Torquay United came from behind in a five-goal thriller to beat Folkestone 3-2 at Plainmoor in a dramatic English Conference South Division encounter on Saturday, 5 September 2026. The Gulls extended their unbeaten home record thanks to a determined second-half comeback in front of the Yellow Army.

A frantic opening

Folkestone arrived with a clear game plan to sit deep and strike on the break, and it paid off inside the first fifteen minutes when a rapid counter-attack saw the visitors finish coolly past the Torquay keeper. The early setback rattled Plainmoor, but United responded with patience and urgency in equal measure.

Torquay began to dominate possession, and their persistence was rewarded when a corner was headed home at the near post to level the match before the half-hour mark. The equaliser lifted the home side, and they created several further opportunities, only for Folkestone’s keeper to produce a string of fine saves to keep the game level into the interval.

Second-half drama

The visitors stunned the home crowd again just after the restart, regaining the lead with a well-placed effort from outside the box. But Torquay’s response was immediate. Within five minutes, a flowing passing move carved Folkestone open, and a tidy finish made it 2-2.

With the momentum firmly with the Gulls, they pushed forward for a winner. Their relentless pressure finally told with twenty minutes remaining as a low drive from the edge of the area found the bottom corner to spark wild celebrations in the stands. Folkestone had no answer in the closing stages, and Torquay saw out the remaining passages to claim a valuable three points.

Key talking points

• Torquay United’s attacking resolve proved decisive, as they converted three of their clear-cut chances against a stubborn Folkestone defence.
• The Gulls’ home form continues to be a platform for their ambitions in the Conference South Division this season.
• Folkestone will take positives from their away display and will be frustrated to leave Plainmoor empty-handed after twice leading.

The 3-2 victory strengthens Torquay’s position in the early Conference South standings and underlines their status as one of the division’s more dangerous attacking outfits. Folkestone, meanwhile, will look to tighten up defensively ahead of their next fixture as they aim to climb the table.