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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 end.
The hosts again went agonisingly close in the 54th minute. Aaron Blair did well and crossed from the right, only for a sea of on-rushing players to - somehow - not get the all-important final touch as they slid in.
After a number of changes, Andre Jr had to be at his very best, parrying a 25-yard Dan Hayfield piledriver to safety while at full stretch on 64 minutes.
As the game headed towards the final 15 minutes, Stones substitute Ricardo German sent a Brookes corner wide at the near post.
But the well-earned home breakthrough finally came in the 76th minute. Seaman was left in too much space and arrowed beyond Hamon from 20 yards out to find the bottom corner, sparking joyous scenes.
Maidstone had looked fairly comfortable until the second minute of five of second-half stoppage time when George Fowler made a critical interception.
Hold on they did, though, for a valuable three points in their promotion push.
The result leaves second-placed Maidstone only behind leaders Dorking on goal difference.
Stones manager Elokobi, who had celebrated his 39th birthday a day before the match, made two changes from the team that were held to a goalless draw at 10-man Chelmsford on Monday.
Trusty and Wanjau-Smith came in for Shaq Coulthirst and Hemel Hempstead loanee German, who dropped to the substitutes’ bench.
For the away team, Dyer and Mussa replaced Dylan Morgan and Palmer after last weekend’s 1-0 home loss to Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Versatile midfielder Arj Krasniqi wasn’t involved in Maidstone’s squad despite being recalled from his loan with Isthmian Premier high-fliers Billericay while skipper Sam Corne (calf) also missed out again.
Maidstone will be at Slough next weekend.
Maidstone United: Andre Jr, Eweka, Brookes (Brown 85mins), Greenidge, Fowler, Higgs, Blair, Seaman, Trusty, Wanjau-Smith (Court 73mins), Johnson (German 59mins). Subs not used: Coulthirst, Holden.
Torquay United: Hamon, Craske, Dyer (Palmer 44mins), Dreyer, Young (Hasani 64mins), Mussa (Ilnesanmi 61mins), Threlkeld, Cooke, Hayfield (Jenkins-Davies 78mins), Thomas, Jay (Morgan 78mins).
Referee: George Laflin.
Attendance: 3,028 (287 away fans).