SHAYMEN BID IS BACK ON TRACK

FC HALIFAX Town got their promotion push firmly back on track after grinding out an impressive victory over Dagenham & Redbridge.

Making the long trip down to Essex following back-toback defeats, a Billy Waters brace and Matty Warburton bullet were enough to secure all three points despite Matt Robinson’s close range effort for the hosts.

Halifax boss Pete Wild told The NLP: “You have to work hard to get anything here so we’re over the moon to take all three points.

“We needed a positive result and I think Dagenham are the best footballing team in this division by an absolute mile.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the players and it was important to bounce back after the week we’ve had.”

Dagenham made a promising start to the encounter, winning a succession of corners and Junior Morias forcWright’s ing Halifax goalkeeper Sam Johnson into a fine diving save from long range.

However, they failed to make that early promise pay and the Shaymen took advantage thanks to Warburton’s thunderbolt finding the top corner of the net.

Jamie Allen then wasted a golden opportunity when put through on goal as Halifax looked to double their lead.

Although Will Wright would have levelled matters were it not for a goalline clearance from Martin Woods and Johnson acrobatically tipped an attempted Myles Weston cross onto the roof of the net, Dagenham fell further behind shortly before the break.

A Jack Senior centre caused disarray and Warburton struck the post with a close range header before Waters was on hand to net the rebound.

However, the hosts halved the deficit just after the hour – Kenny Clark nodding corner back across goal and Robinson steered the ball home.

Halifax responded with Warburton attempting to pick out the top corner for a second time, but his effort failed to drop in under the crossbar.

An audacious Paul McCallum strike went high and wide as the Daggers continued to put the visitors under the cosh, but Waters ended any lingering hopes of a comeback by firing home late on.

Dagenham boss Daryl McMahon said: “We were outstanding and dominated the second half but it’s a disappointing result for us.

“I feel like, when we come up against the best sides, we aren’t ruthless or clinical enough. We need to improve on that if we want to be among the top sides in the division.”

STAR MAN: Billy Waters (FC Halifax)

ATT: 2,460

ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★

REFEREE: Scott Jackson