Brilliant Balanta saves Daggers

ANGELO BALANTA returned to haunt former club Boreham Wood as his late double helped salvage a point for Dagenham & Redbridge in a thriller at Victoria Park.

Despite controlling the first half, Daryl McMahon’s side found themselves a goal down after a mistake from Will Wright allowed Corey Whitely to score before Shaq Coulthirst tapped in early in the second half. But Balanta ensured the points were split by first nodding in from a corner, before levelling the score with a well-taken strike from just inside the box. The home side momentarily thought they had taken the lead early on when Matt Robinson headed Myles Weston’s cross onto the bar before Paul McCallum tapped in from close range, only for the referee to give a foul in favour of Wood. Balanta then went close from just inside the box, smashing over on the volley after the ball had sat up nicely for the forward. McCallum was presented with another opportunity to put his side ahead when he capitalised on a loose pass and tried to lob goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore from distance but his effort drifted harmlessly over the goal. Ashmore was called into action again on 32 minutes, rushing out to deny Balanta one-on-one after he had latched onto strike partner McCallum’s flick-on. Jamal Fyfield fired just wide for Boreham Wood after being picked out by striker Kabongo Tshimanga, but Dagenham carved out another good chance moments later when Ashmore was equal to Balanta’s powerful effort at goal following a corner. But, despite the home side’s dominance, it was Wood who took the lead a minute before half-time. Wright failed to clear a low ball in from Gus Mafuta, allowing Whitely – another playing against his former club – to tap in from a couple of yards out. The away side soon doubled their advantage when Coulthirst tapped in from close range after Justham had got down low to deny Whitely’s attempt three minutes into the second half. But Daggers were back in the game on 72 minutes when substitute George Saunders’ corner was expertly flicked into the far corner by Balanta at the near post. His second came with a minute remaining. A longfree kick into the box was knocked down by Kenny Clark allowing the forward to sprint towards the loose ball and curl a sweet, firsttime effort past Ashmore. Wood had a glorious chance to snatch victory deep in stoppage time when Marsh teed up Kane Smith, who curled just wide of the target with Justham frozen on his line. Wood boss Luke Garrard said: “I don’t think we deserved to be a goal up after our first-half performance in all honesty. “We get our second and I think then it’s about controlling the game. It’s a tough scoreline don’t get me wrong, but to concede two from restarts, I don’t think we defend and react well enough.”