Maidstone United 1 Torquay United 0 match report: Charlie Seaman’s second-half strike secures crucial National League South victory for Stones

Charlie Seaman got the game’s only goal as Maidstone secured a big home win against Torquay on Saturday.

George Elokobi’s Stones had looked the much more threatening side for much of the game, but had to wait until the 76th minute to secure their 1-0 win when Seaman fired home.

The recalled Maidstone duo of Tayt Trusty and Sol Wanjau-Smith combined well on the right flank for the first chance in the fourth minute, Gulls goalkeeper James Hamon denying the latter from a tight angle.

Three minutes later, home defender Reiss Greenidge failed to hit the target as he latched onto a long throw before Seaman’s right-wing delivery flashed across goal during a bright Stones start.

Torquay threatened for the first time on 15 minutes as Maidstone keeper Alexis Andre Jr was quickly out to prevent Cody Cooke having a chance.

Soon after at the other end, left-sided player Ben Brookes sliced inches wide, with Hamon out of position.

Andre Jr had to be alert again to save and gather Finley Craske’s long-range shot and did likewise from the recalled Omar Mussa in similar circumstances.

Elokobi’s troops, who had picked up just a single point from their previous two fixtures, came desperately close to getting the game’s first goal shortly after the half-hour mark in front of a big crowd of 3,028 at the Gallagher Stadium.

A Trusty shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected against Hamon’s crossbar after a Brookes long throw was only half-cleared.

The away team were forced into a substitution in the goalless first half, which saw Ed Palmer come on for an injured Jordan Dyer.

Five minutes after the interval, Torquay winger Mussa saw his deflected shot saved by Andre Jr, with Wanjau-Smith drilling across the box soon after at the other