The time has come for Torquay United to end the Maidstone hoodoo

Seven wins and a draw from ten games, up to third in the table, three points behind the leaders, 21 games to go and with nearly all their players fit – Torquay United are looking in pretty good shape.

And then who looms over the horizon to clench the teeth of all Gulls fans? Why, it’s Maidstone United!

If you’re in any doubt about your options for this Saturday afternoon, put them to one side, make an excuse or two and get along to Plainmoor.

No guarantees, of course, especially against Maidstone. Some Torquay supporters would rather take on an All-Star Arsenal-Man City side than their long-standing bogey team from Kent.

But you can bet that, because it’s the Stones and because there’s so much at stake, the atmosphere at TQ1 will be the best this season.

Quite how United have piled up such a dreadful record against Maidstone is a depressing saga of misfortune, missed chances, injuries at crucial moments and below-par performances.

Yet it all started, back in December 1989, with a win, 2-1 at Plainmoor in the old Fourth Division. Dean Edwards and Mark Loram scored.

But in 18 meetings since then, the record reads: W1 D4 L13 F12 A34.

That includes four cup defeats in which Torquay have scored once and conceded eleven times.

The latest came in the FA Trophy here in November, when a much-changed United side lost 2-0.

George Elokobi’s Stones come here in pretty good form themselves – unbeaten in five, up to eighth place and with a boost from the recent signing of lanky former Worthing striker Mo Faal.

So it all has the makings of a right old set-to between the two best supported teams in the NL South in front of a big, noisy Plainmoor crowd just aching to put an important dent in that painful, unwanted record.

Let’s face it, it’s about time..!