Zebroski, Benyon and Gritton score

TORQUAY UNITED made it six wins from seven pre-season friendlies when they beat Weston-super-Mare more comfortably than the scoreline suggests at the Woodspring Stadium last night.

Chris Zebroski fired Paul Buckle’s men ahead in the 31st minute of a match in which Weston, as hard as they tried at times, were seldom able to threaten the Gulls’ defence.

A feature of United’s display was the classy leadership of their attack by loan signing Martin Gritton.

And, after substitute Elliot Benyon scored with a diving header in the 63rd minute, Gritton capped his performance with the third goal 15 minutes from time.

Another bonus for United was another injury-free evening – an important factor with only Saturday’s visit of League One Yeovil Town left in the build-up to the big kick-off at home to Northampton on August 7.

Buckle recalled Chris Robertson after injury at right back, and he paired Mark Ellis with Guy Branston in the middle of the defence.

Eunan O’Kane started on the left of midfield with Zebroski on the right.

The Weston team included three former Gulls - centre half Matt Villis, full back Steve Orchard and midfielder Danny Wring.

There was no shortage of workrate or commitment from either side.

But Weston struggled to ruffle United’s defence with their smaller forwards.

Martin Gritton glanced an early header wide from a Kevin Nicholson corner for Torquay.

On a good playing surface Nicholson made the most of the room he was afforded at left back.

There were few real chances at either end, but as the first half went on United’s strength and extra quality started to stretch the home defence.

The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when Gritton, increasingly dangerous in the air, headed the ball down for Zebroski to force it home from close range.

Gritton also headed another half chance over the bar just before the interval.

Buckle made four changes at half-time.

It was Kieran Charnock and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner for Branston and Nicholson in defence, and Damon Lathrope and Benyon in attack.

United stretched their lead in the 63rd minute.

Billy Kee delivered a right wing cross with pace and Benyon finished with a diving header from ten yards.

That was the signal for two more changes in the space of six minutes.

United sent on Saul Halpin for Nicky Wroe in the 66th minute, followed by Lloyd Macklin for Kee.

In the 75th minute it was 3-0 to United.

O’Kane, always busy and trying for a penetrating pass, caught Villis on the ball out wide and squared the ball to Gritton.

Gritton drew Weston goalkeeper Lloyd Irish and rolled the ball home – a cool finish.

With Weston running out of steam in the closing stages United were able to attack almost at will.

They had several promising positions on the wings without being able to add more goals.

But, with health and safety important at this stage of pre-season, there was no need to try anything over ambitious.

STARTING LINE-UPS

Weston: Irish; Orchard, J Laird, Rand, Villis, Durrant, Wring, Trowbridge, Duharty, Ingram, Pepperall.

Torquay: Bevan: Robertson, Ellis, Branston, Nicholson, Zebroski, Mansell, Wroe, O’Kane, Kee, Gritton.