1. A step in the right direction.
After losing 6-0 to Wrexham last week at the Racecourse Ground, the last thing that Torquay United boss Gary Johnson would have wanted is another defeat against Scunthorpe United. Thankfully United averted managed to get at least some points on the board this time round against the Iron.
2. Last ditch defending.
Instrumental in helping the Gulls to secure a point were goalkeeper Mark Halstead and substitute midfielder Brett McGavin late on in the game. Deep in injury time, Halstead turned a shot from Iron leading scorer Joe Nuttall behind for a corner, and from the resulting flag kick Scunthorpe centre back George Taft was denied by a goal line header from McGavin before Halstead gathered a rebounded effort from Reagan Ogle. Halstead's effort also helped to earn him a place in the Non-League Paper's team of the day.
3. Kieron Evans becoming 'Torquay-fied.'
Cardiff City loanee Kieron Evans continues to improve as he produced a display that eanred him the sponsors man of the match. Evans displayed a great range of passing and always looked to get on the ball and make things happen. If he can develop a greater end product then he has the potential to have the same level of influence on games as his near namesake Connor Lemonheigh-Evans and Armani Little once did.
4. First goal for Dan Martin.
Dan Martin's wait for a first Torquay United ended inside four minutes as he played one-two with Scott Smith in midfield before racing down the left hand side to drill the ball past Scunthorpe keeper Marcus Dewhurst. Martin and his fellow wing-back Dylan Crowe aren't being talked about in the same breath as Andy Gurney and Paul Gibbs yet, but it's still early days.
5. Aaron Jarvis close to scoring against his former club.
Due to a double 'dead leg' suffered in pre-season, striker Aaron Jarvis hadn't started a game at Plainmoor since United's pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle. In the Gulls' defeat to Wrexham, which was his first 90 minutes for the club, he showed that he could hold the ball up effectively and against his former club Scunthorpe he was unlucky not to find the target. On 28 minutes, he was denied by the reflexes of Marcus Dewhurst after being teed up by Kieron Evans; and then three minutes he connected with a free-kick from sub Ben Wyatt which looped over the bar.
6. Scott Smith settling in well.
Wigan Athletic loanee Scott Smith continued to impress in the centre of midfield for the Gulls since he arrived on loan. The Wales youth international made off the line clearance to deny Scunthorpe striker Caolan Lavery and he made several surging box-to-box runs - as he brings a new found energy to United's midfield.
