Maidstone United’s long trip west to Devon ended with three points from a hard-fought match where defensive errors were responsible for four of the five goals.
Yemi Odubade’s first for the club on 16 minutes opened the scoring, with Liam Enver-Marum doubling the lead three minutes later, his third in 5 games. Torquay gave themselves some hope on 38 through Nathan Blissett, but the Stones restored the two goal lead through Odubade’s second three minutes into the second half. A 55th minute Dan Sparkes strike brought the deficit back to one, and despite Torquay throwing everything at the Maidstone defence, it was the Kent side who emerged victorious.
For two teams who were matching up formation-wise, the space for the creative players appeared to be in wide positions. Maidstone had the first sight of goal from Jack Evans’ long ball over the Torquay back four, with Liam Enver-Marum controlling the pass, then swivelling to
fire wide of the right hand post.
Torquay’s opening chance also came from a long-ball that wasn’t cleared properly. Dan Sparkes saw his initial cross deflected by Tom Mills. The visiting defence couldn’t find a way to clear their lines, with the ball dropping to Damon Lathrope, 25-yards out, whose left foot shot was well held to his left by Lee Worgan.
Maidstone broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, with Yemi Odubade scoring one of the simplest goals he will ever be presented with; his
first for the club. Enver-Marum’s quick throw on the right was swung into the box by Bobby-Joe Taylor, looking for the run of Alex Flisher.
Right-back Aman Verma, tracking Flisher’s run, only diverted the cross back into the 6-yard box, where Odubade could slam the ball into an
empty net.
Within 3 minutes, another defensive mistake allowed Maidstone to double the lead. A straight Taylor freekick from halfway was flicked by
Flisher into the path of Enver-Marum. The Torquay defence stopped expecting a flag, allowing the Stones’ forward to send Brendan Moore the wrong way with his composed finish.
Torquay sent the alarm bells ringing on 24 though as skipper Giancarlo Gallifuoco found time and space inside the box to meet Luke Young’s left wing corner, but the defender’s knee directed the chance against the outside edge of the left post.
Maidstone continued to have joy in behind the Torquay full-backs, as Jamie Coyle found Odubade running in. The forward cut back past Verma, but his low shot was comfortable for Moore. Then, with Flisher off the field receiving treatment, James Rogers picked up a Torquay clearance and quickly moved the ball wide to Taylor. The winger and Enver-Marum combined to send Taylor in behind the right side, and his low cross was met by Kevin Lokko, but deflected for a corner.
Torquay started to work their way back into the game after the 35th minute. Jamie Reid had a low shot comfortably saved by Worgan after
cutting in from the right, and Sparkes saw an effort drift wide left.
The home side’s revival resulted in a goal on 38, as the Maidstone defence this time stopped looking for an offside decision. Damon
Lathrope got into the middle of a crowd of Maidstone players to poke a pass forward, with Nathan Blissett running past the static defence to
clinically slot his shot past Worgan.
With confidence restored, Torquay swarmed forward, drawing a freekick on the left edge of the Maidstone box. Young shaped his set piece over the wall, but also over Worgan’s crossbar.
The home side came close to levelling in the opening seconds of the second half, with Blissett’s flick being picked up by Reid, cutting in
from the right. Reid’s throughball released Sparkes, who shot wide, but the offside flag had already been raised.
Maidstone capitalised on another defensive horror show from their hosts to score their third on 48. Rogers did well to intercept inside the
Torquay half, with Flisher flicking a ball over the defence into the path of Odubade. The forward’s initial volley was parried up by Moore,
with Odubade reacting quickest to tap into an empty net.
Back came the home side again, with their best move of the match. Young slid a pass In behind Flisher on the left for the overlapping
Lathaniel Rowe Turner. His pull-back reached the feet of Blissett, who scuffed a shot goalwards, into the path of Sparkes, whose powerful shot was too hot for Worgan.
Once again, it was the home side imposing themselves on the game, with Maidstone being forced to alter their formation to counter a rampant Torquay side. Tom Mills and Lokko had to make timely interceptions on the left side of the defence to stop balls into the box, with Odubade becoming increasingly isolated.
Young’s delivery from freekicks continued to cause concern, but there always seemed to be a Maidstone head in the way as Torquay threw more and more bodies forward. Taylor was doing a manful job helping out Jack Evans to block crosses from the left wing, and even when a loose ball fell centrally to Sam Chaney, Lokko was in the way again.
On a rare foray forward, Jack Paxman had a shot that ran past the left upright, and in stoppage time, Paxman was released by Coyle’s hopeful ball forward, misjudged by Gallifuoco, but the midfielder delayed to long and the eventual chance for Tom Murphy was from an acute angle.
Maidstone nearly paid for this with the last kick of the match, as Sparkes was found in space on the edge of the Stones’ box, but his left
foot effort shaved the left post just before the full-time whistle sounded.
TORQUAY UNITED: 1- Brendan Moore; 12- Aman Verma, 5- Giancarlo Gallifuoco, 15- Sean McGinty, 3- Lathaniel Rowe Turner; 4 Damon Lathrope (7- Sam Chaney 61), 8- Luke Young, 10- Courtney Richards (19- Joe Ward 74); 11- Dan Sparkes, 18- Jamie Reid (17- Chay Scrivens 83), 9- Nathan Blissett.
Subs not used: 6- Ben Gerring, 26- Jamie Robba.
Goals: Nathan Blissett 38, Dan Sparkes 55
Caution: Courtney Richards 63
MAIDSTONE UNITED: 1- Lee Worgan; 12- Jack Evans, 4- Jamie Coyle, 5- Kevin Lokko, 3- Tom Mills; 8- Dan Sweeney, 6- James Rogers, 16- Bobby-Joe Taylor; 11- Alex Flisher (10- Jack Paxman 65), 23- Yemi Odubade (17- Ben Greenhalgh 78), 24- Liam Enver-Marum (14- Tom Murphy 72).
Subs not used: 15- Anthony Acheampong, 25- Nathan Mavila.
Goals: Yemi Odubade 16 & 48, Liam Enver-Marum 19
Cautions: Jamie Coyle 43, James Rogers 63, Jack Paxman 66
Attendance: 2,026 (280 away)
Referee: Mr S Allison
Assistants: Mr B Cobb and Mr S Wales
Fourth Official: Mr C Hubbard