Frankie Hvid made up for a first-half own goal by scoring a late equaliser as Maidstone left Torquay with a point.

Defender Hvid put through his own net to hand Torquay the lead in driving wind and rain at Plainmoor and the hosts missed the chance to double their advantage when Lenny Holden saved Cody Cooke’s penalty.

Hvid rescued a draw six minutes from time to salvage a point and keep Maidstone top of National League South, sending 234 travelling fans back to Kent happy.

Torquay had the wind in their favour in the first half but didn’t use it to their advantage.

They often took the easy option, banging the ball upfield and invariably it ran out of play.

The Gulls also failed to test Holden in what are always difficult conditions for goalkeepers - one of those days where it’s worth having a shot from 25 yards or more.

Maidstone, playing some neat football on the deck into the wind, were in the ascendancy when they fell behind midway through the first half.

The opener came in the 27th minute when the unfortunate Hvid, back in the starting XI, diverted Harry Shield’s harmless cross beyond Holden, who’d come off his line to claim.

Torquay were handed a chance to double their lead from the penalty five minutes later after Stones skipper George Fowler brought down Matt Jay in the box.

Cooke stepped up but Holden made a brilliant diving save low to his left to keep Maidstone in the game.

Holden got down well to deny Cooke again at the start of the second half after ex-Stone Deon Moore and Caleb Roberts combined on the edge of the box.

The Gulls made a bright start to the half, suggesting they were more comfortable playing into the wind, and it was down to the visitors to see how they could use the conditions effectively.

A counter-attack from the hosts saw Holden parry from Moore, with Jay fouling the Stones keeper on the follow-up, as Jimmy Ball’s men threatened once more.

Maidstone, like Torquay in the first half, struggled to create much and while Leone Gravata tried his luck from 20 yards, the shot went over Toby Savin’s crossbar.

They kept plugging away, however, and were rewarded with an 84th-minute equaliser when Hvid atoned for his own goal by nodding home at the back post after Torquay failed to deal with a Riley Court corner.

Torquay: Savin, Hill, Cooke, Shield, Moore, Jenkins, Wannell, Worthington, Olufunwa, Roberts, Jay (Hayfield 77mins). Subs not used: Bernard, Scarff, Beaumont-Clark, Cappello, Finn, Robertson.

Maidstone: Holden, Fowler, Hvid, Foran, Lusala (Boateng 65mins), Hanson, Stepien-Iwumene (Leech 65mins), Leahy (Uwakwe 90+4mins), Court, Gravata (Davis 85mins), Charles. Subs not used: Brookman, Boruk, Chime.

Referee: Dan England.

Attendance: 3,003 (234 away).