Torquay toil in the Trophy, as the Cup runs all end early for Gulls

Torquay United memories from cup competitions in the 2025/26 season will not be ones to savour, as the Gulls bowed out of the FA Trophy with a 2-0 home defeat to Maidstone.

United also fell at the first hurdle in the FA Cup, at AFC Totton, and even exited the Devon Bowl at Brixham.

This setback came courtesy of first-half goals from Dajon Golding, sweeping the ball past James Hamon after a goalmouth scramble, and then John Gilbert to side-footed past United’s stranded custodian.

Prior to those two killer blows inside five minutes around the half-hour mark, the Gulls had actually looked the more likely to break the deadlock.

Dan Hayfield struck the outside of the post with a 20-yard free-kick, Sonny Fish came within inches of poking the ball over the line and the Maidstone goalkeeper saved twice to thwart Jordan Young and Fish.

Gradually, however, the Stones grew in confidence and the two goals left United with a mountain to climb. Jordan Thomas had a shot deflected wide on the stroke of half-time but the second period never really got going for the Gulls, sporting their flashy purple third kit.

Dylan Morgan fizzed a drive narrowly over immediately after the restart and substitute Ed Palmer, deployed as an emergency forward, did force a decent save, but the Stones always looked fairly comfortable.

Knock-out football is over for Torquay United this season and those bad memories can be swept aside if league progress continues next weekend.