Aaron Downes's header boosts Torquay's survival bid He said: "The consequences [of relegation] are terrible. You get an amount of money for being in League Two and when you drop out, you don't get that. The pressure is not just on me and the players, it's on the office staff as well because it changes their lives if we go out of this league. Clubs that drop out don't always come straight back up. It's taking big teams like Grimsby and Wrexham a while, so we're fighting our hardest not to join them. Defender Aaron Downes's powerful header from Jak McCourt's corner five minutes after half-time proved to be enough for Torquay, whose resilient display belied their lowly league position. Critically, Knill won the tactical battle against his opposite number. By deploying five in midfield, all of whom relentlessly harried and pressed Dagenham's three, Torquay stifled their opposition. Although Dagenham dominated possession Torquay's lone striker John Marquis provided a masterclass in hold-up play allowing the visitors to remain dangerous on the counter-attack. Until the goal, it had been a tale of two goalkeepers. Michael Poke, preferred to the fit-again Martin Rice, pulled off excellent saves from each of Dagenham's front three - Zavon Hines, Medy Elito and Rhys Murphy, the league's leading goalscorer. The best save of all, however, came from Dagenham goalkeeper Chris Lewington, who acrobatically tipped over Marquis's improvised volley. Torquay rode their luck in the second half when Murphy struck an upright from close-range with Poke, for once, beaten. But a point would have been cruel on the Devon club who showed great desire in holding out for an invaluable three points. Knill said: "We just had a bit more luck today but we'll take it because we know how difficult it is to win games in this league. What we haven't been doing is grinding out 1-0 wins. Now we've done that, the mindset changes. We can compete in this league, I've no doubt about that. This was an outstanding away performance. Dagenham & Redbridge: (4-3-3) Lewington; Hoyte, Doe, Saah, Ilesanmi; D'Ath (Dickson 59), Howell, Ogogo; Elito (Edgar 82), Hines, Murphy. Subs Seabright, Wilkinson, Scott, Shields, Connors. Torquay United: (4-5-1) Poke; Tonge, Downes, O'Connor, Cruise; Bodin, Mozika, Mansell, McCourt, Chappell (Craig 75); Marquis. Subs Rice, Pearce, Hawley, Cameron, Benyon, Sullivan. Referee L Collins (Surrey)