B WOOD 1 DAG & RED 3

A DOUBLE from 37-year-old striker Paul Benson helped Dagenham & Redbridge to a dominant victory at Boreham Wood.

Benson, who first played for the Daggers in 2005, scored a goal either side of the break before the outstanding Corey Whitely added a third late on.

“The performance was first class,” said Dagenham boss John Still.

“We went a goal down against the run of play, but we dominated the game and I never doubt that we have something in us to turn games around if we have to.”

Wood had shocked their local rivals by taking the lead within 15 minutes through Ricky Shakes. A slick team move ended with Morgan Ferrier bursting into the box and playing an inch perfect cross for Shakes who met the ball with a glancing header that bounced in from six yards.

The Daggers levelled on the half hour mark, with Benson grabbing his first of the day. The striker latched on to a cross from Whitely and forced Grant Smith into a good save. Unfortunately for the keeper the clearance went back to Benson who made no mistake at the second attempt.

The away side were in control thereafter. Smith had to be on top form to deny Jordan Maguire-Drew and then dived brilliantly to keep out a curling effort from Whitely.

It was five minutes after the break that the Daggers took the lead, with Benson rolling back the years and heading in Joe Widdowson’s cross at the back post.

The third arrived 12 minutes from time with Whitely turning scorer and heading in at the back post again to secure the three points and strengthen the Daggers’ play-off position.