TT MATCH VERDICT

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

Tom reports back from Dagenham

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 2-0 TORQUAY UNITED – 22.08.2026

SUMMARY

In the battle of the early pre-season favourites for the NLS title, it was the Daggers who come out on top and Dagenham continued their 100% winning record, seeing off a toothless United side who quite honestly, failed to test Nathan Ashmore in goal into any meaningful saves for the hosts.

Jimmy made two changes from our goalless draw against Weston with Sundire and Morgan replacing Westerndorf and Hayfield.

In a first half of few clear-cut chances, Torquay dominated the first 15 minutes. Morgan and Bernard had efforts straight at the former Boreham Wood goalkeeper before Dagenham began to find their feet. Savin punched away several crosses but just before half time, United were the masters of their own downfall. Callum Morton failed to clear the ball away in the Torquay box, was dispossessed by Archie Tamplin who squared it to Davide Rodari for 1-0.

Torquay were fortunate to go in at half time with just the one goal deficit as Kayden Harrack saw his effort hit the underside of Savin’s goal and bounce away.

Jimmy, unimpressed with his sides efforts made three changes as Westerndorf, Dennis and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton came on for Moore, Jay & Morton. The effects were immediate.

Sonny Blu began pulling strings in the heart of the midfield and worked some good chances which United couldn’t capitalise.

Morgan hit a free kick wide, Jenkins hit one well over from inside the box and Dennis headed his effort straight at Ashmore which directed either side would have been 1-1.

Then came the sucker punch. Dagenham with their first effort of note in the second half made it 2-0 after failing to clear a long throw and Rodari slotted his tidy half volley effort past Savin.

On came Hayfield for Sundire and 30 seconds later saw his marching orders for what appears to be an alleged elbow in what appeared to be a clash of heads. Despite Cody Cooke coming on, United were finished and Dagenham took the spoils in front of a disappointing crowd of 1896 with 346 supporting the lacklustre Yellows.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. Toby Savin – 7 – Not at fault for either goal and in truth, was seldom tested.

2. Dom Bernard – 6 – Full of endeavour but Dagenham found gaps in behind him as the first half progressed. Space hard to come by to push on once went down to 10 men.

16. Jake Wannell – 6.5 – Did well to not score an own goal in the first half. Had to work hard against a different Dagenham front line.

5. Sam Dreyer – 7 – Solid Sam Dreyer performance.

15. Kian Jenkins – 6 – Seemed to struggle a bit in the first half, came more into play after the introduction of SBLE. Hit a decent chance well over early in the 2nd half.

18. Matt Worthington (c) – 6 – Gave away the ball too often but at least he was willing to take a shot on target.

6. Munashe Sundire – 5 – Picked up another booking for another late challenge, similar to the one at Tonbridge last week. Subbed midway in the 2nd half for Hayfield. He will get sent off eventually if he continues with these silly challenges.

27. Matt Jay – 5 – Full of endeavour but struggled to impose himself into the game unlike Sonny Blu.

39. Callum Morton – 4 – Worked a good break for Morgan midway in the first half, but it’s clear to me he’s not comfortable playing out right. Tried to play the ball out of trouble instead of clearing it away which led to the opening goal. Off at HT.

14. Deon Moore – 5 – Anonymous. Surprised to see him subbed at half time but didn’t offer much threat. Seemed to play deeper at times. Need to start seeing the Deon Moore of old and quickly.

11. Dylan Morgan – 6 – Caused trouble for the Dagenham right backs but just took too long at times to take his shots on. Could do with some free kick practice in Youngys absence.

SUBS

19. Isaac Westendorf – 6 – Thought he might have started, came in at half time. Gave as good as he got but with little reward. Needs to find a goal soon.

20. Dan Hayfield – 1 – What else can you score him? Came on and immediately got sent off. Was contemplating a 0. Will need to watch back. Jimmy convinced it was a clash of heads.

7. Louis Dennis – 6 – Worked some good areas, should have got us level but headed straight at Ashmore. Once we went down to 10 men, that was game over for us.

24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton – 8 – Began to make things happen for us in the midfield. He simply HAS to start next weekend. Worked hard and was my POTM.

9. Cody Cooke – 6 – Won pretty much every header, but by his introduction, the game was done.

TUFC PLAYER RATINGS VOTE – Daggers (a) – TORQUAYTALK

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – SONNY BLU LO-EVERTON

His impact was immediate. We started on the front foot in the second half, he worked the ball into some dangerous areas. How he isn’t starting is baffling. He has to start against Hampton next weekend.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

The Yellow Army. Nearly 350 in attendance in what I thought was a disappointing home crowd of just under 1,900. They backed the team from minute one until the end, making a great atmosphere. You only heard the Dagenham fans when they went a goal up and when it was clear the game was won.

Another afternoon where it was a long journey home without any points for our efforts, but you’ll know they’ll be back in big numbers for Farnham. It’s what we do.

TACTICS

4-3-3 although it felt at times we went into a back 3 in attacking phases. Morton on the right, Morgan on the left.

THE OPPOSITION

Both sides were bang average but it’s clear that Lee Allison has spent well in the Daggers quest for promotion this season.

One thing they’ve done well in their opening four games are that they find a way to win. We gifted them the opener and they scored their first real chance in the second half. Truth be told, neither keeper had much of a meaning save to make all game.

They’ll be up there, but the league isn’t won in August and it is a long season with plenty of ups and downs to come. Remember that Yellow Army.

THE OFFICIALS

Will have to see the red card incident back. Didn’t seem to bother with the 10 second substitution rule for Dagenham, but the game was lost anyway.

Nothing majorly contentious of note.

CONCLUSION

The league isn’t won in August and it’s clear it’s not clicking for Jimmy Ball’s side at the moment. For all the talk of our attacking options, we aren’t giving the opposition keepers much to do in our last 2 games and it’s cost us points this week.

We gifted a soft goal and paid for our lack of quality in the Dagenham box in the opening 20 minute spell of the second half. Dagenham scored from their first shot of the half and the red card that quickly followed ended any hope of a positive result.

The Yellow Army are desperate for success this season and whilst there is no shame in losing away to Dagenham, Jimmy will need to quickly find a way to get the lads scoring and winning games of football again.

From his post match interview, he isn’t happy at all with our performance and it sounds like some home truths have been said in the dressing room. Failure this season is simply not an option for Torquay United Football Club.

It will be a very important bank holiday weekend and we have to find a way to start winning games of football.

Find your scoring boots lads & quickly!

Keep the faith.

Up the Yellows!