Bumper crowd sees ‘unrelenting’ Torquay United dispatch Buckland Athletic

BUCKLAND Athletic’s first home pre-season game of the 2026/27 season saw them welcome Jimmy Ball’s Torquay United to The VX3 Stadium.

A bumper crowd of 1,275 people, more than were in attendance for last year’s fixture, were blessed with beaming sunshine and an impressive display from the National League South outfit.

For Bucks boss Matt Cusack, “It’s about building minutes gradually, getting players through with a clean bill of health and for them, making sure that those minutes count.”

The Gulls made a full throttle start and their “unforgiving and unrelenting” style was evident from the off.

Isaac Westendorf, the standout performer on the day, showed wherewithal to evade oncoming goalkeeper Mike Searle before then converting from a tight angle into the empty net after just five minutes.

Westendorf came close twice more and he also went tumbling over the pitch-side fencing but luckily came through unscathed.

Dylan Morgan, who notched twice in Newton Abbot 12 months ago, then doubled the Torquay lead with a powerful strike from distance.

The hosts were offered a route back into the game when Toby Pullman was pulled down in the penalty area.

Coming off of a golden boot winning season, many would have expected Ryan Bush to convert from the spot but former Plymouth Argyle shot-stopper Zak Baker got down well to preserve his clean sheet.

Reminiscent of the World Cup, the hydration break was met with a smatter of boos before the rest of the half passed by with little to no incident- Coby White’s superb last-ditch block on the line was as exciting as it got.

Ball had the luxury of ringing the changes with Cusack also turning to his bench, sending on Josiah McKayle and Sammy Stayt for Bush and Isaac McCue respectively.

One of those to enter the fray for Torquay was Callum Morton and the ex-West Bromwich Albion man wasted no time in curling the third beyond Searle.

Cusack sent on his five other substitutes and with a very young backline now in place, the visitors were able to assert their dominance once more.

Jonah Shaw, one of four players to sign-on for United’s brand new U19s side alongside Coby White, notched goals four and five with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton putting the icing on the cake shortly after.

It was a real challenge for Buckland but the benefits of such a game went far beyond the result in Cusack’s eyes.

“We knew it was going to be tough,” he said, “playing against a higher-level opposition, they’re unforgiving and unrelenting.

“We need to remain focused, not on the outcome but about a game being played in the right spirits, young lads coming on and getting a great experience and trying things that we’ve worked on in pre-season.”

There were plenty of positives off of the pitch as well: “The Torquay fans were in abundance, they got lots of goals which they would have been hoping for and then it’s a brilliant day for the club, a brilliant gate for us.”

On the flipside, for Ball, it was “A good exercise for us. We’re starting to see shoots growing from what we’ve been working on.”

He was also very complimentary of Buckland: “They kept working really hard. We had two teams and they only had the one so it was always going to be difficult.

“It’s really good football club right on our doorstep so it’s great to be able to support them on a day like this.”

Not only were there youngsters featuring for the Bucks but also a few new signings too; Pullman “always looks a threat”, Baga Mariko “brings so much energy in midfield”, Kai Swann is “a really versatile player” and Searle is “a great character to have in the dressing room.”

One position still of need though is at the heart of defence following the departure of Myles James and the long-term injury suffered by Scott Pocock.

“We’re actively trying to recruit [a centre-back], I think we need one more. Coby has done well there and he’s versatile, we know he can play there or at the base of midfield,” said Cusack.

He continued, “We’re into double figures if I’m honest, with players that we’ve tried [to sign]. There will be movement, we’re talking to another this week and we’re hoping that we can get him on the training ground and that he’ll make a big difference.”

Buckland continue their pre-season campaign at home against Frome Town on Saturday (July 11), then taking on Newton Abbot Spurs, Falmouth Town Reserves and Plymouth Parkway in the following weeks.

Their Western League campaign kicks off on Saturday, July 25, as they visit newly relegated Tavistock AFC at Langsford Park.