With Davis, Anderson and Reid out, the starting eleven just about picked itself. Chaney filled in at left back.
Interesting to see we played a very clear diamond formation throughout - even after all the substitutions.
Lathrope was in front of the back four with Young ahead to his right and Klukowski to his left and Gosling between them and the front two.
Keating and Pittman ran the channels tirelessly both often pulling out wide, creating space for Gosling to charge through the middle - so it sometimes resembled a 4-3-3.
I suspect this kind of formation would look for Gosling, Klukowski and Young to get on the score sheet - probably a "share the goals around" team more than a "feed everything to a lazy goal hanger" team where a 20 goals a season man gets a team relegated.
I do like the look of Gowling - the kind of calm assured presence we need. Clarke, Gowling and McGinty looks like a solid foundation.
Heart in mouth when Gowling fell awkwardly and it looked like he might have "done a Racine" - which would have been a tragedy - but he picked himself up.
Even more worrying when Pittman was flattened just before half-time. Looked like he was knocked out cold - but hopefully no long-term damage.
I think it was probably a blessing that City sent a second string team. Facing warmed-up Championship opposition would not have been helpful at this early stage. City's team was well short of National League standard in terms of strength and experience.
There were some promising signs but I would no more expect anyone to get over-excited at Torquay United beating "Bristol City" than I would expect anyone to panic at "Torquay United" losing to Stoke Gabriel.
Starting XI:
1. Clarke
23.Higgins
6. Gowling
5. McGinty
7. Chaney
4. Lathrope
8. Young
18.Klukowski
11.Gosling
10.Keating
9. Pittman
Finishing XI (with lots of "no numbers"):
Osborn
Higgins
Austen Booth (local lad - at Truro last season)
Cameron Kelly (Tom's son, ex youth trainee, Buckland Reserves last season, played first half at Stoke Gabriel)
Chaney
Tallan Mitchell
argylecommunitytrust.co.uk/season-complete-football-education/Will Hancox
Klukowski
Macauley Southam (trialist, ex-Cardiff, played in Newton Spurs and SG games)
James Gray (experienced trialist, played in Newton Spurs game)
Yemi Odubade (experienced trialist)
) although on the bright side it's easier to rectify a situation where you're at least creating a hatful of chances but not always sticking them away, than if you're clueless as to how to create anything in the first place.
