Gulls seek revenge as league-leading Stones roll into Plainmoor

Torquay United weren’t the only fancied club to be knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend, but there’s only one way to put a disappointment like that right and a home game against the league leaders is as good a chance as any.

Maidstone United – yes, them again! – head for Plainmoor on Saturday, like the Gulls with only the National League South and the FA Trophy to worry about.

They didn’t make it past the Cup 2nd Qualifying Round – Isthmian League Cray Wanderers put paid to them (2-0) in a replay at the Gallagher Stadium.

‘Too many average performances’ was manager Jimmy Ball’s main take on the Oxford City defeat, and Gulls fans are still waiting for a truly convincing display to justify that pre-season favourites tag.

Of course, there’s no Young, Morgan, Dreyer any more, the injured Dyer or, still, Louis Dennis.

But, sooner rather than later, the new group needs to get Plainmoor rocking again as it was at the end of last season.

Ball rightly pointed out this midweek that the only time that counts is next Spring, not this Autumn.

Key midfielder Sonny Blu Lo-Everton with a persistent foot injury and strikers Callum Morton and Isaac Westendorf are all doubts.

But, in the wake of that 11-0 breeze against Holsworthy in the Devon Bowl on Tuesday night, everyone else is fit.

And, despite picking up his fifth booking of the campaign in the Cup last Saturday, Munashe Sundire is not suspended for the league.

Until they start turning it around, United’s record against Maidstone is bound to remain a cloud over their rivalry.

It has become more than a bogey for the Gulls.

In 20 league and cup meetings between the two clubs going back to the 1989-90 season, the ‘score’ for Torquay reads: W2 D5 L13 F16 A36.

Even last season they played each other three times, including twice at Plainmoor in the league and Trophy, and the Stones still emerged with a win and two draws.

Still, these things hopefully have to change sometime...

The visitors kept things in-house when popular manager George Elokobi left at the end of last

season, promoting his No.2 Craig Fagan, the former Colchester, Hull, Derby and Gillingham striker.

Their campaign did not start auspiciously, with a 2-1 home defeat to Farnborough, but since then they’ve gone W8 D1 L2.

Five of those eight wins have come away from home.

Long-serving George Fowler remains a cornerstone in defence, while Leon Gravata supplies space out wide and ex-Gull Ryan Hanson experience in midfield.

But it’s in attack where Maidstone carry a real variety of threats.

In Riley Court, 20, they have a promising home-grown forward who is starting to attract attention from EFL and National League clubs.

And three summer signings currently hitting it off are centre-forward Ken Charles, picked up from The New Saints in Wales, former Millwall starlet Nana Boateng and Tom Leahy from Kent rivals Tonbridge Angels.

Leahy has six goals so far and Charles and Court four each.

Saturday’s referee is Dan England from Huntingdonshire.

Elsewhere this weekend Ebbsfleet (2nd), still unbeaten after ten games following their return from suspension, are at home to Maidenhead.

Surprise packets Salisbury (3rd) entertain Dover, Truro (5th) go to Hampton & Richmond, it’s Weston-super-Mare (8th) v Billericay (4th) and Dagenham (7th) host Chesham.