Maidstone climbed out of the National League relegation zone with an exciting victory over Torquay on Saturday.

Delano-Sam Yorke gave United the lead with a goal on his home debut as Jay Saunders’ men dominated.

Substitute Brett Williams levelled with a strike out of nothing but the excellent Jack Paxman gave Maidstone their first win in six.

Lee Worgan then saved a late Williams penalty as the Stones claimed their first league double of the season.

Maidstone, with Ebbsfleet loanee Stuart Lewis making his debut in midfield, flew at Torquay in a blistering start.

They could have been two up inside a couple of minutes, Sam-Yorke almost finding the top corner, then shaking off two defenders and crossing for Bobby-Joe Taylor whose first touch let him down, giving Brendan Moore a chance to block.

Lewis put a header just over after Jamie Coyle helped Taylor’s free-kick back across goal, then Seth Twumasi cut inside from Jamar Loza’s pass but pulled his shot wide.

Chances continued to flow, Paxman finding Taylor whose cross was put wide by Loza from two yards out.

Lewis had a shot blocked, Sam-Yorke pulled an effort wide after a good run, then Loza’s lob brought a good save from Moore.

Torquay, whose only effort of note was a deflected effort from Aman Vermam, remained on the back foot.

But when Lewis missed by inches after Reece Prestedge and Sam-Yorke combined smartly on the edge of the box, they survived the first half without conceding.

Maidstone were at it again at the start of the second half, Loza bearing down on goal from Paxman’s lovely pass but seeing his shot blocked.

It was probably United’s most dominant performance of the season and the goal they deserved finally turned up in the 53rd minute, Loza’s pull-back buried by Sam-Yorke eight yards out.

But Torquay levelled 10 minutes later with a goal out of nothing, Brett Williams getting the better of Coyle from a ball over the top and lobbing Worgan.

The goal briefly silenced the ground, lifted Torquay and it it took a decent save from Worgan to deny Maidstone-born Sean McGinty soon after.

Stones, though, were back in front on 69 minutes, Paxman taking a touch and thumping home after Loza’s shot was parried by Moore.

A mad few seconds saw Moore pull off a wonderful double save from Taylor and then Alex Flisher, with Torquay breaking down the other end and winning a 79th-minute penalty when Williams was fouled by Anthony Acheampong.

Williams stepped up but Worgan got down low to his left to keep out the spot-kick before pushing it out for a corner.

Moore made a flying save from Flisher as Stones threatened a third in the closing minutes.

Maidstone: Worgan, Twumasi, Mills, Coyle, Acheampong, Lewis, Paxman (Rogers 90mins), Prestedge, Loza (Flisher 75mins), Sam-Yorke, Taylor. Subs not used: Lokko, Karagiannis, N'Guessan.

Attendance: 2,455.