Gulls slip to narrow defeat at promotion rivals

The Torquay United promotion train has suffered a few bumps in recent weeks, the latest of which a tight 1-0 defeat at Maidstone, leaving the Gulls sixth in the National League South table.

After successive draws on the road at St Albans and Slough, United were very unlucky to lose 1-0 at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough last weekend, and this latest setback was another affair that could have ended differently.

Ultimately, a solitary strike from Charlie Seaman on 76 minutes did the job for Maidstone, who rose to second in the table, but the Gulls can take comfort from just three points separating the top six, with Eastbourne H (4th) and Worthing A (3rd) next on the menu.

The Stones welcomed Torquay with an early aerial bombardment, James Hamon clutching one corner under pressure to relieve the defenders in front of him. The home side then worked a neat move out wide and the fizzing low cross just needed a touch to break the deadlock.

After the frantic opening, Untied gradually found a foothold in the game, and the first effort on target came from the unlikely right boot of Finley Craske, forcing goalkeeper Alex Andre Jr. into a decent save.

The Maidstone approach of testing United in the air proved fairly comfortable to handle, but there was a big scare on 34 minutes, when a strike from Baylin Johnson was deflected on to the bar.

The first half ended with a disruption to manager Paul Wotton’s plans, as defender Jordan Dyer was forced off with an injury, Ed Palmer the readymade replacement.

The first few minutes of the second period followed a familiar pattern, Maidstone testing United’s defence with a series of long throws and lofted balls into the danger area, all repelled with impressive competence.

One cross from Aaron Blair did find a rare gap in the Gulls’ rearguard, but Jordan Higgs was unable to apply the finishing touch, as Wotton turned to the fresh legs of young forward Emmanuel Ilesanmi to give his attack some impetus.

Dan Hayfield was first to take his manager’s hint, pinging a lovely strike from distance that again kept Andre Jr. honest. The Stones responded with a strike from Blair palmed clear by Hamon, but the next home attempt was a matchwinner. Seaman delivered the points for his side with a fine drive that gave Hamon no chance.

Will Jenkins Davies and Dylan Morgan entered the fray for United, as men were thrown forward with increasing desperation. Sam Dreyer almost bundled a scruffy effort into the net and Ilesanmi went close in the dying seconds, but Maidstone held on for three valuable points in a gripping scrap for promotion.