Substitute James Alabi scored a late winner as Maidstone beat Torquay at the Gallagher.

Alabi had only been on the pitch four minutes when he crashed home the only goal after good work by Roarie Deacon.

The goal - Alabi's first for the club - came in the 87th minute and gave United their second National League win of the season.

It was very much a game of two halves, with the hosts hitting back after Torquay dominated the opening 45.

Maidstone handed a debut to defender Kodi Lyons-Foster at the expense Jack Cawley, while Bivesh Guring was handed his first start for his hometown club, with Henry Woods making way.

The Stones had won their previous six meetings with the Gulls - four in the National League, as well as FA Trophy and FA Cup wins.

But the first half belonged to the visitors, with Maidstone fortunate to be on level terms at the break.

Torquay seemed to pick up everything in midfield in the early stages and they used the ball better than Maidstone to create several decent opportunities.

They also kept the home defence busy with a barrage of Dean Moxey long throws from the left.

Torquay, whose manager Gary Johnson was Hakan Hayrettin’s boss at Cambridge in the 1990s, had a big chance with a minute played.

Corrie Andrews pounced on uncertain defending to play in Will Goodwin but Yusuf Mersin was sharply off his line to deny the striker just inside the box.

Torquay were in again seconds later, Mersin with a comfortable save from Andrews this time.

With Maidstone struggling to get a foothold in attack, Torquay had a golden opportunity just before half-hour.

Stones old boy Ross Marshall as the provider, clipping the ball into a big space between the centre-backs to Andrews but he missed the target.

Andrews went close again following a Moxey long throw and, shortly before half-time, he released Goodwin on the counter, a heavy touch giving Mersin the chance to come out and clear.

Maidstone’s only effort on goal in the first half was a 25-yard strike from Regan Booty, comfortably held by Mark Halstead.

The hosts made a better start to the second half, getting straight on the front foot.

Gavin Hoyte mishit the ball wide when found in a good position by Jack Barham, a lively run by Deacon took him into the box and forced a good save by substitute keeper Rhys Lovett - a replacement for the injured Halstead - and Booty’s goalbound shot was blocked from the resulting corner.

It was chalk and cheese from the first half, with Maidstone moving the ball quicker and showing purpose in possession.

The sting briefly went out of it past the hour mark - the heat perhaps playing a part in that - before Deacon threatened again with a cracking strike that was palmed over.

Substitute Cawley tested Lovett with a header from the corner, then a double block in the six-yard box denied Christie Pattisson and then Barham from the follow-up.

Lovett was equal to another good run and strike by Deacon, with Booty’s strike from the corner blocked at the near post.

Deacon’s duel with Lovett continued, the keeper tipping another decent strike over.

The breakthrough followed in the 87th minute.

Deacon was inevitably involved, going on a fine run into the box before squaring for Alabi to thump the ball into the top corner.

Maidstone: Mersin, Fowler, Lyons-Foster (Cawley 61mins), Ellul, Hoyte, Booty, Gurung, Odusanya, Pattisson (Alabi 83mins), Barham (Fawole 75mins), Deacon. Subs not used: Hadler, Woods.

Torquay: Halstead (Lovett 26mins), Crowe, Omar, Marshall, Hanson, Andrews, Evans (Lapslie 62mins, Donnellan 74mins), McGavin, Wyatt, Goodwin, Moxey. Subs not used: Iseguan, Hughes.

Referee: Garreth Rhodes.

Attendance: 2,216.