Dagenham & Redbridge 0
United 1
(Goodwin 41′)
There was delight at Dagenham on Saturday, as United clinched a 1-0 win at Victoria Road.
It was Will Goodwin who provided the match with its decisive moment, as his first half strike gave The Gulls their first win at The Daggers since 2016.
The Gaffer made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Gateshead last weekend, with Brett McGavin, Aaron Jarvis and the recalled Lucas Ness replaced in the starting line-up by Dylan Crowe, Ross Marshall and Goodwin.
Chances fell the way of both sides in the opening stages of the game, with the first coming for the hosts.
Dagenham broke down the right flank before Josh Walker was played through before having his low-driven effort saved by Mark Halstead at the near-post. Moments later United broke down the left flank with Stephen Wearne playing the ball central for Kieron Evans, who fired an effort from outside the box forcing Elliot Justham to save.
On 13 minutes Halstead was forced into action again, when a deflected cross by Junior Morias found Myles Weston at the far-post, whose drilled effort was denied by the United shot-stopper. Gary Johnson’s side went agonisingly close three minutes later, when a long, looped ball by Asa Hall cleared the home defence to be chased down by Dillon De Silva, with the winger shooting from inside the right side of the box, with the effort drilled just wide of the left-hand post.
The game remained closely contested, with a 35th minute home corner found a rising Harry Phipps, with the defender planted his header just wide.
The woodwork would come to United’s rescue shortly after, as another flag-kick found Manny Onariase, with his aerial effort this time clipping the top of the crossbar.
Torquay responded well and in the 41st minute, took the lead.
A long ball forward was chased down by De Silva on the right side of the box, before the QPR loanee sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal, with Goodwin only too happy to arrive in the nick of time at the near-post and bundle into the back of the net.
United skipper Asa Hall went close to doubling the advantage two minutes before the end of the first 45, when his shot from just outside the box went just over.
1-0 to United at the break.
It took the home side some time to impose themselves following the restart, however, once they did, a few openings came their way.
The Daggers were left rueing their luck shortly after the hour mark, as the woodwork intervened twice to keep Torquay’s lead intact.
First, substitute George Saunders cut down the right flank before his cross got caught in a gust of breeze and rattled the far-post, before the tricky Myles Weston sent a low cross from the left that another replacement, Jay Bird, threw a hopeful boot out – with the opposite upright this time upsetting the home faithful.
Proving the goalframes were equally happy to deny both sides, Kieron Evans saw his 25-yard drilled effort smack off the ‘bar on 77 minutes, before more chances came and went in the dying stages.
With four minutes left, Shaun Donnellan drove down the right wing before delivering the ball into the path of the onrushing Stephen Wearne, but with time against him, the on-loan man took one touch too many, as the ball was swiped from his feet at the last.
Johnson’s side were happy to soak up pressure thereafter, but with their magnificent backline holding firm, this hard-fought performance saw the team bring three very welcome points back to Plainmoor.
Dagenham & Redbridge: 1. Elliot Justham, 2. Josh Hare, 4. Dean Rance, 5. Emmanuel Onariase, 6. Omar Mussa (36. Jay Bird 59′), 7. Josh Walker, 11. Myles Weston, 12. Matt Robinson (c), 16. Harry Phipps, 24. Junior Morias, 35. Joel Taylor (14. George Saunders 59′).
SUBS NOT USED: 3. Elliot Johnson, 8. Mohammed Sagaf, 22. Arkell Jude-Boyd.
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Dylan Crowe, 6. Ross Marshall (23. Ollie Tomlinson 75′), 8. Asa Hall (c), 11. Kieron Evans (5. Ali Omar 90′), 12. Stephen Wearne, 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Will Goodwin, 21. Dean Moxey, 27. Dillon De Silva (10. Corie Andrews 80′), 35. Mark Ellis.
SUBS NOT USED: 5. Ali Omar, 22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Cards: Halstead 90+5′
Attendance: 1,624 (145 away)