BUCKLAND Athletic’s home clash with Torquay United was a friendly in name only as some fierce challenges flew in all over the pitch.

The yellows of Torquay (wearing white on the day) visited the yellows of Buckland and it was the former that came out on top, perhaps unsurprisingly given the divisional difference.

Three first-half goals made the difference for the Gulls but both managers made it clear that they were interested in far more than the result.

Torquay boss Paul Wotton, a beloved figure on and off of the field down further south at Plymouth Argyle, was “pleased with what [he] saw” at Homers Heath.

He told the Mid-Devon Advertiser that it was “a perfect workout”, adding, “I thought the boys handled themselves really well, no injuries so all good on that front. We got out of it what we needed.”

Bucks boss Matt Cusack labelled it as “All in all, a useful workout.”

The recent recruit continued, “We knew we were going to spend more time without the ball- in the previous two friendlies, we’ve been the higher league opposition and have dominated the ball so this was always going to test our out-of-possession structure.

“We caused our own problems, we kept giving the ball away in dangerous areas and you can’t do that at any level of football. We were punished for it and rightly so, that’s what the better teams will always do.”

At a very busy VX3 Stadium (1,208 attendance), the fixture began with early sparring as Torquay probed. It took them a little over a quarter of an hour for them to find the breakthrough, goalkeeper Jordan Duffey clawing away a cross and Myles James making a heroic goal-line block only for Dylan Morgan to open the scoring anyway.

Jordan Young won and scored a penalty after he showed good feet and then, just moments later, the third of the afternoon saw Morgan return to the fore. Duffey’s heavy pass into youngster Will Hall was mis-controlled and the Gulls pounced, Morgan rounding off the move.

Just before the half-time whistle blew, the first of a few red-card worthy incidents took place. Ryan Bush, having fed off of scraps up until this point, dispossessed the final defender Matt Carson only to be hauled down in the least discrete manner possible.

In a competitive game, it would have been a simple decision for the referee but the red card didn’t come out on this occasion, and neither did a yellow.

Cusack spoke of his squad being “a little deflated” at the break and “It was always going to be a test, so I think the key thing was to make it competitive in the second half.” They did exactly this and so “the boys were happier come full-time.”

Captain Ben Carter and forward Jared Lewington both entered the fray for the second 45 for Buckland in the places of Hall and Bush and it was Carter who got stuck in straightaway, flying into a couple of very fiery challenges.

Cusack mused that “the new signings have bedded in well.” Adding, “It’s a new group really and we’ve got lots of competition for places.”

Of the new faces in Buckland yellow, Scott Pocock stood out for his leadership qualities and Cameron Sangster really asserted himself in the middle of the park, even coming back on to fill in at centre-back as well.

Young winger Phil Mendonca had a few chances to use his speed and he was leaving defenders in his wake at every opportunity- expect him to be a real threat for Buckland in the Western League this season.

Whilst there may have been some questionable tackles from both sides, the game was played in good spirits in the sweltering heat.

This friendly is always a credit to both clubs with Wotton saying that “We love coming here, they look after us really well and the setup is great, so it’s always a pleasure.”

Buckland complete their pre-season slate with home games against Mousehole AFC (Saturday 19) and Plymouth Parkway (Tuesday 22) before they get the 2025/26 league campaign underway on Saturday 26, Newquay AFC the visitors to Homers Heath for that one.