Torquay United 1 Maidstone United 1 - Gulls grab late draw to stay unbeaten at home

Torquay United's unbeaten home record remains but only just after a disappointing performance by the Gulls this evening in a game against Maidstone United that ended in a 1-1 draw.

An 87th minute equaliser by defender Jay Foulston saved the Gulls' blushes after a performance that lacked bite where it counts - up front; while Torquay were off the pace all over the pitch. But on a night when there were only three National League South games, the point meant Torquay moved up from sixth to fourth - and they are four points off top team Weston-super-Mare.

After the 0-0 draw against Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, Cody Cooke came back after his one-match ban, with Brad Ash moving to the bench, but he struggled to win the ball up front all afternoon. Finn Tonks came in for Finley Craske and Lirak Hasani for Omar Mussa.

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The first 10 minutes were cat and mouse with both sides probing each other's defence. Cooke, after making a strong run, was brought down on the edge of the Maidstone area in the 15th minute but from the free kick Jordan Young shot straight into the wall. In the 24th minute the ball was worked out to the right side of the box and Tonks' shot was well tipped over the bar by Alex Andre Jr in the Maidstone goal.

Dan Hayfield hit a half-chance way over. At the other end, Sam Corne hit the ball over James Hamon's goal from 25 yards. A Hayfield shot was blocked just before half an hour. Back and forth: Maidstone's Tayt Trusty shot over from a good position after cutting inside from the left.

Sam Dreyer was careless with a tackle on the edge of the box in the 38th minute and from the free kick Charlie Seaman beat Hamon with a wicked strike - the ball curling around the wall and in at the Torquay goalkeeper's right hand side. Only two minutes were added on to what was a disappointing first half from the Gulls.

There were no changes at half time and Torquay didn't look much better. Too many players were going missing. Mussa came on for Hasani in the 55th minute. Cooke headed the ball straight at Andre Jr from a Carson cross in a move set up by Mussa, it was a great chance from a free header. But twice after that, Torquay were sloppy and gave the ball away in their own box. Keke Jeffers came on for Carson in the 61st minute.

Will Jenkins Davies shot over from the edge of the area in the 67th minute, A Mussa cross from a free kick had to be palm away for a corner by the goalkeeper. Palmer headed the ball wide from the cross into the box. Young cut inside from the left but shot over.
Foulston went down after an off-the-ball incident with Maidstone Harry Lodavica and there were claims of an elbow - but none of the officials and few of the crowd saw the incident. Sub Lodavica was subbed off soon after.

Hamon saved a Trusty shot with his feet as the game entered the last 10 minutes and Ash came on for Young. Jeffers tried an aerial volley at the back post from an Ash cross but failed to make contact with the ball.

Foulston got the equaliser in the 86th minute when Mussa sent in a free kick from the left. The defender rose well and the ball crept inside the far post with the goalkeeper slow to react to the header.

Oscar Threlkeld came on in the 89th minute and six minutes were added on as Mussa lined up a central free kick. The ball was headed over by a defender. Hamon made a great save with his legs; Mussa misplaced a pass when trying to find Cooke up front. In the end, Gulls fans were quiet at the whistle, but after that showing, probably went home happy to have saved a point.