Dagenham are back in the relegation zone after yet another two goal lead slipped away at Newport County on Saturday afternoon as Simon Eaves reports.
For the third time this season Dagenham tarnished a dominating lead only to take a point in South Wales. The Daggers got off to a flying start, Oliver Muldoon found Newport-born Christian Doidge with a lofted cross-field pass, Doidge then battled passed his marker to volley the ball home after just 46 seconds.
The east Londoners then doubled their lead after only eight minutes. Ashley Hemmings hit a deep corner which was met by Joe Worrall who headed the ball across loanee goalkeeper, Mitchell Beeney’s goal-line.
The rest of the first half was dominated by the home side. Firstly, the home side had a free kick whipped across the penalty area with a headed effort from Andrew Hughes put just wide of Mark Cousins’ goal. Yan Klukowski made a run down the left hand side and squared the ball to Bolton loanee Conor Wilkinson, whose snap shot was pushed out to safety by Cousins.
Slipping away
The second half continued as the first half had ended, with the home side dominating. Wilkinson produced a bit of trickery on the edge of the box to flick the ball away from two Daggers defenders, before hitting a tame volley which was easily pushed out for a corner.
The Exiles finally got a breakthrough in the 81st minute. Alex Rodman flicked on a cross that wasn’t dealt with by the Daggers defence, before the ball fell to debutant John-Christophe Ayina whose effort gave the home side hope.
Things went from bad to worse for the Daggers and especially keeper Cousins. Another debutant was on the scoresheet for Newport, this time Wilkinson. The 21 year old striker latched a fumbled effort from Rodman to stab the ball home to earn Newport a 2-2 draw.
Still hopeful
Even after throwing away a two goal lead, assistant manager Ian Culverhouse was full of praise for his side. Speaking to BBC Radio London he said:
“We asked for a fast start and they delivered. To be two goals up in the first 10 to 15 minutes was tremendous for them.
“We had a couple of opportunities in the second half as well where we broke really quickly, but the final product was just not there.
“The equaliser has killed us but we will analyse it and come again stronger. We are adding building blocks all the time.”
The result leaves Dagenham in the relegation zone in League Two on goal difference behind Yeovil. The Daggers will look to change their fortune when they play away at Cambridge on 6th February.