INIH IS THE NEW HERO AS DAGGERS STEP IT UP
TWO cracking goals from full debutant Inih Effiong gave Dagenham & Redbridge their first home win of this year and placed them above Solihull Moors in a close-fought encounter.
The big striker, signed this week from Aldershot Town, hit a stunning winner 18 minutes from time to add to his 14 league goals scored with the Shots – two of which were against the Moors earlier this year.
“I can’t remember us scoring from so far out this season,” raved Daggers’ boss Daryl MacMahon on Effiong’s wonder strike. “I felt were we a bit edgey first half but we showing courage in the second.
“We passed the ball really well, stayed composed and moved Solihull around and kept playing. After losing a couple of players we are introducing some new ones and need to give them opportunities.”
Moors just enjoyed the better of a slow start which saw both sides pack the midfield. Neal Ardley’s men were comfortable on the ball without really troubling Elliot Justham in the Daggers goal.
Ben Coker headed over for the away side on the quarter-hour following a cross by Joe Sbarra, while Junior Morias squandered a half chance for the Daggers soon after.
Sam Ling hit a free kick wide on 24 minutes as the home side showed they were still dangerous.
The breakthrough, however, came in the 35 minute. Dagenham won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, Effiong hit his first effort straight into the wall before firing the rebound low to the right of Moors keeper Ryan Boot.
The lead, however, only lasted five minutes as Moors hit back – Andrew Dallas’ cross put into his own goal by Harry Phipps, who just got in front of Solihull’s Bartosz Cybulski three yards out.
Thankfully, both side opted to show more attacki ng intent in the second half. Moors brought on the lively Justin Donawa for Coker, while the Daggers started brightly.
Indeed, the home side were denied strong penalty claims when JevonMills appeared to foul Effiong from behind, however referee Wayne Cartmel judged him to have gotten the ball first.
The winner, however, wasn’t long in coming when, on 72 minutes, Effiong surprised everyone with a sublime strike from 25 yards out, straight into the top lefthand corner.
Ardley believed his side had done enough to win the match, especially in the first half. “I don’t know why we lost today, first half we were by far the better team,” he moaned.
Effiong, for one, strengthened his claim to steer the Dagenham attack after Josh Walker joined Burton Albion and Paul McCallum joined Chesterfield on loan.
The Daggers now sit one place and one point off the play-off places.