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Torquay United 'not good enough' in defeat to title rivals

Oscar Threlkeld, Captain of Torquay United looks dejected after losing  during the National League South match between Maidstone United and Torquay United at Gallagher Stadium, Maidatone on 1 February 2025. Photo: Josh Smith/PPAUK
-Credit:Josh Smith/PPAUK


“That’s not a good enough performance against a top-four, top-three team,” said Paul Wotton, after Torquay United were beaten by Maidstone United in Kent on Saturday.

It was the Gulls second defeat in a row after an unbeaten run that stretched back to the end of October. It might have only been 1-0 - but Maidstone were better than Torquay for most of the game, and after bringing in some big players over the last couple of months, the current yield of two points from the last four games is extremely disappointing.

But it’s still ridiculously tight at the top with Dorking Wanderers, Maidstone, Worthing and Eastbourne Borough all on 55 points, and the next two, Boreham Wood and Torquay, in sixth - both on 52.

READ MORE: Maidstone United 1 Torquay United 0 - Gulls lose ground in promotion race after narrow defeat

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Torquay did hold off Maidstone for 76 minutes before Charlie Seaman, who was excellent all game, struck with a shot from distance. Torquay did have chances, but like in the last four games, they weren’t able to take them.

-Credit:Josh Smith/PPAUK
-Credit:Josh Smith/PPAUK

Wotton said: “We’ve prepped all week and we knew exactly what was coming and in attacking areas I thought we lacked the quality today. I thought our final decision, our final cross, our final pass, was really, really poor.

“I am very disappointed. The three games before today were missed opportunities where I felt we played very well. I don’t think we played very well today. Even at the end there we are getting into good areas and we are not getting across people in box. We didn’t look like scoring a goal at all. Not a good day for us.”

Key centre back Jordan Dyer came back into the defence after a couple of games out injured, but didn’t last the 90 minutes, going off with the same or a similar problem just before half time. Omar Mussa came in for Dylan Morgan but neither player - when Morgan came on in the second half - did enough to be dangerous down the left. On the right, left-footer Jordan Young was unusually quiet.

-Credit:Josh Smith/PPAUK
-Credit:Josh Smith/PPAUK

Wotton said: “There was only ever going to be one goal in it and unfortunately we know how good a strike the lad who scored has got cause he did it down at our place - how no one goes out to block the ball, I’m dumbfounded. It’s not good enough. We bought some players on and we huffed and puffed but in all reality I don’t think we deserve anything out of the game.”

Young joined Dyer in coming off in the second half. Wotton said he thought Dyer’s injury was a recurrence of his hamstring pull, while Young’s injury - the manager thought it might be his groin. “It’s another negative on the day,” said Wotton.

Torquay are at home on Saturday against Eastbourne, who are currently fourth. Then they go to Worthing on Thursday. Wotton added: “You can’t sugarcoat it and you can’t hide behind it. We weren’t good enough today.”