Match Preview: Gulls prepare to scrap the Stones

Ask any football manager or player what they would like most after a heavy defeat, and the answer will always be the opportunity to put things right as quickly as possible.

Torquay United are definitely in that boat as they had to Maidstone United this evening and a chance to make steps towards redemption after the brutal 4-0 loss at home to St Albans City on Saturday.

The challenge could hardly be greater for this current United squad and manager Gary Johnson as they take on a side that has made football history in the past few weeks, and that also has two wins in the bag over the Gulls already this term.

The Stones visited Plainmoor twice in the space of one week in October, firstly securing a 1-0 win in the league, and then a 2-0 success in the FA Cup.

Fast forward a few months, and the side managed by former Wolves defender George Elokobi has made history in the FA Cup, beating Sky Bet Championship high-flyers Ipswich Town at Portman Road to become the first sixth tier side to reach the fifth round in 46 years.

It’s not just been cup glory for the Kent club, with the Stones sitting fourth in the National League South and they warmed up for tonight’s game with a 2-1 win over runaway leaders Yeovil Town on Satursay. In one final twist, guarding the net for the Stones is former United custodian Lucas Covolan.

Nothing points toward a positive result for United but football doesn’t work that way and, despite the significant unrest and upset following the St Albans defeat, the Yellow Army will be at Maidstone tonight, and they deserve a proper performance.