DOSWELL’S CHARGES HITTING THE RIGHT NOTES

SUTTON completed a good week in the National League as they held on to Kieran Cadogan’s second half goal to halt the Dagenham revival which had seen them win their previous two games.

Manager Paul Doswell declared himself pleased with the week’s work after the game as his side forced their way into the play-off spots.

“It was a game where the result was better than the performance,” said Doswell.

“But after difficult games against Hartlepool and Chesterfield, I couldn’t be more pleased with the players who have put in a really good shift over the past week.

“It was a different type of victory to the game at Hartlepool, but just as important and it was pleasing that we held on and didn’t concede late, like on Tuesday.”

Cadogan might have scored in the first five minutes when his shot was turned away at the near post by Elliot Justham, but generally the first half lacked inspiration from both sides with Matt Robinson sending Dagenham’s only effort high over the bar from Alex McQueen’s corner.

Doswell admitted that words were said at half-time and Sutton were immediately more lively after the break and Justham had to make a good save to tip over Charlie Clough’s header.

However, the goalkeeper will be disappointed with what proved to be the only goal 11 minutes into the second half, when he could only push Nicky Bailey’s low 20-yard shot out in front of him, and with his defenders slow to react Cadogan was able to put the rebound into the corner of the net. The goal seemed to spark Dagenham into life and a double substitution saw Lamar Reynolds and Shamir Mullins immediately causing the Sutton side problems and Jamie Butler had to make good saves from both players in the space of two minutes. Sutton had to reshuffle their defence when Clough received a cut head that required eight stitches, and had to withstand a late flurry of corners and throw-ins from the visitors with Butler having to be alert to keep out a deflection from Bailey, and both Bailey and Aswad Thomas produced welljudged interventions. Prominent at both ends of the pitch, Bailey also had Sutton’s best efforts late on when his free-kick was this time dealt with more comfortably by Justham. But despite their late pressure, Dagenham were unable to end their miserable record at Sutton, who have now won all six of the league games between the sides at Gander Green Lane.