United 1
(Jarvis 45+1′)
Dagenham & Redbridge 2
(Effiiong pen 78′, 90+4′)
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There was heartbreak for United on Saturday, as Dagenham came from behind to steal all three points at Plainmoor.
Aaron Jarvis’ strike just before the break put Gary Johnson’s ahead, however United couldn’t hang onto that lead, with Inih Effiong notching two late goals, first from the penalty spot, before adding a late winner in stoppage time.
The Gaffer made two changes to the side that secured a 1-1 draw at Gateshead last time out, with Asa Hall and Lewis Collins replacing Brett McGavin and Tope Fadahunsi. Jack Stobbs retained his place in the starting XI to make his home debut, whilst The Gulls’ much-heralded new signing Frank Nouble took his place on the substitutes bench.
The men in yellow were on the front foot from the first whistle, with Kieron Evans at the heart of most of Torquay’s most promising early moves. There wasn’t much to report in the way of clear-cut chances until the 17th minute, as United created the first goalscoring opportunity of the game.
Stobbs, making the most of the space afforded to him wide on the right, delivered a delicious cross to the back post, where the onrushing Hall met the ball – however he could only glance his header wide of the woodwork.
Stobbs took centre stage again three minutes later, this time with a rasping drive from 20 yards that was heading into the top-left corner, causing visiting goalkeeper Josh Strizovic to scramble across his line and palm the ball behind.
Evans was next to try his luck, with an ambitious effort from just outside the D, however on this occasion his right-footed shot lacked the required power or precision to seriously trouble Strizovic, although it did take two goes for the Dagenham glovesman to get the ball completely under his control.
Johnson’s side remained in the ascendancy as the half wore on, however just when it appeared that the game would remain scoreless at the interval, The Gulls’ leading scorer struck in style.
Picking up a loose ball 20 yards from goal, Jarvis took a moment to set his sights before lashing the ball wide of Strizovic’s despairing dive, and into the back of the net.
It was a sumptuous strike, and provided United was a timely boost at the change of ends.
The resumption initially saw little change in the pattern of the encounter, as Johnson’s side continued to pose most of the attacking questions.
Eager for a second goal to bolster their bid for the three vital points on offer, they nearly had their wishes answered ten minutes in, as a central free-kick saw Jarvis’ header up into the area provide Ross Marshall with a chance to profit, however the advancing centre-back could only steer his own header wide of the far upright.
As the match clock hit the hour-mark, The Gulls remained in charge in terms of both possession and scoreline, but with the lead still just a single goal, the result remained in the balance.
A low 20-yarder from Matt Robinson did provide Mark Halstead with his first piece of action, although with the effort so close too him, it didn’t send too many pulses racing.
The introduction of Nouble, midway through the second period, drew a hearty cheer from the Yellow Army, and the ex-West Ham striker wasted little time in making his opponents aware of his introduction.
The Daggers though, were quietly playing their way into the contest for the first time, and twelve minutes from time, they restored parity via the penalty spot.
A swift counter attack caught Johnson’s side on the back foot, and with Marshall’s challenge on substitute Sydney Ibie deemed illegal, Effiong placed the ball on the spot before duly firing home to make it all-square.
Torquay kept plugging away, as they always do, but no amount of will or desire could spark a winner, despite a brief spell of euphoria, as Nouble stooped to head home at point-blank range – an offside decision brought the celebrations to a rather abrupt conclusion.
Another point on the board seemed to be the end result, however in injury time, they were robbed of even that scant consolation.
With the Torquay players camped upfield in hope of finding a late, late winner, Effiong drove dangerously into left-hand side of the United penalty area, before cutting inside and drilling home inside Halstead’s near-post to make it 1-2.
A crushing blow, but with two tough away games ahead, Johnson’s men have no choice but to dust themselves down and go again.
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead (c), 6. Ross Marshall, 8. Asa Hall (c) (14. Brett McGavin, 88′), 9. Aaron Jarvis, 11. Kieron Evans (45. Frank Nouble, 67′), 16. Shaun Donnellan, 19. Nico Lawrence, 21. Dean Moxey, 27. Jack Stobbs, 28. Kevin Dawson, 31. Lewis Collins.
SUBS NOT USED: 5. Ali Omar, 7. Ryan Hanson, 22. Rhys Lovett.
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE: 13. Josh Strizovic, 2. Josh Hare, 3. Elliot Johnson, 5. Emmanuel Onariase, 7. Inih Effiong, 8. Mohammed Sagaf, 12. Matt Robinson, 16. Harry Phipps, 19. Sam Ling (14. George Saunders, 69′), 20. Mauro Vilhete (21. David Longe-King, 90+1′), 36. Jay Bird (39. Sydney Ibie, 76′).
SUBS NOT USED: 33. Jack Dixson, 34. Frankie Franz.
Yellow Cards: Onariase 36′, Hare 55′, Sagaf 80′
Attendance: 2,116 (72 away)