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Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve discusses the draw at Plainmoor

THREE REDS

If anyone predicted beforehand that there would be three red cards issued when Torquay United faced Maidstone United, then Nostradamus would like his glasses back.

Right-back David Sesay was dismissed for the Stones after an ‘off the ball’ altercation with United skipper Sam Dreyer and a scuffle followed involving Sesay and United keeper James Hamon.

Then, late on, Louis Dennis received a straight red card for grappling with Maidstone substitute John Gilbert and moments later, Jordan Young was awarded a second yellow card for protesting against a goal kick being given instead of a corner.

So, within a space of a minute, Torquay went from having a one-man advantage to a one-man disadvantage. Fans of a certain age will recall the Gulls’ encounter with Brentford in 1991, in which Gary Blissett was dismissed for his now infamous elbow on John Uzzell and they would probably also remember Marcus Gayle being dismissed for the Bees and Paul Compton was sent off for the Gulls, however Saturday’s match wasn’t in the same league as that one.

United are now potentially looking at a three-match ban for Dennis and a one-match ban for Young, which would leave the Gulls without their two leading scorers when they travel to Enfield Town next Saturday.

DYER AND DREYER

Despite the game seeing three dismissals, the Gulls’ centre back pairing of Jordan Dyer and Sam Dreyer deserve a lot of credit for displays of controlled aggression after playing the majority of the game on a yellow card.

Dyer was booked after conceding the free-kick from which Maidstone took the lead through Riley Court in the 21st minute, whilst Dreyer was booked following the meelee which led to David Sesay receiving his marching orders.

The pair did an excellent job to keep Mo Faal and later Hamzad Kargbo at bay, and left-back Jay Foulston also made an important block at the end to keep the Stones at bay.

MORGAN UP TO 5

When Dylan Morgan found the back of the net with United’s equaliser on 29 minutes, it was his fifth of the campaign

His strike against Hampton and Richmond Borough made him United’s third top scorer behind joint leading scorers Louis Dennis and Jordan Young, and his effort against the Stones strengthens his grip on third place in the scoring charts.

THE RACE FOR PROMOTION CONTINUES

Results elsewhere mostly went in United’s favour as Worthing’s draw with Horsham means that the Gulls remain three points behind the league leaders. United are also a point behind Weston-super-Mare after the Seagulls lost 1-0 to Chelmsford City.

However, Hornchurch’s 2-0 win over Eastbourne Borough lifts them above the Gulls and into second place in the table. Also, the outcome of the Urchins’ FA Trophy tie with AFC Telford United will determine whether their clash with the Gulls will go ahead on January 31.

United may well look back on Saturday as a point gained, just as they did when they drew the Stones at the Gallagher Stadium last August.