1. Asa Hall's opener amongst the fastest Torquay United goals of all-time.
It would probably come as no surprise to anyone who witnessed it that skipper Asa Hall's opening goal for the Gulls, which he scored after 19 seconds when he headed home Dan Martin's cross, is one of the fastest in the club's history. It was marginally slower than Jordan Chapell's strike after 18 seconds at home to Portsmouth in the 2013-14 season, but not as quick as Kalvin Kalala's effort after just ten seconds away to St Albans City in the 2018-19 campaign, when United won National League South. However, none of those goals were scored as swiftly as Pat Kruse's unfortunately own goal against Cambridge United in the 1976-77 season after eight seconds!
2. Harry Perritt signs off with an impressive display in midfield.
After missing a number of games for compassionate reasons, central defender Harry Perritt returned to the Gulls' starting line-up for the final match of his loan spell from Accrington Stanley in the centre of midfield. Perritt was deployed by United manager Gary Johnson as a holding midfield alongside Asa Hall in a 4-2-3-1 formation - and it was a role that he performed well in as he ended his loan stint on a high.
3. Shaun MacDonald impressed again between the sticks.
Once again United keeper Shaun MacDonald made a number of important saves to keep the opposition at bay. At the start of the second half, MacDonald palmed a strike from Daggers' striker Junior Morias behind for a corner, and three minutes later he pulled off a one-handed save to deny Dagenham midfielder Mohamed Sagaf. With eight minutes to go, his reflexes were called upon to deny Sam Ling, the son of former Gulls manager Martin Ling, which played a crucial role, along with his other saves, in securing a point for United.
4. Stephen Wearne shows promise on debut.
Early in his reign as Torquay United manager, Gary Johnson loaned a number of players from Bristol City where his son Lee was in charge at the time, including Saikou Janneh, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Opi Edwards and Robbie Cundy. Since Johnson junior became manager of Sunderland the stream of loan players between the Stadium of Light and Plainmoor hasn't flowed as strongly, with only Sweden Under-21 international Benji Kimpioka and the recent arrival of attacking midfielder Stephen Wearne.
Wearne showed plenty of promise on his debut against Dagenham & Redbridge and forced a couple of smart saves from Daggers' keeper Elliot Justham in the first half.
5. Absentees.
What was also notable yesterday was that the Gulls achieved their result with a number of absentees. Central midfielders Armani Little and Tom Lapslie were both absent, as were Chiori Johnson and new signing Joe Felix. All four could potentially all return for United's next fixture against Altrincham on January 22.
6. United maintain strong home form.
Despite feeling slightly disappointed that they only managed to draw with Dagenham and Redbridge in the end, Torquay United can take some comfort by the fact that they have maintained their improved home form. After losing their first three home fixtures of the campaign (against Altrincham, Woking and Grimsby Town), United have only lost one of their last eight home National League fixtures - a run which reads: played eight, won six, draw one and lost one.
