Torquay United draw a blank but Fortress Plainmoor remains intact

The glorious run of home victories to start a league campaign has come to an end for Torquay United but the 0-0 draw with a determined Dagenham & Redbridge remains a step in the right direction.

The Gulls were rarely troubled as a defensive unit but Dagenham also held their own as a compact rearguard. In the end, literally the very end, the closest either side came to a goal was a wicked effort from Jordan Young crashing against the woodwork.

The opening quarter yielded few, if any, clear chances, with the Daggers arguably looking the stronger in terms of territory and possession. United, for their part, managed the obvious aerial threat of Andy Carroll with pleasing composure.

The Gulls broke Dagenham’s mild shackles with a pocket of space for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton 22 yards from goal, but his low shot was dragged wide. Back came the visitors with a similar effort from distance, this one blocked by the lunging Denzel Akyeampong, who did some damage in the process and had to limp out of the action.

Gradually, United were growing in control and pressing the visitors back, resulting in a corner that bounced around the box before Jordan Dyer nodded narrowly over.

United then conjured their best opening of the half, working the ball neatly through midfield and a gorgeous cross from Cian Dillon looked perfect for the arriving Louis Dennis, but he was unable to make full contact and the ball skidded well wide.

A tepid first half ended with some excellent near-post defensive work from the Daggers thwarting another run into the box by Dennis.

In a similar pattern to the opening 45 minutes, the visitors opened brightly without asking a serious question of the United defence, but this time around the Gulls swiftly wrestled back control, substitute Jordan Thomas fizzing a left-foot half-volley narrowly over the bar.

The home corner count was growing, and while Carroll was a powerful asset for Dagenham’s defensive line, a deep run from Dyer afforded him some space at the back post and his header across goal was only just scrambled clear.

Callum Dolan was next to curl an effort narrowly over before a bustling run from Dillon arguably provided the biggest chance of the day, but after doing most of the hard work, his final shot was dragged into the side-netting, when a square ball to an unmarked Young was probably the better option.

James Hamon was called upon to make his first serious save on 84 before momentum quickly shifted back to United. Weary legs on both sides groaned at the five minutes of stoppage time and the exquisite left boot of Young came within inches of grabbing a dramatic winner, but his whipped curler from 20 yards cannoned off the bar.

A draw is no step backwards for United, who are making clean sheets a welcome habit, and they take that form into the trip to Chesham next Saturday, followed by a Tuesday night visit from Chippenham.