KANDI’S SWEET IN LATE SHOW!
RELIEVED Daryl McMahon found heroes at both ends of the pitch as Dagenham snatched a precious late point in a thrilling finale at Victoria Park.
The Daggers looked set for their first league defeat under McMahon when Hatters’ substitute Liam McAlinden struck with a minute of normal time to play.
But home keeper Elliot Justham denied Danny Lloyd a second with a stunning stop, before Chike Kandi levelled matters with almost the last kick of the match.
“Elliot has made two or three unbelievable saves and they were unbelievable,” said McMahon. “And I’m delighted for Chike because he works really hard. He’s just got to refine his game in the box now. He’s got the power and pace and he’s good one-onone.
“I’m happy to get a point from the perspective of snatching it from the jaws of defeat, but it was a winning performance for me, even without hitting the levels of the last two games.”
Both keepers made vital saves in a high-tempo first half, Ben Hinchliffe showing his class when keeping out a strike from Daggers’ frontman Ben House.
Meanwhile, Justham excelled when thwarting a left-foot shot from Danny Lloyd, this after he had been sent clear by debutant Lois Maynard’s raking pass. The cousin of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford made an excellent first impression.
Justham then somehow kept out Lloyd again from point-blank range on the stroke of half-time.
In a damp squib of a second half, Kenny Clark almost scored at one end before heading Ben Jackson’s stinging volley off the line as the late drama began to unfold.
A minute later the Hatters surely thought they’d won it when McAlinden turned in Jordan Keane’s cross-shot from a yard out.
Lloyd should then have put the game to bed, but Justham somehow clawed the effort to safety.
It appeared to mean little, but one last Sam Deering cross into the box caused confusion and Kandi pounced to lash home.
It’s now seven league games without a win for County, but boss Jim Gannon remains positive.
“I’m glad the fans got to see some goals and some drama because it became a bit of a war of attrition at times,” he said.
“We have been through a difficult period, so we are pleased to have put ourselves in a position to win the game. We’re disappointed to concede late on, but I’m sure Dagenham would have been disappointed if they’d not got something out of the game.”