SUPER SAM’S THE SAVIOUR AS DAGGERS ARE DENIED

ASHLEY Charles’ first goal of the season inside the opening five minutes proved to be decisive in this clash of two play-off pushers as Wealdstone moved level on points with seventh-placed Southend United.

Charles struck coolly into the bottom corner after impressive debutant Brooklyn Ilunga had slalomed his way into the Dagenham penalty area.

“It was a gritty, tough performance and we’re proud of the players,” said Wealdstone assistant boss Matt Saunders.

“We were much the better team in the opening stages, and once we scored, we had to show a different side to us that a lot of teams that dominate the ball don’t relish.

But we dug in and should have put the game to bed earlier really with the chances we had.

“When you don’t do that, and you play a good team like Dagenham, you know you’re going to have to endure spells of pressure, but we dug in and got another clean sheet.”

Charles’ strike settled any early nerves and the home side nearly doubled their lead five minutes later when top goal scorer Olufela Olomola’s fierce strike from the left-hand side whistled just wide of Elliot Justham’s far post.

The home side’s ascendancy continued and they were close to extending their advantage again on the quarter of an hour when Jack Cook surged forward with a mazy run and struck a powerful effort from the edge of the box but Justham produced a smart save to deny the skipper.

As the half progressed, the Daggers began to find their rhythm and edge back into the contest, nearly drawing level on 26 minutes when the ball fell to Mo Sagaf but Sam Howes produced an excellent save to deny the visitors.

The Daggers started the second half in the same vein and were close to scoring within three minutes of the restart when Morias skipped inside and fired on target, but Howes responded with a solid save to preserve the score line.

Danger-man Morias was agonisingly close to scoring again in the 59th minute when he struck a sweet volley which rebounded off of the crossbar.

Howes was on hand to expertly deal with Omar Mussa’s venomous strike before denying the Daggers sub again two minutes from time with another thunderbolt of a strike which stung his palms.

Howes then denied Myles Weston’s stoppage-time effort leaving Daggers boss Daryl McMahon cutting a frsutrated figure.

“I’m gutted at the minute,” he said. “We’ve conceded a poor goal early in the game.

“We’ve probably missed enough chances to win five games, let alone one, and it’s hard to take to be honest. We did everything but score.”