DAGGERS JUPP TO THE TASK
CARETAKER boss Dave Jupp paid deserved tribute to his Dagenham braves as they ended a turbulent 24 hours with a remarkable counter-punching victory at National League leaders Notts County.
Just a day after the Essex club parted company with manager Daryl McMahon, the players he left behind defended for their lives and then struck two superb goals on the break from their sole efforts on target.
“We knew what to expect – Notts move the ball quicker than any other side in the division by a country mile,” Jupp said.
“But we defended with great commitment and concentration, and rode our luck at times.
“We knew Notts leave themselves open at the back at times and we took advantage.
“It was a great winner from Inih Efflong, but he’s capable of that.”
Notts were left cursing an evening when nothing went their way and their frustration boiled over when defender Aden Baldwin was shown a red card by under pressure referee Lewis Smith after the final whistle.
Smith resisted several penalty appeals supported by a hostile home crowd and, in truth, wasn’t the reason Notts lost.
Head coach Luke Williams summed it up when he said: “We played brilliantly in the second half, got in good positions and had great chances. On another day we could have scored several times. But that wasn’t good enough. The game of football is about getting the ball over the line.
“We can’t afford to dwell on this but must try to put in a brilliant performance next week.”
Daggers’ refusal to lie down will have been celebrated in Wales as County’s first home league defeat in more than a year has handed the title initiative to Wrexham.
This was a night when Notts occasionally looked vulernable through misplaced passes – and it cost them dear when Daggers first hit them on the break after 31 minutes to cancel out a strike by Ruben Rodrigues.
Junior Morias and Sam Ling were both involved before Angelo Balanta rolled his shot calmly past Sam Slocombe.
Elliot Justham made good saves, the back three flung themselves in the way of shots with up to half-a-dozen near goalline blocks and sub Jodi Jones grazed a post.
Notts were frantic and skilful yet Daggers always offered a threat and the winner was sublime. Matt Robinson broke up yet another Notts attack and sent Effiong racing clear. The substitute’s fierce finish was the stuff of dreams in the 87th minute.
Still, Notts went desperately close to snatching a point but this was merely a night when fate decreed they were never going to win.
STAR MAN: Manny Onariase (Dagenham)
ATT: 7,441
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
REFEREE: Lewis Smith