For the second week in succession, Maidstone United enjoyed their trip to Torquay United with a victory that puts them into the First Round Proper of the FA Cup. The Stones also kept another clean sheet as this time they had Levi Amantchi to thank for the goals.
Both sides made just one change from the league encounter last week. Finley Craske replaced Ross Marshall for the Gulls and with Reece Greenidge on international duty with Guyana, Liam Sole came into the Maidstone starting line up.
Torquay enjoyed more of the ball in the early stages and they had a number of good chances to open the scoring. On 14 minutes, a decent ball over the top left Tom Lapslie with only Lucas Covolan to beat but he couldn’t find his way past the Maidstone keeper who stood his ground well.
Not long after this, the Gulls went even closer on two occasions. There was a scramble in the box and somehow Covolan made a block to deny Lapslie and then from a corner, Aaron Jarvis saw his effort cleared away from the line.
After a sluggish start, Maidstone then enjoyed their own spell of pressure. This started when a low shot from Sol Wanju-Smith from 25 yards was pushed wide by Mark Halstead. Devonte Aransibia then spotted Sam Bone in space and threw the ball into his path and Bone’s drive deflected over the bar.
With 31 minutes gone, the Stones should have scored. Michael Petrasso went on an excellent surging run which took him into the box and he played the ball to Wanju-Smith who couldn’t get enough on his shot and it was cleared away from the line.
Torquay came back strongly after this spell but Maidstone took the lead against the run of play in first half stoppage time. Halstead should have comfortably saved from Petrasso but he made a mess of the situation leaving Levi Amantchi with the simple task of knocking the ball in at the far post.
The Gulls nearly claimed a quick equaliser. They had two corners in succession, from the first, Jarvis hit the bar with a header, and from the second, Dean Moxey blazed over when well placed.
The second half took a little while to get going but Maidstone improved notably after the break. On 65 minutes, Wanju-Smith went close with a rising drive from the edge of the box before the Stones knocked the stuffing out of Torquay with a second goal. Aransibia passed to substitute Razzaq Coleman De-Graft who drew a save from Halstead and not for the first time this season, Amantchi was in the right place at the right time and lashed in the rebound. Unfortunately Amantchi appeared to cramp up during the process of scoring and so was replaced by Perri Iandalo who looked composed during his time on the pitch.
Five minutes from time, Torquay could have halved the deficit. Lapslie got into a good position but he could only poke the ball at Covolan from close range.
Moments later, Iandolo could have added some gloss to the scoreline. Maidstone broke quickly after a Gulls free-kick broke down thanks to a slip and Iandolo blazed over with only Halstead to beat. This was to be the last meaningful attempt on goal from either side as the Stones comfortably saw out the nine minutes of stoppage time.
Torquay United: –
Maidstone United: Levi Amantchi 45, 68
Torquay United: 1. Mark Halstead, 4. Tom Lapslie, 9. Aaron Jarvis, 10. Lewis Collins (7. Ryan Hanson 81), 11. Brad Ash, 14. Brett McGavin (8. Asa Hall 75), 15. Finley Craske (3. Dean Martin 81), 16. Shaun Donnellan, 21. Dean Moxey, 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 27. Jack Stobbs. Subs not used: 22. Rhys Lovett, 24. Callum Thomas.
Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan, 18. Harry Kyprianou, 5. George Fowler, 6. Raphe Brown, 14. Michael Petrasso (7. Razzaq Coleman De-Graft 64), 15. Sam Bone, 8. Sam Corne, 16. Liam Sole (2. Gavin Hoyte 56), 11. Devonte Aransibia, 9. Sol Wanju-Smith, 17. Levi Amantchi (19. Perri Iandalo 71). Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 3. Elliott. Wenham, 10. Tyler Hatton, 20. Riley Court.
