--- source: thedugout.football generated: 2026-07-24T21:01:41.244Z last_updated: 2026-07-21T21:21:24+00:00 data_provider: API-Football canonical: https://thedugout.football/clubs/plymouth-argyle/news/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGx5bW91dGhoZXJhbGQuY28udWsvc3BvcnQvZm9vdGJhbGwvcGx5bW91dGgtYXJneWxlLWJlYXQtdG9ycXVheS11bml0ZWQtMTEwNjkwNzE --- # Argyle beat Torquay for third successive pre-season victory - **Source:** - **Published:** 21 Jul - **Club:** Plymouth Argyle - **Original URL:** https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-beat-torquay-united-11069071 There are going to be three divisions between the two Devon teams this term but that gap was not obvious as a committed Torquay gave a very good account of themselves while Argyle struggled at times, especially in the second half. Sam Dreyer almost came up with a late Torquay equaliser but his header hit the crossbar and a follow-up attempt from Kian Jenkins was scrambled away. Read More: Argyle holding talks with one club over potential new striker Read More: Argyle got 'wake up call' at Torquay admits Tom Cleverley In the end, Pepple’s 28th minute goal which came after a low cross from second-year apprentice Joe Mwaro proved to be the difference between the two sides. Argyle’s starting line-up included nine of the substitutes who were sent on just after the hour mark in the 3-0 win at Bath City on Saturday. The two exceptions were defender Alex Hartridge and Pepple, who both played for the first 62 minutes of the match at Twerton Park. With Lorent Tolaj having completed his £4 million transfer to Bristol City on Monday, Argyle have been left for now with Pepple and Owen Oseni as the only strikers in their first team squad. As a result, People was joined in the attack against Torquay by first-year apprentice James Sharpe, who had the opportunity to play in front of the large crowd at Plainmoor. James Storer was Argyle’s goalkeeper with a back four of Joe Mwaro, Julio Pleguezuelo, Hartridge and captain Wes Harding in front of him. The midfield quartet for the Pilgrims was Ronan Curtis, Bradley Ibrahim, Caleb Roberts and Freddie Issaka, with Pepple and Sharpe up top. Argyle, wearing their new white and blue away kit, had the support of a large travelling Green Army on a very warm and sunny evening on the English Riviera. Torquay had the first scoring chance when Deon Moore muscled Argyle’s apprentice right-back Joe Mwaro off a bouncing ball and set up Callum Morton, whose fierce strike was well tipped away by 6ft 5in Storer. The Gulls set up in an attacking 4-1-3-2 formation with Morton, Matt Worthington and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton behind the powerful front two of Moore and Isaac Westendorf. Argyle threatened for the first time when Roberts showed good strength and skill to break away from Lo-Everton and played the ball through for Pepple. However, the Pilgrims’ striker could not get the ball under control as he stretched to reach it and it was safely gathered up by Torquay’s former Argyle ‘keeper Zak Baker. There was a yellow card for Gulls’ midfielder Munashe Sundire after a very heavy, late tackle on Harding which in a competitive match would certainly have resulted in him being sent-off. Fortunately, Harding was able to get up uninjured but it was not the sort of challenge you usually expect to see in a pre-season match. Curtis forced a fine diving save out of Baker with a shot from the edge of the Torquay box but Argyle did take a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute. After an excellent attacking move, Mwaro put a good low cross in from the right and the ball was steered into the net by Pepple. Westerdorf caused quite a few problems for Argyle defensively with his physicality, which was on show when he got to the ball inside the penalty area ahead of Harding and had a shot which flew narrowly over the bar. The first half was an even contest with Torquay more than a match for the Pilgrims but the away side took a 1-0 lead into the break after Pepple’s close range finish. There were a trio of Argyle substitutions for the start of the second period with Mathias Ross, Michael Baidoo and Owen Oseni on for Hartridge, Sharpe and Pepple. Baidoo, with a goal in each of the Pilgrims’ first two pre-season games after spending the whole of last term on loan to Qatari Stars League side Umm Salal, played up front with Oseni. Curtis shot into the side netting for Argyle in the 54th minute after the ball was played back to him inside the box by Mwaro, who was getting forward a lot in his right-back role. Argyle summer signing Harvey White got his first run-out after a calf injury which disrupted the start of his pre-season minutes as one of seven substitutes in the 61st minute. Also coming off the bench were Malachi Boateng, Xavier Amaechi, Matty Sorinola, Seb Campbell, Sam Hayman and Jared Rendle. They replaced Pleguezuelo, Curtis, Ibrahim, Roberts, Issaka, Mwaro and Harding, leaving Storer the only player on the pitch for the Pilgrims who had started the match. Torquay continued to be ready to take the game to Argyle whenever they could and defender Jake Wannell, who had gone up for an earlier corner, had a header from a tight angle saved by Storer following an angled cross from Dylan Morgan. Sorinola was the second player to be booked by referee Ross Martin for stopping an attempted break by Morgan and there was not much coming from Argyle as an attacking threat. Campbell tried one shot which hit Baidoo and then bounced across to Boateng, who sliced the ball well wide off his left foot. Torquay almost came up with an 85th minute equaliser when a header from Dreyer thumped back off the bar and a follow-up from Jenkins was cleared away from almost on the line by White. The home side kept up the late pressure and a 25-yard drive from Morgan had to be touched over by Storer as the game went into three minutes of added time and Argyle held out for the win. ARGYLE: James Storer; Joe Mwaro (Matty Sorinola 61 mins), Julio Pleguezuelo (Sam Hayman 61 mins), Alex Hartridge (Mathias Ross h/t), Wes Harding (Jared Rendle 61 mins); Ronan Curtis (Xavier Amaechi 61 mins), Bradley Ibrahim (Harvey White 61 mins), Caleb Roberts (Malachi Boateng 61 mins), Freddie Issaka (Seb Campbell 61 mins); James Sharpe (Michael Baidoo h/t), Bim Pepple (Owen Oseni h/t). Substitutes (not used):: Murphy Cooper, Leo McCormick. REFEREE: Ross Martin ATTENDANCE: 4,405 (1,172) You can read more of our Argyle stories from Plymouth Live by clicking HERE PlymouthLive has launched a Plymouth Argyle transfer news and top stories group on WhatsApp and we want you to join us. Once you sign up for our updates, we'll send all the latest straight to your phone. 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