Torquay United 0 Plymouth Argyle 2

In his side’s latest pre-season friendly, the former England international watched on as second half goals from Ryan Hardie (penalty) and Bali Mumba gave the Pilgrims a 2-0 victory over Torquay United at Plainmoor.

The win ensures Rooney’s reign remains unbeaten at this stage, having drawn initially with Orlando Pirates (2-2) in Spain, before a 4-1 victory at Cheltenham followed a week ago.

Argyle, who started with the same XI that at Cheltenham, were quickly into their attacking groove. Less than a minute had been played when Callum Wright and Mumba combined to set-up Ryan Hardie, who flashed a first-time effort just wide of the home goal.

Seconds later and Hardie went close again, this time fizzing an effort from just outside of the box into the arms of James Hamon.

It was decent enough stuff from the Pilgrims, but at the other end Torquay – who have made new signings made by boss Paul Wotton this summer – themselves were offering their own attacking threat, striker Brad Ash firing over after a decent home build-up.

After such a lively opening, the game slowly meandered into a more sedate pace with both sides probing away at one another, but with neither offering any real significant threat.

A medical emergency in the stands meant the game was delayed for ten minutes, after which it was Argyle who again looked the more threatening, substitute Will Jenkins Davies and Mumba both threatening, before Freddie Issaka went even closer with a drilled effort from just outside the box.

Issaka was the stand-out threat for Argyle, continually looking to run at the Torquay defence with his mazy running. Twice he was crudely chopped down, but twice the visitors failed to do anything with the subsequent free-kicks.

As the half edged towards a close, again there was more concern in the stands on the ‘Pop Side’, medical staff rushing to the aid of two more supporters who appeared to have fallen ill.

Sensibly, proceedings were brought to a halt soon after, bringing to a close a stop-start affair in which chances were at a premium.

Five minutes into the second half, however, the deadlock was finally broken. Another Issaka burst saw him slip the ball into the path of Jenkins-Davies who, as he looked to shift the ball out of his feet, was hacked down in the area by Brad Ash. Referee ? had no option but to award the spot kick, which was dispatched with aplomb by Hardie into the bottom right corner.

At the other end, Torquay twice came come through two headers by Cody Cooke, but that was the best they could offer against what was proving a miserly Pilgrims defence.

As Rooney readied a plethora of new faces from the sidelines, so those still on the field combined to add their second goal just before the hour mark. Neat build-up play created space for Callum Wright, whose long-range effort was batted away by Harmon, but only into the path of Mumba who was able to lap up the rebound.

Among those added by Rooney in the switch-up was Dutchman Ibrahim Cissoko, whose trickery on the ball was clear to see from the outset. Like Issaka earlier, his pace and willingness to run directly at defenders made him a handful for the Gulls, who continued to plug away without any real reward.

Torquay United: James Hamon, Jay Foulston, Jordan Dyer, Sean Dreyer, Roddy Collins (Austen Booth h/t), Ben Seymour (Cody Cooke h/t), Brad Ash (Omar Mussa 64), Matt Carson, Finlay Tonks (Ed Palmer 74), Oscar Threlkeld (capt, Jaydn Crosbie 84), Dan Hayfield (Liark Hassani 66)

Yellow Cards: Foulston, Booth‍

Plymouth Argyle: Connor Hazard (Michael Cooper 60); Matty Sorinola (Josh Matthews 60), Julio Pleguezuelo (Dan Scarr 60), Lewis Gibson (Brendan Galloway 60), Saxon Earley (Nathaniel Ogbeta 60); Caleb Roberts (Will Jenkins-Davies 19), Adam Forshaw (capt, Josh Bernard 60); Freddie Issaka (Morgan Whittaker 60), Callum Wright (Mustapha Bundu 60), Bali Mumba (Ibrahim Cissoko 60); Ryan Hardie (Muhamed Tijani 60).‍

Goals: Hardie pen 50, Mumba 60

Referee: A Mann

Attendance: 6,500