McCallum's double for the Daggers blunts wasteful Magpies
Dagenham & Redbridge 2, Maidenhead Utd 1 Tuesday evening’s trip to Dagenham & Redbridge proved to be a disappointing one for Maidenhead United, who once again conceded early goals and failed to take their chances in a 2-1 defeat.
Paul McCallum’s first half double for the Daggers was enough to seal all three points, with Maidenhead defender Remy Clerima netting what proved a consolation goal with 14 minutes to play.
With the Magpies having slipped to 15th in the National League table this was very much a mid-table clash, however, with the league so concertinaed, both sides will believe they still have a chance of putting a good run together and getting themselves back in play-off contention.
Despite conceding twice in the first half for the third time in four matches, Maidenhead began the game on the front foot, with Josh Coley striking the crossbar and hitting a post before McCallum’s brace
blunted the visitors.
He put the Daggers in front in the 14th minute, tapping in after Angelo Balanta’s header had struck both posts. The striker then pounced on another rebound to double their lead a few minutes later after Myles Weston’s shot had been saved.
Just as they did in the 1-1 draw at Solihull Moors on Saturday, Maidenhead created a host of decent chances without profiting. Daggers’ keeper Elliot Justham produced a fine stop to deny Nathan Blissett a second goal in as many games before half-time.
Josh Kelly very nearly got the Magpies back into the contest after the break with a header that flashed wide of the post.
They did manage to pull a goal back through French defender Clerima in the 76th minute, but Dagenham held on for all three points and the result moved them up to 16th in the table, level on points with the Magpies.
United will look to bounce back at home to 12th placed Chesterfield on Saturday before welcoming third placed Torquay United to York Road on Tuesday evening.