The Hawks boss saw his team well beaten despite a late consolation from Jonah Ayunga.
He said: '˜We just didn't get out of the traps.
'˜They could have been 2-0 up in the first 10 minutes.
'˜This was a shock for us.
'˜They picked up too many second balls.
'˜Our decision making without the ball was nowhere near good enough.
'˜We need to be playing with a lot more intensity and power.
'˜Their front four were very mobile and quick.
'˜We couldn't deal with it at times.
'˜I was pleased to see Jonah Ayunga get another goal.
'˜It was one of the only times we won a header in their defensive third.
'˜They were better than us and deserved to win.'
The visitors made one change to their starting line-up with Andreas Robinson replacing the injured Theo Lewis.
Dagenham started well, while the Hawks had to make a change with the injured Rory Williams replaced by Bradley Tarbuck after only five minutes.
The pressure was relentless and it was no surprise when the home side took a seventh-minute lead.
From a short corner Conor Wilkinson waltzed past two defenders and smashed the ball high into the net from an acute angle.
When the visitors stole a ball deep in the home half  Ayunga forced a good diving save from Elliott Justham.
It was soon 2-0 five minutes after the break.
Wilkinson scored with a good shot on the turn from the edge of the area. The Hawks lifted their tempo in a bid to hit back with Aaron Cosgrave and Tyler Cordner going close.
But on 74 minutes it was 3-0.
Balanta was allowed to run 30 yards through the Hawks defence and net. Six minutes from the end Ayunga latched onto a long ball over the top and neatly lobbed the ball over the stranded goalkeeper for what proved a consolation goal.