TT MATCH VERDICT

Ben Wade

Ben reports back

TORQUAY UNITED 0-0 DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE – NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH – 11.10.25

SUMMARY

Struggling Dagenham & Redbridge made the trip down to Plainmoor for an absorbing match up. Former Liverpool, Newcastle and West Ham striker Andy Carroll was captain for the visitors, as loanee Cian Dillon remained in the TUFC line-up, with Cody Cooke injured and ruled out.

Torquay started rapidly and Dennis found the net in the 2nd minute, but the linesman made a comfortable offside decision. Despite creating little in the first half an hour, the Gulls enjoyed a decent amount of possession. We somehow didn’t quite conjure up many attacking opportunities and the game was mainly a scrappy affair. The only respectable effort of the half was when Dillon played a tidy cross onto Dennis’ head, but he glanced it wide. Denzel Akyeampong was replaced by Thomas on 24 minutes also after struggling with a hamstring injury.

In the first 15 minutes of the second half, the home side started to pile on the pressure as the visitors had barely any counter attacks. Thomas smashed a volley from outside of the box way over and Dyer had a back post header cleared off the goal line. Then a big chance for Dillon went begging as he hit the side netting with the goal seemingly at his mercy. 76 minutes had passed when Wotton went for a triple substitution. Jay and Morgan came on for Dillon and Dolan. Hayfield also replaced Lo-Everton.

After that personnel switch, Dagenham had slightly more play and started to settle, Hemmings looked likely to score after a cut back but Foulston makes a crucial block at close range. And then with the Gulls pushing forward Jordan Young cut in and curled a dipping strike onto the crossbar.

The Daggers almost capitalised on a dreadful, under hit back pass from Jordan Thomas but Hamon came to the rescue deep into the five added minutes.

Despite a late TUFC corner, both teams had to take the point.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. HAMON – 7: He made a couple of decent saves and another “Cleano”.

2. AKYEAMPONG – 6: Unfortunate to pick up that injury, hopefully it’s nothing too serious.

3. FOULSTON – 7: It was another dependable, solid display from him.

4. DYER – 8: POTM See Below

5. DREYER – 7: Him and Jordan Dyer were exceptional at winning the second balls and for the most part kept an experienced, former Premier league star quiet.

18. WORTHINGTON – 6: Shielded the defence usefully and controlled a lot of play.

24. EVERTON- 6: I have been very happy him in a TUFC shirt so far, fairly quiet today however.

10. DOLAN – 7: Callum was the most likely to create something for Torquay today.

7. DENNIS – 6: He struggled to dictate the play like he often does, and it was a big reason for a stuttering attacking performance.

8. YOUNG – 6: He hit the bar from range and was lively like usual but struggled to find that end product.

19. DILLON – 7: He made a good first impression on me. He is mobile and quick.

Subs

20. HAYFIELD – 5: Doesn’t offer a reliable threat.

11. MORGAN – 7: Was very quick and nippy off the bench.

27. JAY – 6: Has dipped in form since last campaign and didn’t impact the game.

26. THOMAS – 7: Came on in the first half and had a good performance that will hopefully boost his confidence going forward.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – JORDAN DYER

My Player of the Match award goes to Jordan Dyer. He was a very commanding presence in our backline this afternoon and played well against Andy Carroll. He will be extremely pleased with 3 clean sheets on the bounce.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Cian Dillon must get my first Honourable Mention. He led the line well and gave the centre backs something to think about with those clever runs in the channels. My other honourable mention goes to Sam Dreyer. Like Dyer, he was hugely important in keeping the Daggers out,

TACTICS

Paul Wotton went for a something in between a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 with Dennis slightly behind Dillon in a number 10 role. In what was a congested midfield area, the Gulls struggled to be incisive in what was a frustrating afternoon.

THE OPPOSITION

Dagenham and Redbridge were certainly very well organised and set up. Their main route forward was to play a long ball towards Carroll who could hold it up and lay it off and they would attempt to go from there. The Daggers came for the point and that is what they got.

THE OFFICIALS

The referee ignored the blatant time wasting and gave one minute added on in the 1st half despite Denzel’s injury alone taking three minutes He also made a few odd decisions as the game went along.