Match Report: Maidstone United 3 Torquay United 2

Maidstone United 3
Rush 4
Faal 49
Corne 87

Torquay United 2
Hall 17
Marshall 78

A defeat is a defeat, and a defeat is the last thing Torquay United need at the moment.

But, there are ways to lose football games, and the Gulls demonstrated a much-needed spirit in troubling times before finally going down 3-2 at Maidstone.

Twice the Stones led, through Matt Rush and Muhammadu Faal, and twice United replied, Asa Hall and Ross Marshall hitting the net.

It was a game apparently destined for a draw when Sam Corne struck a marvellous winner for the hosts. It was cruel on Torquay but the only option is to take heart from the display.

Torquay United boss Gary Johnson understandably rung the changes from the painful St Albans experience, starting with new loan signing from QPR, Arkell Jude-Boyd. Marshall, Asa Hall, Will Jenkins Davies, Duane Ofori-Acheampong and Dean Moxey were the others returning to the starting line-up.

The Stones, already history-makers in the FA Cup, enjoyed a fine win over runaway National League South leaders Yeovil Town on the weekend. Unfortunately for the Gulls, Maidstone took just four minutes to underline their inflated confidence.

The move was slick in tricky conditions and when the ball found Faal on the edge of the box, he set it perfectly for Rush to lash an assured finish into the bottom corner, giving Mark Halstead no chance.

Given the justified anger after the weekend, it would have been easy for United to crumble after such a dismal opening, but the response was actually very encouraging, Jenkins Davies nodding on target from a long throw.

Gradually, United grew in belief and they got their reward on 17 minutes, when a sloppy header from Lamar Reynolds looped into the path of a waiting Hall to smash home from close range. It wasn’t a world-beating goal but so important for Torquay, both in terms of this game and their overall confidence for the closing months of the campaign.

The lively Rush attempted a cheeky lob in the first home response but it was comfortable for Halstead, despite the heavy breeze, and United were also asking questions, winning successive corners to test the Stones.

In general, United were playing with a verve and cohesion that was so drastically lacking on the weekend. It was a welcome sight for the amazing Yellow Army, huddled together for warmth, and the United defence also looked a lot more solid.

Ofori-Acheampong twice had shots blocked and Jenkins Davies then went close with a deflected drive to complete a half that ticked the box of ‘positive response’ from the Gulls, although they did require late heroics from Halstead to deny Liam Sole from close range.

United emerged from the bench with Dan Martin going close from a Jude-Boyd cross but Maidstone promptly regained the lead with a Faal strike from a narrow angle.

Despite the setback, United were continuing to ask questions of the Stones, Jude-Boyd forcing a top save from Lucas Covolan, the Maidstone custodian with a rich Plainmoor past.

Ethon Archer replaced Moxey for fresh Yellow legs and he didn’t take long to make an impact, forcing Covolan into a super save with his legs, with the ball cannoning off the post. The Gulls were behind but, despite horrible conditions, the performance was full of hope.

Hall stroked a cheeky lob over the bar before Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong fired wide from a good position for the hosts.

Brad Ash replaced Ofori-Acheampong with 15 minutes remaining and the next twist was a deserved leveller for United, Marshall heading home against his former club from a Brett McGavin free-kick.

Lewis Collins then replaced a weary Marshall, as United steamed up the pressure, McGavin forcing a fine block from Covolan.

On a horrible night in Kent, Torquay deserved something from the game but the opposite happened three minutes from time, Corne smashing a blockbuster winner to break Yellow hearts.

Maidstone United: 1 Lucas Covolan; 4 Reiss Greenidge, 5 George Fowler, 6 Raphe Brown, 7 Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong, 8 Sam Corne (capt), 10 Lamar Reynolds, 11 Muhammadu Faal (9 Manny Duku 76), 15 Sam Bone, 16 Liam Sole (17 Jephte Tanga 66), 20 Matt Rush. Substitutes (not used): 3 Chi Ezennolim, 12 Harley Earle (GK), 18 Bivesh Gurung.

Booked:

Torquay United: 1 Mark Halstead; 2 Arkell Jude-Boyd, 3 Dan Martin, 4 Tom Lapslie, 5 Austen Booth, 6 Ross Marshall (10 Lewis Collins 82), 8 Asa Hall (capt), 14 Brett McGavin, 18 Will Jenkins-Davies, 19 Duane Ofori-Acheampong (11 Brad Ash 75), 21 Dean Moxey (30 Ethon Archer 55). Substitutes (not used): 17 Dillon De Silva, 22 Rhys Lovett (GK).

Booked: Marshall 23, Jenkins Davies 71

Attendance: 2,004 (77 away)