A superb strike from Charlie Seaman was enough to see the Stones edge past Torquay and pick up their first win in three matches, as Maidstone kept up the pace at the top of National League South.

The Stones enjoyed more of the attacking play in the first half, with Seaman posing questions for the visitors defence when crossing from the right. With four minutes gone, Tayt Trusty chipped a nice ball into Sol Wanju-Smith. Wanju-Smith ran to the by-line and as he attempted to pull it back to the waiting Aaron Blair, James Hamon in the Torquay goal got a touch to concede a corner.

A long throw from Ben Brookes pinged around in the box. It dropped to Reece Greenidge and his stabbed effort cleared the bar.

George Fowler then put a high cross into the box. Hamon was unable to clear the ball and it fell to Brookes who sliced his shot just wide of the left post.

Torquay’s first shot on target of the afternoon came on 22 minutes. Finley Craske elected for an early drive and Alexis Andre Jr made a comfortable save.

Maidstone went close to opening the scoring with 34 minutes gone. A long throw from Brookes came to Trusty who drove the ball through a crowd of players and it took a notable deflection as it rose up onto the bar.

Just before the break, another Brookes throw wasn’t cleared by the Gulls, This time Jordan Higgs had a shot which was blocked and Wanju-Smith played a simple pass back to Baylin Johnson whose effort failed to trouble Hamon.

Four minutes after the restart, Jordan Young found himself in a lot of space. He found Omar Mussa whose shot took a slight nick and Andre Jr stopped the ball going behind for a corner.

Seaman then picked out Wanju-Smith as Sam Dreyer slipped. Wanju-Smith put an enticing low cross which went all the way across goal. Not long after this, Aaron Blair did well to control a hard ball forward from Seaman. He ran all the way to the by-line before delivering a fine low cross but neither Wanju-Smith nor Johnson could get the vital touch.

The Stones then had Andre Jr to thank for keeping the scores level. Dan Hayfield let fly from close to the edge of the area and Andre Jr made a fantastic flying save to parry the ball.

On 73 minutes, a low shot from Blair took a slight deflection and it had Hamon diving as it went just wide. From the resultant corner, Brookes crossed to the near post and substitute Ricardo German’s header went inches wide.

Then three minutes later, Maidstone grabbed the winner. Seaman ran forward, with Blair peeling off to the right, before Seaman spotted the opportunity and unleashed a fabulous drive inside the left post.

Maidstone United: Charlie Seaman 76

Torquay United: –

Maidstone United:1. Alexis Andre Jr, 5.George Fowler, 2. Temi Eweka, 4. Reiss Greenidge, 3. Ben Brookes (6. Raphe Brown 84), 14. Tayt Trusty, 7. Jordan Higgs, 11. Charlie Seaman, 15. Sol Wanju-Smith (17. Riley Court 73), 16. Baylin Johnson (20. Ricardo German 59), 9. Aaron Blair. Subs not used: 13. Lenny Holden10. Shaquile Coulthirst.

Torquay United: 1. James Hamon, 2. Finley Craske, 4. Jordan Dyer (16. Ed Palmer 44), 5. Sam Dreyer, 26. Jordan Thomas, 20. Dan Hayfield (29. Dylan Morgan 78), 18. Oscar Threlkeld, 8. Jordan Young (7. Lirak Hasani 64), 10. Omar Mussa (25. Emmanuel Ilesanmi 61), 27. Matt Jay (22. Will Jenkins-Davies 78), 19. Cody Cooke. Subs not used: –