Vanarama National League
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 3 YEOVIL TOWN 2
JOHN CHUBB at the Chigwell Construction Stadium
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Photo by Sara Day
Dagenham & Redbridge clinched all three points at the very end of what turned out to be a thrilling encounter at Victoria Road against Yeovil Town.
Angelo Balanta had the first chance of the game for the home side in the third minute, when he ran into the box and had a decent left-footed shot which bounced just off the right-hand side of the crossbar.
And ten minutes later Balanta broke free of the Glovers’ defence to bear down on goal, but in doing so he was brought to the ground by Luke Wilkinson who received a yellow card from referee Samuel Barrott.
Yeovil’s first effort of note came from ex-Dagenham and Chelmsford City striker Rhys Murphy in the 34th minute, as he sneaked in a near-post shot that was only just pushed away by Daggers goalkeeper Elliot Justham.
Once the game was in time added on at the end of the first 45 minutes Murphy had another strike, but this time his effort was well wide of the post to Justham’s right.
Photo by Sara Day
But Murphy’s luck changed just seconds after the restart when Charlie Lee went on a good run virtually straight from the kick-off, put an excellent ball into the box which the forward met with his head.
And the man who scored 28 goals for Chelmsford in 2018/19 prior to his close season move to Somerset made no mistake, as he nodded past Justham and into the net to put his side 1-0 up.
Murphy came very close to doubling his tally five minutes later when he found himself in a one-on-one with Justham, but the Dagenham keeper blocked superbly to stop the ball from going in.
Home boss Peter Taylor decided it was time for some fresh legs, so he made a double substitution as Bagasan Graham made way for Joan Luque, and James Dobson replaced Andrew Eleftheriou.
Dobson – signed in the close season from Sutton United – made an impact almost immediately when his powerful shot was stopped by Yeovil keeper Marcin Brzozowski.
But the lively Murphy was still creating problems for the Daggers defence, as on the hour mark his close range volley went just over Justham’s crossbar.
Dagenham had greatly improved since going behind though, and their persistence paid off when they levelled the scores in the 64th minute, Joe Quigley heading past Brzozowski to make it 1-1.
Then Balanta won a header soon after the restart, which bounced off the crossbar as the Daggers attempted to snatch the lead.
But in a frantic spell the ball went straight to the opposite end and once again Murphy was once again on target with a strong right-footed strike, but it was superbly tipped over by Justham.
Then in the 81st minute the Daggers snatched the lead via right-back Manny Onariase, who had gone forward for a corner and nodded the ball down from the right-hand post to make it 2-1.
But the home team’s joy was short-lived as Yeovil equalised straight from the restart, Matt Worthington firing a fierce strike past Justham to make it two each.
But five minutes remaining Justham stopped the Glovers from regaining the lead with a magnificent piece of goalkeeping.
What looked to be a certain goal was somehow stopped by the Dagenham number one with his fingertips and pushed off the post.
But it was Daggers who stole a winner in the fifth minute of injury time.
Just after a good effort from the impressive Luque had been saved, Joe Quigley tapped the ball past Brzozowski to make it 3-2 and spark huge celebrations from the home fans whose side have now risen to 11th place in the table.
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE: Elliott Justham, Manny Onariase, Luke Croll, Kenny Clark, Alex McQueen, Mitch Brundle, Angelo Balanta, Bagasan Graham (Joan Luque 54), Matt Robinson, Joe Quigley, Andrew Eleftheriou (James Dobson 54).
YEOVIL TOWN: Marcin Brzozowski, Craig Alcock (Remeao Hutton 46), Carl Dickinson, Luke Wilkinson, Matt Worthington, Lawson D’Ath (Myles Hippolyte 79), Rhys Murphy, Courtney Duffus, Albi Skendi, Tom Bradbury, Charlie Lee (Tom Whelan 67).
Attendance: 1453 (including 239 Yeovil fans)
