Commentators wowed as late wonder goal from Maidstone player puts more misery on Torquay

Commentators were left wowed as a late wonder goal from Maidstone player Sam Corne puts more misery on Torquay in midweek.

The Gulls suffered more heartbreak, this time in Kent on Tuesday night, as Maidstone secured a last-minute victory, claiming all three points.

Torquay found themselves trailing early on after Matt Rush scored, but Asa Hall quickly got his side level. The hosts regained their lead at the beginning of the second half with a goal from Mo Faal, only for Torquay to level again through Ross Marshall.

But it was Maidstone who had the final say, as their captain, Sam Corne, scored a late winner to leave fans stunned. It has to be seen…

It’s just so beautiful, @samcorne96 🤩#TheVanarama | @maidstoneunited pic.twitter.com/TGBsybBNN5

— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) February 6, 2024

The result The result leaves Maidstone sitting 3rd in the National League South table with 53 points from 31 games played, while Torquay are 9th with 45 points from 30 games played.

Maidstone United scorers: Matt Rush 4, Mo Faal 48, Sam Corne 87

Torquay United scorers: Asa Hall 17, Ross Marshall 79

Maidstone United: 1. Lucas Covolan,4. Reece Greenidge, 5. George Fowler, 6. Raphe Brown, 16. Liam Sole (17. Jephte Tanga 66), 7. Jacob Berkeley-Agyepong (18. Bivesh Gurung 80), 8. Sam Corne, 15. Sam Bone, 10. Lamar Reynolds, 11. Mo Faal (9. Manny Duku 75), 20. Matt Rush.

Subs not used: 12. Harley Earle, 3. Chi Ezzenolim.

Torquay United: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Arkell Jude-Boyd, 3. Dan Martin, 4. Tom Lapslie, 5. Austen Booth, 6. Ross Marshall (10. Lewis Collins 83), 8. Asa Hall, 14. Brett McGavin, 18. Will Jenkins Davies, 19. Duane Ofori-Acheampong (11. Brad Ash 75), 21. Dean Moxey (30. Ethon Archer 55).

Subs not used: 17. Dillon De Silva, 22. Rhys Lovett.

Maidstone boss George Elokobi said: “Brilliant brilliant result for our football club, you know takes us in the right direction against a very very good side in Torquay, we know what we we was coming up against tonight in Gary Johnson’s team um but again it was a spectacle like you said um all the goals we scored absolutely brilliant and the the last goal from Sam Corne is going to be up there goal of the season I think, but again all credit to our group of players after the magnitude of the result on on Saturday we’ve challenged them to give us another excellent performance and they’ve replied and positively so big credit to them

“Yeah we knew it wasn’t going to be plain sailing, Torquay suffer the heavy defeat over the weekend and we knew they were going to be be looking for a reaction, they won’t go down without fighting in terms of you know in terms of the game the magnitude of the game today it’s always going to be a cagey affair between between us two we’ve played them twice and must say this is the first time this season we’ve done a double on a team and what a way to obviously go into the weekend now but again it’s about making sure the boys played really really well in terms of um our tactical plans in terms of how we wanted to execute the game, I thought in the first half we showed some really really good um patterns in terms of our plays um and we should have gone in at half time um I think 2-0 if I’m not mistaken, then the keeper made a brilliant save from Liam, so was an excellent move by the entire team and and you going all right could it be one of those days and then obviously we knew they weren’t going to just come out and and and lay down, they were going to come out fighting.

“And we expected them to react in the second half and again it’s about showing that resilient I’m going you know considering two goals but then we kept on going kept on being positive in our play and we’ve said to the players you know it’s about trusting yourself belief a little bit of belief if you’re in the final third and you know you can hit them um make sure hit the target and Sam Corne is let one fly and you know it was time for us to celebrate but at the same time made sure we was resilient make sure we was more organised in in our shape out of possession and also trying to hurt them in possession in areas that they didn’t want to go in so all do credit to the boys.”

Torquay boss manager Gary Johnson said: “I’m gutted for the boys, and I’m gutted for the fans.

“We know which group of people to go into the next few games with, because some of them have proved themselves now they’re ready to go, and they’ve got that bit between their teeth. We’ve got a couple more lads to come in, and I thought Austen and Arkell, that people haven’t seen, both had great games. Obviously they’ve seen Austen a couple of times, but I thought he had a fantastic game today.

“It’s great to see the fans clap the players, and the players clap them, often it’s not quite reciprocal when we haven’t played well, and I understand that, but we’ve got something to build on now – that team energy – and I thought we played well too.

“I was just proud of the lads today, because there’s been a bit of noise going round and going on, and we sort of understand that, but at the end of the day, they’ve shown that they are still fighting for this Football Club.”

With Maidstone ultimately grabbing an 87th winner after pouncing on a lapse from Gulls substitute Ethon Archer.

“It’s our mistake that lost the point. He did alright when he came on, but you can’t be dribbling in the defensive third when we’ve just come back to two-all. He’ll learn I hope, but it’s cost us. He’s a good player, but he needs to learn the game a bit, and he needs to respect the game.

“I thought the referee and the two linesmen didn’t give us as much as they gave them, and that’s not an excuse because I’m still proud of the lads. Fouls that were being given against us weren’t being given against them, and it sort of breaks up the momentum a little bit, but they [Maidstone] are very good at what they do, and that’s what they did tonight.”

“The lads went beyond the call of duty, because some of them had strains, and unfortunately you only get three subs in this league.

“He [Ross] had a hamstring injury, we’d have like to have taken him off after an hour just to save him, because we know he was brave enough to say ‘I want to stay in there’, and otherwise it was difficult – although I thought Arkell did well when he went in there.

“I don’t think he’s pulled it badly, but unfortunately he’s got something there that’s niggling, and it’s been there a little while.

“Of course, we’ve lost Ollie, we’ve lost Fin, so we’ll have to have a look at that and see what we can do before Saturday.”

🟡 Johnson Proud Of Players Despite Defeat

United manager Gary Johnson was proud of his side’s performance on Tuesday evening, despite a late winner for the hosts seeing Maidstone claim all three points.

👉 https://t.co/ylbMhoHOQ0#tufc pic.twitter.com/OunZEau0Py

— Torquay United AFC (@TUFC1899) February 7, 2024

Twitter users reacted with commentators wowed as a late wonder goal from Maidstone player Sam Corne puts more misery on Torquay…

@CovCityFanPage: @maidstoneunited aren’t fuckin about

@Oliver_ash_out: @samcorne96 what a goal🤩🤩🥺🥹

@ben_cfc123: What a goal, what a man @samcorne96

@Gaz_Fiore: Corney continues to be an inspiration to our WUFC & Rondos players .. what a guy

@justafan1m: “He’s been practicing that one in his garden”

@whoody02: Nice finish mate

@HotBalls5th: What a goal!

@RossBampton2: Standing behind that was unbelievable up the stones

@andymhunt3: What a screamer mate, well done another win in the bag.

@westhamfan76: The Maidstone Messi @samcorne96

@dewg1978: I’d do the lotto if I were him. Balon D’Or anyone?

@TerryLindsey1: You’re a joke thats unbelievable! X

@philstones87: Corney’s on 🔥

@FansMaidstone: THIS IS WHAT HE DOES!

@Coventrian7: Wow. Don’t give them space to shoot

@TnsCov: That would be so us to have to pick one of them out of our net some strike that 😅 #PUSB

@nnsracinggg: Corneys on fire 🚀

@dylanrobbins100: What a fucking goal