Josh Hare was the late hero as Maidstone’s long winless run ended.

Defender Hare popped up with two minutes left to score the only goal against Torquay and give Jay Saunders’ men their first win in 18 National League games.

The celebrations in the stands - and on the touchline - were something else as weeks of frustration were put to bed.

Maidstone stuck with the 3-5-2 formation that showed so much promise against Boreham Wood and Tranmere, even if the results hadn’t gone their way.

But the first half was one of the quietest in recent weeks, with little action at either end.

Torquay centre-half Sean McGinty had the first chance after 20 minutes, flashing a header over from Luke Young’s near-post corner.

Three minutes later it was the Stones’ turn to threaten with Jack Paxman playing in Blair Turgott who was denied by keeper Vincent Dorel.

Turgott, playing up front alongside Ross Lafayette, worked Dorel again shortly after the half-hour mark while the keeper had a lucky escape after Lafayette charged down his attempted clearance.

There were a couple more chances at the other end, Alex Wynter and Alex Finney blocking from Liam Davis and Brett Williams, while Lee Worgan was out bravely at the feet of George Dowling after Torquay broke quickly down the left and crossed.

Maidstone put a series of balls into the Torquay box early in the second half but it took until the hour mark to forge a genuine chance.

It came from a Josh Hare cross with Joe Anderson heading the ball back across goal and Lafayette getting a touch but the ball was kept out on the goalline.

Jamar Loza replaced Paxman on the hour, going up front with Turgott now in behind.

Moments later Maidstone should have been behind with Worgan making a wonderful save from the unmarked Connor Evans’ header at the far post.

Evans headed the ball back the other way but Worgan somehow readjusted and made the block.

A brilliant from run from Loza almost led to a Maidstone opener, the substitute tricking his way into the box only for Dorel to get fingertips to his strike.

That lifted United and soon after Loza teed up Lafayette, whose fierce hit was acrobatically tipped over by the Gulls keeper.

Turgott had the ball in the net from Lafayette’s pass inside the last 10 minutes but the linesman’s flag was up.

There were two minutes left when Maidstone took the lead.

Lafayette’s header from an Anderson cross came back off the post and there was Hare to finish the rebound.

Gulls substitute Jon-Paul Pittman missed a glorious chance to level in the first minute of added time.

Maidstone: Worgan, Hare, De Havilland, Beckwith, Finney, Anderson, Wynter, Reason, Paxman (Loza 60mins), Turgott (Prestedge 89mins), Lafayette. Subs not used: Osei, Coker, Phillips.

Attendance: 2,211 (129 away).