Torquay’s 16-year-old goalkeeper Aaron Ibbetson was the star of his side’s win over Weston’s latest pre-season friendly.

WESTON-S-MARE 1

TORQUAY UNITED 3

TORQUAY’S 16-year-old goalkeeper Aaron Ibbetson was the star of his side’s win over a Weston squad that created far more scoring chances.

Although Weston fell behind to a third minute strike by Ray Spear, firing across Lloyd Irish, the home side took the game to their young opponents.

On nine minutes, Ibbetson saved with his legs from Matt Huxley, then Weston forced two successive corners ending with Matt Villis heading just wide. Ben Kirk was stopped by a last-ditch tackle as he burst through on 16 minutes and five minutes later Nat Pepperell’s long diagonal pass sent Martyn Slocombe on his way down the left and Dayle Grubb just failed to connect with Slocombe’s cross with the goal at his mercy.

In a quick attack on 24 minutes, Torquay went further ahead when Spear’s through pass put Saul Halpin through to beat Irish.

Minutes later, Ibbetson went full length to turn Kane Ingram’s piledriver round his post and the keeper took another Ingram effort over his head and the keeper denied Grubb’s point-blank header from a corner.

A minute into the second half, Ibbetson blocked Jamie Price’s low effort with his legs, before Torquay were awarded a penalty, but Ashley Yeoman fired wide from the spot.

Ingram got a deserved goal on 62 minutes when he ended a speedy run into the penalty area by at last beating Ibbetson and three minutes later the keeper pulled off another point-blank save to deny Slocombe.

Torquay’s Shaun Latimer completed the scoring on 72 minutes, beating substitute goalkeeper Jermaine Jones from close range.

Weston squad: Irish, Price, Slocombe, Kirk, Villis, Jamie Laird, Ingram, Trowbridge, Grubb, Huxley, Pepperell, Hunt, Beadle, Richards, Diallo, Mawford, Mackay, Maggs, Craid Laird junior, Camm, Callum Laird, Jones.

CARDIFF City are visitors on Friday (7.45pm) and on Sunday (11am) the club will be holding a fans forum at 11am when the club chairman Mr Paul Bliss along with manager Craig Laird and his assistant Jon Haile will be in attendance to answer questions.

On Tuesday next, August 2, Weston are expecting a big crowd for the visit of Bristol City (7.45pm).