The Stones were denied an excellent three points five minutes from time as a late Jay Foulston header secured Torquay United a share of the spoils on a cold Tuesday night in the South West.
With Reiss Greenidge starting the first of a three game ban, the gaffer shuffled personnel round but only making the one change with Pierre Fonkeu starting right wing with Charlie Seaman dropping to right back.
The first 25 minutes was tough for George Elokobi’s men as the long journey seemed to affect the players fluid play as a lot of longs balls and lack of composure when in possession put the Gulls in control. Finn Tonks provided the best chance for the home side when his rocket of a shot towards the top left hand corner was superbly tipped over the bar by Alexis Andre Jr.
However, once the players settled into the game, they were able to find the wide areas a lot more and start asking a few questions of the Torquay defence. Sam Corne looked to try and test keeper James Hamon from 30 yards out but leant back just a bit too much as his effort sailed over the bar. Pierre Fonkeu then followed when he cut inside of his man but got his left footed shot all wrong as the curling shot went well wide.
In a half where Torquay probably would have felt they should have been more ruthless in the final third, it was Stones that struck first blood. Seaman’s brilliant free kick from 30 yards out dipped over the wall before skimming the inside of the post and into the back of the net to give the 34 Stones supporters that travelled something to cheer about.
The Stones certainly started the second half better and were looking to make it into a scrappy game by forcing errors of the Torquay players. Will Jenkins Davies looked to change that though when he crossed from the left hand side to the awaiting Cody Cooke but could only header straight at Andre Jr.
Jenkins Davies was again involved as he looked to try one from 30 yards out but like Corne’s effort in the first half, it was always going over. Couple of minutes later, substitute Omar Mussa lifted a free kick towards the 6 yard box which was awkward for Andre Jr but he managed to get an important hand on it to divert it out for a corner.
Fonkeu was so close to sealing the points when he managed to poach from close range following Ben Brookes’ cross but Hamon got in the away to make an important save.
With five minutes left, the Stones were hit with a cruel sucker punch when Mussa’s free kick from the left found the head of Jay Foulston who was unmarked and his downwards header was too much for Andre Jr to keep out and it got the home side back on level terms.
With six additional minutes signalled, either side could have nicked the points but it was the Stones that came closest when on the counter attack, Aaron Blair slipped in Corne who was looking to slide it underneath Hamon but the keeper spread himself well to make the block and ensure the Stones didn’t return to county town with maximum points.
Torquay United: Jay Foulston 86’
Maidstone United: Charlie Seaman 39’
Torquay United: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston, 4. Jordan Dyer (16. Ed Palmer 63 mins), 5. Sam Dreyer (C), 7. Lirak Hasani (10. Omar Mussa 55 mins), 8. Jordan Young (11. Brad Ash 81 mins), 14. Matt Carson (48. Keke Jeffers 60 mins), 17. Finn Tonks (18. Oscar Threlkeld 88 mins), 19. Cody Cooke, 20. Dan Hayfield, 22. Will Jenkins Davies.
Maidstone United: 1. Alexis Andre Jr, 2. Temi Eweka, 3. Ben Brookes, 5. George Fowler, 7. Jon Benton (18. Bivesh Gurung 84 mins), 8. Sam Corne (C), 9. Aaron Blair, 11. Charlie Seaman, 14. Tayt Trusty, 19. Pierre Fonkeu (6. Sam Smith 84 mins), 20. Antony Papadopoulos (15. Harry Lodovica 65 mins) (10. Shaq Coulthirst 77 mins). Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden.
