A dominant performance from the Daggers saw them cruise to a fifth win in the last six matches as a brace from Connor Wilkinson and an Angelo Balanta strike secured a 3-1 victory over Havant and Waterlooville.
Electric Start
The Daggers started the match on the front foot and neat interchange down the right wing saw Alex McQueen with the game’s first opportunity in the 4th minute, but he hit his shot over the bar with the outside of his right boot.
The Daggers attacking players were causing all sorts of problems for Havant and Waterlooville with their quick passing and movement.
Jack Munns was the next to try his luck with his well hit shot deflected wide for a corner in the 8th minute.
The ensuing corner was played short to Wilkinson and what followed was a moment of genius from the striker to give the Daggers an early reward for their pressure. Wilkinson turned to beat his man at the byline before lashing in a ferocious shot over the keeper and into the net from the tightest of angles.
The 13th minute saw Havant gifted their first opportunity of the match as Phipps gave the ball away to Jonah Ayunga in midfield, whose strike from the edge of the box was well saved by the in-form Elliott Justham.
It really should have been 2-0 Daggers in the 15th minute as a terrific chipped cross from Luke Pennell found Wilkinson, but his header from six yards out did not have enough power to beat Ben Dudzinski in the Hawks net.
Five minutes later Balanta was nearly rewarded for his tireless running as he charged down Tyler Cordner’s backpass, but a combination of the defender and Dudzinski were able to clear.
A looping free kick nearly caught the Daggers out in the 25th minute as Emmanuel Onariase did well to block the Hawks header, although it did appear that Justham had it covered behind the defender.
The 34th minute saw another chance missed by the Daggers when a long throw-in from Pennell fell to McQueen at the back post, but he couldn’t keep his shot down.
An interesting free-kick routine nearly worked to perfection when Munns crossed to the back post for Onariase to head back across goal, but the second ball evaded everyone in the box.
Five minutes before half time the Daggers were again left questioning how they did not add to their early lead as Wilkinson’s header from a Ben Nunn cross led to a goalmouth scramble, but with the keeper beaten Wilkinson could only see his scuffed effort blocked by a Havant defender.
The half-time whistle sent the Daggers into the changing room with a 1-0 lead, but in truth they would have been disappointed not to have added to the early lead in what was a commanding and dominant first half that saw the Daggers miss a number of excellent chances.
Full of Confidence
After an uneventful opening five minutes, the Daggers finally doubled their lead in the 50th minute and it was the man of the moment Wilkinson scoring his second of the game. He picked up the ball on the edge of the box and hit his low shot with enough power to slide underneath the body of Dudzinski.
A spell of Havant pressure followed the second goal with Alex Bradley firing over the bar from distance in the 57th minute. The pressure continued to mount on the Daggers as Aaron Cosgrove saw a drive deflected just wide before Woodford’s header was glanced past the post.
By the hour mark Wilkinson was looking full of confidence and dangerous every time he touched the ball. On this occasion his shot from just inside the area swerved wide of the far post.
The Daggers went agonizingly close to a third in the 65th minute with Wilkinson again the catalyst. The striker beat his man before cutting back to Ben Goodlife, but the defender’s effort was sliced wide.
Man of the match Connor Wilkinson went off to a standing ovation in the 69th minute, replaced by Chike Kandi.
The Daggers killed the game off in the 75th minute as Balanta yet again demonstrated his immense quality, running right through the heart of the Havant defense before curling his finish past the despairing dive of Dudzinski.
Munns looked to add a fourth in the 77th minute with a spectacular volley as he turned, but unfortunately got too much on it and fired well over.
McQueen, who looked dangerous throughout the match, again attempted to open up the Hawks’ defence with his ball finding Munns at the back post, but the midfielder’s shot was hit wide.
With the game all but secured the Daggers started to turn on the style in the last 10 minutes, Kandi turning past his man with ease before hitting a dangerous cross which eluded everyone.
Against the run of play, the Hawks claimed a consolation in the 85th minute as Ayunga latched onto a long ball and lifted it over Justham with a deft touch.
Havant had a late appeal for a penalty turned down as the Daggers held onto their lead with relative ease to claim another valuable three points and continue their terrific run of form.
Line-Ups
Daggers: Justham; Nunn (c) (Clark 68’), Onariase, Goodlife, Pennell; Robinson, Phipps, McQueen, Munns (Harfield 80’); Balanta, Wilkinson (Kandi 69’).
Havant and Waterlooville: Dudzinski, Strugnell, Williams (Tarbuck 6’), Stock, Woodford, Ayunga, Robinson (Kabamba 75’), Rutherford, Cordner, Bradley, Boerstra (Cosgrave 46’).
