Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Torquay United 1: Daggers lose third home game in a row against Gulls

Sean McGinty of Torquay United and Corey Whitely of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

National League: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Torquay United 1 (K Moore 76)

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Oliver Hawkins of Dagenham & Redbridge and Sean McGinty of Torquay United (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Oliver Hawkins of Dagenham & Redbridge and Sean McGinty of Torquay United (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

Dagenham & Redbridge suffered a third home loss in a row in the National League after going down 1-0 to Torquay United.

Despite a plethora of chances, most of which involved Corey Whitely in some form, Daggers were unable to find a way through in the first half.

Their inability proved costly as the Gulls took a late lead and from then, there was only one side in the game.

The Essex club made two changes to face the Gulls, with skipper Scott Doe after a hamstring injury and Andre Boucaud after suspension back in the starting line-up.

Doe came in for Jimmy Shepherd, with Josh Staunton moving from centre-back to right-back, while Andre Boucaud replaced Scott Heard in a like-for-like swap.

Staunton was involved early on as he challenged for the ball in the air with Aman Verma, but was beaten to it by the Torquay midfielder, who headed over from 10 yards.

Six minutes later, Daggers had their first chance of note when Oliver Hawkins nodded a throw in the path of Whitely, who in turn flicked it to Luke Guttridge.

The former Luton Town playmaker struck a dipping half volley from the end of the area which Brendan Moore could only tip over for a corner before the Gulls cleared their lines.

Whitely was in the thick of the action again with a quarter of an hour gone, bursting into the box on the right and past Sean McGinty.

The ex-Enfield Town attacker played the ball across goal to Hawkins on the penalty spot, but good pressure from Giancarlo Gallifuoco prevent the striker from getting a telling touch.

In the 19th minute, the Victoria Road side nearly took the lead in spectacular fashion, but Staunton’s cross-cum-shot from the right flank just had a touch too much curl, taking it away from goal at the wrong moment.

Whitely certainly appeared to have the bit between his teeth and went close himself four minutes later after robbing the ball off Gallifuoco in the box.

However, the winger’s effort was straight at Brendan Moore, though the Gulls keeper could only grasp the ball at the second attempt.

The Essex club suffered a blow with 10 minutes left in the first half as Hawkins was forced off with injury and Paul Benson coming on in his place.

With two minutes left in the half, Whitely collected the ball after a Jordan Maguire-Drew cross bounced off McGinty, but blazed his effort from wide right position past the far post.

No breakthrough was forthcoming for either side before the break, but less than a minute after the restart, Whitely fired narrowly over from 25 yards.

Seven minutes later, Elliot Justham was called into action for the first time when David Fitzpatrick shot from 20 yards, but the effort was straight at the Daggers stopper.

In the 57th minute, Whitely burst forward again before sliding the ball back to Guttridge, whose effort from 15 yards was scuffed.

However, it fell kindly into the path of Maguire-Drew on the penalty spot, and only a tremendous save from Brendan Moore ensured it remained level.

Three minutes later, Daggers were a touch fortunate not to concede when a Kieffer Moore backheel found Jamie Reid six yards out, only for the Gulls attacker to shoot over.

Kieffer Moore was involved again in the 66th minute when laying the ball off to Aman Verma, but the midfielder’s effort from 18 yards was well saved by Justham.

Daggers continued to be pushed back and only a instinctive stop from Justham kept out a Kieffer Moore header four minutes later.

Justham could only push the ball onto the bar, and somehow substitute Nathan Blissett headed over the rebound when it looked almost impossible not to score.

Their pressure finally told in the 76th minute when a Blissett knockdown found Kieffer Moore, who turned Doe and fired past Justham from just inside the box.

The Devon outfit nearly had a second four minutes later, but Frankie Raymond did well to close down David Fitzpatrick and block his effort.

Rather than see the game out, Torquay were intent on killing the game off, and were only denied a second after Dan Sparkes was adjudged to have turned Blissett’s shot in from an offside position with four minutes left.

Two minutes later and only a stunning stop from Justham kept Daggers in the match, coming out quickly to close down Kieffer Moore.

Those efforts proved inconsequential with Daggers unable to find an equaliser, and they can perhaps take some solace from the fact they are on the road at Dover Athletic on Saturday.

Daggers (4-2-3-1): Justham; Staunton, Doe, Okuonghae, Widdowson; Boucaud, Raymond; Maguire-Drew (Assombalonga 64), Guttridge, Whitely; Hawkins (Benson 35)

Subs: Cousins, Hyde, Heard

Torquay (4-4-2): B Moore; Gallifuoco, McGinty, Gerring, Rowe-Turner; Fitzpatrick, Richards, Sparkes, Verma; K Moore, Reid (Blissett 65)

Subs: Robba, Chaney, Ward, McCoulsky

Attendance: 1,072 (including 106 Torquay fans)

Referee: Simon Barrow