DAGGERS IN DERBY DELIGHT!
TWO goals in the space of eight second-half minutes allowed Dagenham & Redbridge to condemn Essex rivals Southend United to their first ever FA Trophy defeat.
Mo Sagaf and Junior Morias found the back of the net to ensure the Daggers could claim the local bragging rights following a feisty derby at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, with it being a derby, but I thought we grew into the game,” said delighted Daggers boss Daryl McMahon.
“A cup run is important for everyone. It was a really tough tie against Truro City in the last round and I think we were rewarded with this tie and a big crowd.”
Josh Coulson would have given Southend a sixth minute lead were it not for a vital goalline clearance by Callum Reynolds after the defender rose highest to meet Jason Demetriou’s inviting free-kick.
Dagenham’s first shot on target didn’t come until the halfhour mark with Mauro Vilhete forcing Steve Arnold into a diving save.
Shrimpers’ Matt Rush then delivered a dangerous pass across the face of goal which Matt Dennis came agonisingly close to tapping home, while the hosts responded with Vilhete cutting inside and seeing a strike deflect into the side-netting.
Vilhete continued asking questions of Southend’s defence and was denied an almost certain goal by Shaun Hobson and Ollie Kensdale putting their bodies on the line to make an important block just before the break.
A neat turn and strike from Dennis forced Elliot Justham into action early in the second half, while Coulson’s scuffed shot was pushed away from the resulting corner.
Those stops proved crucial as Dagenham broke the deadlock moments later. Myles Weston’s teasing cross found an unmarked Sagaf six yards out and he nodded home.
Southend responded with Kensdale – on his first start since a switch from Concord Rangers – firing over from long range but it was not long before the Daggers doubled their advantage from close range through Morias.
A clash between both sets of fans delayed the restart but the home side’s second half dominance continued afterwards as Vilhete stung the palms of Arnold.
The Shrimpers searched for a way back into the contest but they ran out of ideas after Sam Dalby nodded over and Terrell Egbri directed a diving header wide when well-placed.
Boss Kevin Maher said: “I’m frustrated. We started ever so well and had a couple of good chances. When you’re on top, you need to take your chances. I don’t think we had enough quality in the final third.”
Mauro Vilhete (Dagenham) 2,585
★★★★★