TT MATCH PREVIEW
Steve Harris – @Steveharris84
Match details: Torquay United versus Dagenham & Redbridge
Venue: Plainmoor
Date: Tuesday 15th December 2020
Kick-off: 3pm
Current form (all competitions):
Torquay United: D, W, W, W, W, D
Dagenham & Redbridge: D, L D, L, W, L
Top scorers:
Torquay: Danny Wright – 7
Dagenham: Paul McCallum & Mitch Brundle – 3 each
Head to Head:
Torquay: 4 Draw: 6 Dagenham: 4
Last time the two sides met: Saturday 4th January 2020, Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Torquay United 0 – National League
New Dagenham & Redbridge boss Daryl McMahon watched from the stands as his side played out a goalless draw at home to Torquay United.
The hosts started brightly and almost took the lead early on, only for Connor Lemonheigh-Evans to clear Joe Quigley’s goal-bound header.
Torquay had arguably the best chance of the first half seven minutes before the break as Saikou Janneh hit the post following a quick counter attack. The Gulls hit the woodwork again six minutes into the second period, when Janneh’s shot was deflected onto the bar.
Visiting goalkeeper Lucas Covolan produced a smart save to deny Quigley in the 69th minute after he had created an opening for himself. Torquay pushed for a winner late on, but the hosts did well to soak up the pressure as it finished 0-0.
Manager: Daryl McMahon
A former Republic of Ireland youth international, Daryl McMahon made a solitary substitute appearance for the Gulls while on loan from West Ham United under Leroy Rosenior in the 2003-04 campaign. Ironically – it came against a Yeovil Town side managed by current United manager Gary Johnson.
A brief spell at Port Vale then followed, before he was signed for Leyton Orient by former Gulls’ boss Martin Ling in 2005. In his first season at Brisbane Road, the 2005-06 campaign, he was part of the Orient side that won automatic promotion from League Two.
McMahon later had spells in non-league football with Stevenage, Cambridge United, Farnborough, Boreham Wood (twice) and Ebbsfleet amongst others, before entering management with Ebbsfleet in 2015, following a spell as caretaker manager.
In the 2016-17 season, he led Ebbsfleet to promotion from National League South via the play-offs and then guided them to the National League play-offs in the 2017-18 campaign.
After leaving Ebbsfleet by mutual consent in November 2018, he was appointed as manager of Macclesfield Town in August 2019 – in succession to Sol Campbell. He then resigned as manager of the Silkmen before he was appointed as manager of the Daggers in January 2020.
One to watch: Angelo Balanta
Born in Colombia, Angelo Balanta moved to England at the age of five and joined the youth system of Queens Park Rangers before progressing to their first team – signing his first professional contract with the R’s in 2008, where he made 25 appearances and scored three goals. He later enjoyed loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers, Milton Keynes Dons (three times) and Yeovil Town – where he played under Gary Johnson in the 2012-13 season – before signing for Bristol Rovers in 2014.
During his time at the Memorial Stadium, Balanta helped the Pirates to win promotion back to the Football League at the first attempt and scored in their penalty shoot-out win in the National League play-off final against Grimsby Town. Following their play-off final victory, he opted to join Carlisle United, where he remained for one season before returning to the non-league scene to sign for Boreham Wood. He stayed with the Wood for two years and helped them reach the National League play-off final in 2018, where they were beaten by Tranmere Rovers.
Balanta joined the Daggers in 2018 and has scored 17 goals in 61 appearances, which includes two goals in 13 during the current campaign.
Possible Line-Ups:
Torquay United (4-4-1-1)
Shaun MacDonald
Sam Sherring – Fraser Kerr – Kyle Cameron – Jake Andrews
Aaron Nemane – Adam Randell – Matt Buse – Ben Whitfield
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans
Danny Wright
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Daggers (4-3-3)
Elliot Justham
Mitch Brundle – Will Wright – Kenny Clark – Luke Croll
Angelo Balanta – Dean Rance – Abu Ogogo
Myles Weston – Scott Wilson – Darren McQueen
