Town boost play-off hopes with 1-0 win at Dagenham
FC Halifax Town boosted their chances of a top seven finish with a gritty 1-0 win at Dagenham and Redbridge.
Dion Pererira fired just wide across goal three minutes in amid a fast start by the hosts,withRyanHillalsocurling a shot over from just outside the box.
Town were sloppy in possession early on, with Adam Senior - one of two to come into the side along with Jack Hunter - Luke Summerfield and Jack Evans all guilty of losing the ball in poor areas.
Thankfullythehostsdidn't take advantage.
Dagenham were playing the smoother, more fluid footballgoingforward,another shot by Pereira saved by the legs of Sam Johnson.
Thehomesideweresimply moreproductiveandcohesive; there was a dearth of quality from Town going forward.
It was a good job The Shaymen were their usual hardworking and well organised selves off the ball because on it, they left a lot to be desired, losing it when they went long and lacking enough guile or fluency to pass through their opponents.
The Daggers' attacking midfield trio of Hill, Pereira and Josh Rees were more effective with their movement and touches; by comparison, Andrew Oluwabori, Flo Hoti andMaxWrightweren'treally influencing the game.
AdanGeorgeranandranto occupytheDagenhamdefenders but was offered very little service, despite making good runs in-behind.
Halifaxgottogripswiththe Daggersbetterasthehalfwent on, with Hunter breaking up playreallywellinmidfieldand thevisitorsmakingafewmore inroads on the ball.
The Shaymen went close from a corner just before half-time that was flicked on by Wright but Jamie Stott couldn't steer it goalwards at the back post.
But their only effort on target had been a routine save for ElliotJusthamfromOluwabori's long-range shot.
After the break Oluwabori squanderedapromisingcounter-attack with a poor cross and then shot wastefully over the bar when Hunter found him unmarked 15 yards out.
Town looked much brighter and sharper since halftime though, carrying more of a threat and using the ball better, offering greater movement and precision in possession.
And after Hoti had a low shot tipped behind by
Justham, Oluwabori took one touch as the resulting corner dropped to him on the edge of theboxandproducedasuperb strike into the right corner of the net.
TheDaggerswereanything but sharp now, blunted since half-time and struggling to muster a response.
A double change on the hour mark helped pep the hosts up a bit and they steadilygotcontrolofthegameback.
Tom Eastman could have done better when heading straightatJohnsonfromacorner before sub Shiloh Remy's low shot flashed wide across goal as Town retreated in protection of their lead.
Halifax were in survival mode and only just did when a corner was headed against the post by Eastman, whose follow-up was brilliantly held by Johnson.
Town's knuckles were turningwhiteastheyclungon, withonlyanexcellentlowsave by Johnson preventing Rees from finding a late equaliser. Dagenham threw everything at it, including their keeper for a couple of long-throws, but Town held on.