RUTHLESS ROMAIN’S LATE STRIKE LIFTS TAYLOR

AFC were condemned to defeat at home, as Elliot Romain’s late goal earned Dagenham & Redbridgez their first away win of the season.

The striker received the ball on the edge of the penalty area and drilled the ball into the top lefthand corner, giving Andy Firth no chance in the Barrow goal.

The defeat bitterly disappointed the Holker Street faithful, but it was a vital win for Peter Taylor’s men.

Ex-England boss Taylor told The NLP: “It’s nice for us to get an away win; Barrow play some very good football, and you’ve got to be very compact, otherwise they’re going to open you up.”

AFC manager Ian Evatt was once again left frustrated. He said: “There we no excuses for today’s performance, from an excellent performance on Tuesday to one that was miles of what we expect. I’m not happy.”

Neither side found rhythm to their play early on although a long-range shot by Dagenham’s Tomi Adeloye whistled just over Firth’s crossbar.

In the 23rd minute the visitors would have had the lead, but for some excellent positional play by Josh Granite. Tomi Adeloye was put in on goal by Romain. Adeloye cut inside the final defender and curled an effort towards the far post that beat Firth, but thankfully for AFC, Granite got back on the line to head away.

Dagenham looked the more dangerous side and it was Adeloye again who forced Firth into a good save, low to his right, as the Daggers striker was put in on goal on the right-hand side. Barrow should have taken the lead in the 40th minute when a mis-hit kick by Dagenham goalkeeper Elliot Justham put Burgess in one on one, however, the Wigan Athletic loanee’s effort was poor, allowing the visitors’ goalkeeper to save the shot low to his left. The Bluebirds started the second half much sharper than the first as Josh Kay drove through the heart of the visitors’ midfield before fizzing a shot at Justham’s goal that was too hot for the Daggers goalkeeper to handle. Tyler Smith had a great opportunity in the 62nd minute when the Sheffield United man held off his marker Ben Goodliffe before drilling an effort towards the bottomleft corner that Justham tipped round the post. With 25 minutes to go Barrow were denied again by the excellent Justham, as Luke Burgess chipped a ball over the top of the defence to the onrushing Kay, but stopper Justham pulled off yet another big save for the National League strugglers to keep the score level and Romain had the last word to secure a crucial victory.