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Torquay United new era starts with defeat to KSI and Andy Carroll's Dagenham and Redbridge

The Gulls beaten 1-0 in Jimmy Ball's first game to slip down to seventh

[Goal celebrations for George Marsh of Dagenham and Redbridge as the ball goes over Seb Stacey, Goalkeeper of Torquay United during the National League South Match between Dagenham and Redbridge and Torquay United at Chigwell Construction Stadium, Dagenham on 21 March 2026. Photo: Garry Bowden/PPAUK]

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Goal celebrations for George Marsh of Dagenham and Redbridge as the ball goes over Seb Stacey, Goalkeeper of Torquay United during the National League South Match between Dagenham and Redbridge and Torquay United at Chigwell Construction Stadium, Dagenham on 21 March 2026. Photo: Garry Bowden/PPAUK(Image: Garry Bowden/PPAUK)

Torquay United's new era under new manager Jimmy Ball started with a defeat at Dagenham & Redbridge this afternoon - but there was a lot of hard work and endeavour on show by the Gulls in the 1-0 loss.

There wasn't much between the two teams on the day, but it was another new manager, Andy Carroll, who ticked off a first win in his first game, as Torquay put the home side under some immense pressure at the end, but couldn't find a way through.

The single goal was scored by George Marsh in the second half when he curled in a corner that beat Torquay goalkeeper Seb Stacey. The loss means Torquay will take on leaders Dorking Wanderers in seventh on Tuesday night - but they are still only four points off second place.

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KSI (YouTuber, white bandana) celebrates the first Dagenham goal during the National League South Match between Dagenham and Redbridge and Torquay United at Chigwell Construction Stadium, Dagenham on 21 March 2026. Photo: Garry Bowden/PPAUK(Image: Garry Bowden/PPAUK)

On top of all the injuries, and with Matt Worthington and Will Tizzard suspended, there was an extra blow for Ball when Jordan Young was sick. But, after recalling Matt Carson from his loan at Weymouth, the young Irishman started at right back, while striker Deon Moore, who became Ball's first signing when he joined the team on Friday, started up front. Sam Dreyer and James Hamon were back on the bench.

Moore nearly got on the end of a long pass by Carson in the second minute but the Dagenham goalkeeper Sam Howes got to the ball quickly to get his body in the way of the shot. Stacey and Ed Palmer combined to keep the ball out of the net at the other end from a Stan Leech header - as Torquay had to defend a series of corners in the early stages. A Carson shot was deflected away.

Moore went down after a bash on the nose in the 15th minute - and Ball called the players to the dugout for a chat. A header by Leech went over Torquay's crossbar. A Long throw-in caused some problems in the Torquay box and it was another corner.

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But Torquay were improving and seeing more of the ball. Howes had to be quick to deny Matt Jay a chance. A Conor Lawless shot went over. A Dylan Morgan shot went wide of the far post in the 35th minute. Moore went close with a header but the Dagenham goalkeeper pushed the ball away for a corner. Two minutes were added on to the 45 as a Sonny Blu Lo-Everton corner was headed over by Dan Hayfield. It was a pretty even first half in the end.

Torquay started the second half well - Morgan especially looking dangerous down the left. Jay Foulston blocked a shot by Dylan Stephenson six minutes after the restart. Defender Dreyer came on for Fish in the 58th minute, with Palmer going to right back, Carson moving to the left wing, Morgan shifting to the right, and Jay up front. Hayfield went down with a head injury on the hour. Moore did really well to create a chance for Jay in the 62nd minute but Jay couldn't sort his feet out for a strike. A Hayfield shot was blocked. Foulston did well to clear the ball off the line in the 69th minute from a dangerous corner by Marsh.

The balance of play was beginning to favour the home team with 20 minutes to go - and when the goal came in the 77th minute, it was straight from a corner. Stacey tried to get a hand to the ball in the crowded penalty area but Marsh's swung-in cross that beat the Torquay goalkeeper for 1-0. It was a blow after a lot of good work by the Gulls.

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Carson went down with a knee injury in the 78th minute - and looked in a lot of pain as he left the pitch. Aidan Edwards came on for Carson before they faced another corner - which was this time cleared. Edwards had a go with a shot that was high and wide in the 81st minute.

Ball would have liked to throw on some more fresh legs as the game approached the last five minutes - but with only a goalkeeper and youngsters on the bench, that wasn't really an option. A Palmer shot went wide with four minutes left. Time was running out, and legs were tired. Both Jay and Palmer had shots blocked as Torquay had Dagenham on the ropes - but the home side survived.

Five minutes were added on with Torquay turning the screws - but Dagenham defended the assault well. Jay had a great shot parried by the goalkeeper and it looked like it would be a goal on his debut for Moore, but the rebound was stopped too.

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