TALKING POINTS

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve discusses the game at Plainmoor

HAYFIELD FREE KICK

Last season against Truro City in the same stage of the competition, a free-kick from Dan Hayfield from the edge of the penalty area proved to be the difference for the Gulls at this stage of the competition. In the eighth minute against Maidstone, United won a free-kick on the edge of the area after Jordan Young had been fouled, which Hayfield stepped up to take and, on this occasion, he agonisingly struck the post.

It’s often said that goals change games and had Hayfield’s effort found the net could history have repeated itself and the Gulls have progressed in the FA Trophy against a fellow National League South outfit – and one of their bogey sides to boot? Maybe, but we’ll never know.

YOUNG STANDS OUT AGAIN

United winger Jordan Young was arguably the Gulls’ brightest performer, and was also voted as man of the match by the sponsors.

In the 13th minute, he cut in from the right and tested Maidstone keeper Lenny Holden with a shot before Sonny Fish (more on him later) was denied from the rebound.

Throughout the game, he remained the Gulls’ greatest attacking threat and in the second half, he picked out Jordan Dyer with a free-kick in the 73rd minute which Dyer nodded towards goal – only to be denied by Holden in the Maidstone. Then in the 90th minute, his through ball found Matt Jay who drew another save from Holden, as United huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a way past the Maidstone back line.

He also worked tirelessly throughout, and showed a willingness to track back and make a number of tackles, in what was arguably one of his best games for the club in terms of work rate alone.

FIRST START FOR FISH

After making a number of cameo appearances from the bench, Sonny Fish was handed his first start by United manager Paul Wotton. The former Crawley Town man started brightly and was unlucky not to score on 13 minutes when he latched onto a rebound from Jordan Young’s initial effort.

Fish continued to lead the line well, but still looked short for real match sharpness. He later switched to the left-hand side of United’s attack after Ed Palmer replaced Dylan Morgan, who was deployed as a makeshift centre forward.

He then exited the field of play on 64 minutes as Denzel Aykeampong entered the fray in his place. However, Fish did show signs that he can offer a viable alternative to Cody Cooke when fully up to speed.

UNITED DOWN TO THE BARE BONES

Paul Wotton was only able to name four subs on Saturday against Maidstone, which included rookie goalkeeper Matt Wonnacott and Aiden Edwards, the 17-year-old son of assistant manager Mike Edwards.

As well as being without long term injury victims Cody Cooke and Monashe Sundire, the Gulls were also without skipper Matt Worthington, Callum Dolan and Louis Dennis, and their absence was keenly felt by United. Wotton will be hoping that at least two, if not all three, of them will be available when United host Eastbourne Borough in National League South next Saturday.

FOCUS ON THE LEAGUE

Aside from their appearance in the final under Paul Buckle in 2007-08 and reaching the semi-finals under Chris Hargreaves in 2014-15, Torquay United’s record in the FA Trophy is modest to say the least.

Whilst making it through a couple of rounds would have been welcome, not to mention the prize money, further progress in the competition would also lead to a number of their fixtures needing to be re-arranged.

Although any fixture congestion wouldn’t be as bad as it was for Buckle’s side of 2007-08, who at one stage were playing Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday between Saturday 12th April 2008 and Saturday 19th April 2008, United would be potentially be facing a regular Saturday-Tuesday routine.