodwin, or will one of them partner Aaron Jarvis when he returns from injury?
It's a selection headache for Johnson - albeit a pleasant one!
