NL: Torquay United v Dagenham 3pm 8th January 2022
Jan 8, 2022 18:17:50 GMT
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Post by Swanny on Jan 8, 2022 18:17:50 GMT
It turned out to be a very good point in the end against an excellent in form Dagenham team. Yes, we did race into a 2 goal league but it was not a case of throwing the game away. Torquay were under relentless pressure for the majority of the match after Dagenham settled into their rhythm. The sponsors MOTM went to Lemonheigh-Evans but the real hero for me was MacDonald for a series of fine saves when it looked odds on we would concede. Put into the equation Torquay's team were without two key players in LIttle and Lapsie and no longer have two excellent loan players and played on a heavy pitch with the ball sticking and water spraying from the surface water, it was an excellent performance today by Torquay. The players gave everything and the game was a tremendous battle.
Torquay made a sensational start and blew away Dagenham in the first 15 minutes playing with great energy and confidence. Hall headed powerfully home in the first minute from an excellent cross from the left from Martin. It was a dream start for the Gulls. Torqauy looked dangerous from every attack and scored their second after only 15 minutes. If I remember correctly a cross on the left from Lemonheigh-Evans was headed down and Wright stabbed it home from close range.
In such heavy conditions Torquay's energy gradually faded and Dagenham took over. This was the pattern of the match for the rest of the game. Torquay gave away a needless corner, MacDonald saved well but Dagenham scored from the rebound. Torquay held out somehow for the rest of the half. When the second half got going Dagenham took over again. Torquay defended well in numbers and made countless blocks and tackles and MacDonald kept us in front with some outstanding reaction saves. Sadly Dagenham got a deserved equalizer with a clear shot in the box that went into the top corner. There was a real danger Torquay would lose such was the sustained pressure.
Holman replaced Hall who looked totally shattered and Lolos replaced the excellent new loan signing Wearne. The substitutions did help and perhaps should have been done earlier as some of our players were seriously tired and had put in a tremendous shift in very difficult conditions against excellent opposition. Torquay started to ask questions of Dagenham again and we had one or two decent chances and the last 10 minutes were quite even.
I don't know the actual stats today but in truth Dagenham had far more chances than we did so I am very pleased with a draw. It was a real gutsy performance in awful playing conditions on a surface that was barely playable. We dug in and got a decent point. Wearne playing a left winger looks a quality addition as you would expect from Sunderstand and the Johnson connection. I thought our defence and keeper were excellent under sustained pressure. Earlier in the season we would have probably conceded around five or so. Our midfield were excellent in the first 15 minutes but got overrun for the majority of the match but still gave their all. Hall is probably not match fit but without Little or Lapsie we had no real options. Perritt did very well in midfield and was strong. Lemonheigh-Evens did well supporting Wright and Wright himself won his fair share of battles. Under the circumstances I thought it was a performance to be proud of.
Torquay made a sensational start and blew away Dagenham in the first 15 minutes playing with great energy and confidence. Hall headed powerfully home in the first minute from an excellent cross from the left from Martin. It was a dream start for the Gulls. Torqauy looked dangerous from every attack and scored their second after only 15 minutes. If I remember correctly a cross on the left from Lemonheigh-Evans was headed down and Wright stabbed it home from close range.
In such heavy conditions Torquay's energy gradually faded and Dagenham took over. This was the pattern of the match for the rest of the game. Torquay gave away a needless corner, MacDonald saved well but Dagenham scored from the rebound. Torquay held out somehow for the rest of the half. When the second half got going Dagenham took over again. Torquay defended well in numbers and made countless blocks and tackles and MacDonald kept us in front with some outstanding reaction saves. Sadly Dagenham got a deserved equalizer with a clear shot in the box that went into the top corner. There was a real danger Torquay would lose such was the sustained pressure.
Holman replaced Hall who looked totally shattered and Lolos replaced the excellent new loan signing Wearne. The substitutions did help and perhaps should have been done earlier as some of our players were seriously tired and had put in a tremendous shift in very difficult conditions against excellent opposition. Torquay started to ask questions of Dagenham again and we had one or two decent chances and the last 10 minutes were quite even.
I don't know the actual stats today but in truth Dagenham had far more chances than we did so I am very pleased with a draw. It was a real gutsy performance in awful playing conditions on a surface that was barely playable. We dug in and got a decent point. Wearne playing a left winger looks a quality addition as you would expect from Sunderstand and the Johnson connection. I thought our defence and keeper were excellent under sustained pressure. Earlier in the season we would have probably conceded around five or so. Our midfield were excellent in the first 15 minutes but got overrun for the majority of the match but still gave their all. Hall is probably not match fit but without Little or Lapsie we had no real options. Perritt did very well in midfield and was strong. Lemonheigh-Evens did well supporting Wright and Wright himself won his fair share of battles. Under the circumstances I thought it was a performance to be proud of.
