By JOHN CHUBB
@JohnCphoenixfm
Midweek FA Trophy success – beating Sutton United in a First Round replay after extra time – failed to spark a revival of Dagenham & Redbridge’s National League fortunes.
Peter Taylor saw his side drop another place to 18th in the table, as they made the lengthy journey to the North East to face Hartlepool United and lost by a goal to nil.
Mark Kitching’s strike 12 minutes from time proved enough to consign the Daggers to their fifth consecutive defeat, and concerningly for Taylor they are only four points clear of the relegation zone.
In the National League South Concord Rangers made it back-to-back wins and climbed to 9th spot, as they triumphed 1-0 in their away match at Dartford.
The Kent side had a great chance to grab the lead with 19 minutes played, after they were awarded a penalty following a foul by Concord’s Lamar Reynolds.
But Elliot Romain’s spot-kick hit the outside of the post and missed.
On the hour mark, the Beach Boys were awarded a penalty of their own which Joel Nouble slotted home to claim all three points.
Current Braintree Town manager George Borg – still in charge at Cressing Road since Jake Hutchings’ departure from the hot seat – saw his side end a run of three NLS defeats on the bounce as they claimed a point in a six-goal thriller at home to Havant & Waterlooville.
Iron went into the match with several new Borg signings in their squad.
These included central defender Steve Sheehan who had arrived from East Thurrock United during the week, and who also counts Billericay Town and Canvey Island among his previous clubs.
Marcin Brzozowski, signed on loan from Championship club Queens Park Rangers on the eve of the match was in goal whilst two other new boys started on the subs’ bench – namely defender Gavin Hinds-Cadette and forward Jordan Chiedozie.
Chiedozie is no stranger to the local non-League scene, having previously played on loan for Braintree several seasons ago and who has also spent time with Concord and Chelmsford.
But it was two existing squad members who combined to open the scoring for Iron with the match 22 minutes old, Alfie Cerulli finding the net from Rhys Murrell-Williamson’s cross.
The visitors levelled in the 35th minute when Craig Robson’s effort beat Brzozowski to make it 1-1.
Robson found the net again four minutes later but this time the goal was disallowed for offside, and the scores remained one apiece at the break.
An Alfie Rutherford strike just after the hour mark saw Havant take the lead, which they held until the 87th minute when Murrell-Williamson equalised.
Then with a minute to go, Rutherford put the Hampshire high-flyers back in front and they looked to have snatched the honours.
But with five minutes of time added on, Murrell-Williamson was on hand again to strike home a free-kick from 35 yards out and make the final score 3-3.
The result means Braintree remain in 10th position, level on points with Concord who have a superior goal difference.
It proved to be a disappointing afternoon for Chelmsford City, whose inconsistent league form continued with a 2-1 defeat at Chippenham Town.
Clarets manager Rod Stringer gave a debut to goalkeeper Laurie Walker, having signed him on loan from MK Dons to replace Sam Howes who has returned to Woking.
But the new custodian was unable to prevent the home side from taking the lead on 13 minutes, when David Pratt fired the ball home.
Chelmsford replied through Robbie Simpson five minutes before the interval, after he was set up by Tom Knowles.
But Chippenham made sure of all three points thanks to a Curtis McDonald header a quarter of an hour from the end.
City slipped to 12th spot in the league standings following the match.
Billericay Town – in 14th place at present – were out of action as their game against Oxford City at New Lodge fell victim to the wet weather.
This week’s fixtures involving local sides are as follows:
THURSDAY 26 DECEMBER
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Dagenham & Redbridge v Ebbsfleet United (kick-off 1pm)
NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH
Concord Rangers v Billericay Town (1pm)
Chelmsford City v Braintree Town (3pm)
SATURDAY 28 DECEMBER (All 3pm)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Bromley v Dagenham & Redbridge
NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH
Billericay Town v Chelmsford City
Braintree Town v Concord Rangers
