Match Report | Argyle share spoils at Plainmoor

Argyle continued their unbeaten start to pre-season claiming a 1-1 draw against Torquay United at Plainmoor, with record signing Morgan Whittaker scoring a stunning goal on his return to the club.

Both sides started brightly with the opening exchanges resembling a basketball match with attacks dominating defence and forcing chances. It was Argyle who had the first proper one after Whittaker broke, he then slid Caleb Roberts through, but his shot was blocked.

Torquay then had a chance of their own as Argyle tried to play from the back but Conor Hazard’s pass to Matt Butcher was intercepted by Brett McGavin. His initial shot was saved by the Greens stopper and the rebound fell to Asa Hall, but his half-volley fired just wide of the target.

Roberts looked bright in the centre of midfield, and he spun McGavin before feeding Freddie Issaka on the left-wing. Issaka cut in, found Whittaker, who lashed a shot on goal from the edge of the box, but it was comfortably saved by Mark Halstead.

Whittaker looked lively on his return to a green shirt and was the creator again after being released by Joe Edwards from a quick free kick. He freed Callum Wright, who should have scored, but he saw his shot deflect into Halstead’s arms.

Argyle then had more joy on the counter as Issaka again cut in from the left, forcing a cross from the by-line that was cleared by the Seagulls defence. Wright followed it soon after with a strike from range that was palmed round the post by Halstead again.

It was from that resulting corner that Whittaker well and truly announced his return to Argyle as the ball broke to him on the edge of the box and the forward lashed an unstoppable volley into the far corner.

Steven Schumacher’s men continued to dominate proceedings after the goal with Wright once again seeing a shot blocked from range.

McGavin looked the hosts best player and was the creator just before half-time as some tricky footwork saw him feed his midfield partner Hall, whose shot tamely flew over the bar.

The hosts started the second period brightly with some lovely interplay on the right leading to Shaun Donnellan cutting back for Lewis Collins, but his shot was headed behind by Lewis Gibson. The resulting corner led to nothing.

Schumacher then made a number of changes as expected on the 60-minute mark with Jack Matthews, Dan Scarr, Ryan Hardie, Mickel Miller, Adam Randell, Henry Donovan and Oscar Halls all coming on to the pitch.

Halls had a chance moments after arriving, rising highest from a Jenkins Davies corner but saw his header fall wide. Randell then followed suit from Jenkins Davies’ next set piece but couldn’t direct his header on target.

The Seagulls probably should have equalised moments later as Brad Ash got free on the right but instead of shooting, which was probably the right option, he chose to cross, and the chance came to nothing.

But Ash did equalise five minutes later though, an excellent cross from the right by Jack Stobbs landed perfectly in behind Halls which the Seagulls forward directed past Burton with a powerful header.  

Argyle looked to immediately retake the lead, but Matthews shot from range didn’t trouble Rhys Lovett in the host’s goal. Butcher then tried similar, but his shot was comfortably saved.

Randell had a couple of chances as proceedings came to a close, but the match ended in a draw as both sides continued their pre-season preparations.

Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard (Callum Burton 45), 4 Jordan Houghton (Jack Matthews 60), 5 Julio Pleguezuelo, 7 Matt Butcher, 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (Dan Scarr 60), 10 Morgan Whittaker (Will Jenkins Davies 45), 11 Callum Wright (Henry Donovan 60), 17 Lewis Gibson (Oscar Halls 60), 23 Ben Waine (Hardie 60), 34 Caleb Roberts (Adam Randell 60), 35 Freddie Issaka (Mickel Miller 60).

Substitutes: 3 Jack Matthews 6 Dan Scarr, 9 Ryan Hardie, 14 Mickel Miller, 20 Adam Randell, 22 Henry Donovan, 25 Callum Burton (GK), 31 Oscar Halls, 32 Will Jenkins Davies, 33 Zak Baker (GK). 

Torquay: 1 Mark Halstead (Rhys Lovett 45), 4 Tom Lapslie, 8 Asa Hall (capt), 9 Aaron Jarvis, 10 Lewis Collins, 11 Brad Ash, 14 Brett McGavin 15 A Trialist, 16 Shaun Donnellan, 23 Ollie Tomlinson, 27 Jack Stubbs.

Substitutes: 2 Dylan Crowe, 3 Dan Martin, 6 Liam Poole, 7 Jack Kennell, 18 Mason Elliott, 21 Taylor McNally, 22 Rhys Lovett, 24 Calum Thomas, 28 Jacob Wellington.