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Frustrated Torquay United head coach Gary Owers was caught up in the extraordinary 'Case Of The Missing Home Team' last night.

It took Owers seven-and-a-half hours to reach Maidstone United's Gallagher Stadium in Kent, ready to spy on the Gulls' National League opponents this Saturday.

The Stones' opponents, NL leaders Macclesfield Town, and some of their supporters also made it in good time for the match.

The only problem was that there was no Maidstone team to play them.

A multi-car accident on the M25 near the Dartford Bridge had trapped most of the Stones' squad in their cars, and there was no escaping.

Five home players did report for duty, plus injured Ollie Muldoon and suspended Stuart Lewis, but not nearly enough to form a team.

The referee could have insisted that the match go ahead if Maidstone had seven fit players, but after talks with club officials and Kent police, the game was postponed.

"I made it all the way, unfortunately," reported Owers. "I left Torquay at 11.40am, arrived at 7.10pm and was ready in place and waiting for the game," said Owers.

"It turned into a bit of a nightmare day really."

Maidstone's veteran chief executive Bill Williams, who revealed that all their players usually report for midweek home games at least an hour and a half before kick-off, said that he had never known a comparable incident in 50 years in the game.

Torquay are due to play Maidstone at the all-weather Gallagher Stadium this Saturday (3pm).