MAGPIES ON THE MARCH AS DAGGERS DRAW BLANK

CHORLEY and their fans can dream of the great escape as this narrow victory over Dagenham & Redbridge takes the Magpies’ recent points haul to ten from the last four games.

A fabulous strike from Alex Newby in the 63rd minute secured the three points here against a pacey and inventive Daggers side who never really looked like breaking down a resolute home defence.

A fast, free-flowing first half was easy on the eye but largely unproductive with just one moment of real danger to either goal.

Dagenham, under the watchful eye of firstteam coach Terry Harris with manager

Peter

Taylor recovering from undergoing a knee operation this week, were under the cosh from the off with keeper Elliot Justham forced to scramble to keep out Newby’s low drive by the post following a Chorley corner.

But the visitors soon found their feet and were close to opening the scoring when Matt Urwin could only partially save a low cross-shot from Mitch Brundle with Andy Teague on hand to rescue Chorley with an overhead clearance from under the bar.

The action heated up quickly after the break. Mark Ross having to hook the ball off the Chorley line as Dagenham hit their stride.

The game exploded into life when Charles Vernam got in a tremendous rising drive that Justham athletically tipped over the bar.

But the Daggers’ reprieve was short lived. Following the corner the ball fell to Newby 25 yards out and he promptly sent a sumptuous half-volley flying into the top corner of Justham’s net.

The visitors’ best chance of salvaging a point came when Alex McQueen was played through on the right and he dragged his shot disappointingly wide of the far post, while Joan Luque was twice denied by Urwin in the latter stages.

Chorley were in no mood to let their lead slip and tenaciously resisted late pressure to make it three wins from four and climb to within striking distance of safety.

They now lie in the final relegation place by virtue of just goal difference from Chesterfield, but while delighted with an important victory, boss Jamie Vermiglio felt his side were not at their best.

“We were miles away in the first half but rolled our sleeves up in the second and a wonder goal won it,” he commented.

“Alex Newby has got that shot in his locker and he said he knew it was going in as soon as the ball left his boot.

“Dagenham moved the ball around very well and made it tough for us to see the game out.

“Perhaps over the 90 minutes we were a shade fortunate and a draw might have been a fairer result.”