Maidstone United manager Craig Fagan hails the 234 away fans who made 450-round trip in dreadful conditions for 1-1 National League South draw at Torquay United

Manager Craig Fagan was quick to thank Maidstone’s travelling fans for their tremendous support at Torquay on Saturday.

A total of 234 made the 450-mile round trip to Devon in atrocious conditions and saw their side leave Plainmoor with a 1-1 draw.

Fagan was delighted to see their backing rewarded as Maidstone centre-half Frankie Hvid made amends for a first-half own goal by scoring an 84th-minute equaliser.

“Thank you to the fans that travelled,” said Fagan after Hvid’s late goal saw Maidstone retain top spot in National League South.

“It’s a long way to come, not knowing the game’s definitely going to be on in those conditions.

“Looking at the pitch at the end of the game, there’s puddles on it, so some of them have gambled with their money, which they work hard for, to come and watch us. The support was tremendous.

“They’re all in that one corner and the support is dragging the ball into that end and they’re cheering the boys on after every shot and every cross.

“We’re going to need them all season. The players need them and the fans need the players to get them going.

“It was a two-way thing today and I just want to thank them.”

Fagan enjoyed Hvid’s late header as much as the fans, celebrating with an uncharacteristic knee-slide in the Plainmoor mud.

Report: Torquay 1-1 Maidstone

His side trailed to Hvid’s 27th-minute own goal and would have conceded again but for Lenny Holden’s superb penalty save from Cody Cooke.

After digging in against the wind before the break, their second-half efforts paid off with Hvid’s header after Torquay made a mess of clearing Riley Court’s corner.

“It’s a well-earned point,” said Fagan. “It was disappointing to concede the way we did but I said to the players before the game, it was