OLU’S THE HERO FOR SHAYMEN!
ANDREW Oluwabori’s second-half winner boosted FC Halifax Town’s play-off chances and dented Dagenham & Redbridge’s recent form at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
The lively winger grabbed the decisive goal 11 minutes into the second half that extended Town’s winning run to four games as they look to regain momentum to secure a top-seven finish.
Halifax’s goalkeeping coach Paul Oakes said: “We dealt with Dagenham’s physicality and the clean sheet proves it, Sam [Johnson] pulled off some great saves that helped us massively.
“We were getting better as the half carried on and the message was to ‘step up a few gears’ as the lads followed the game plan.
“Andrew is quite a maverick as sometimes he will struggle to make the correct decision, but he will pull something out of the bag and he’s still learning so he will get even better.”
Dagenham enjoyed large spells of possession and came close to opening the lead with Dion Pereira racing towards goal and striking his shot wide of the post.
Both he and Keenan Appiah-Forson, on loan from West Ham, bossed the midfield and the latter threaded a sublime ball into Ryan Hill but the 25-year-old’s curling effort flew just over the bar.
Halifax conjured up their first real chance in the 17th minute with Oluwabori’s attempt on goal from long range but Dagenham goalkeeper Elliot Justham comfortably gathered his effort.
Three minutes later, Hill turned provider to square the ball for Pereira, who managed to cut inside the box and sting the palms of FC Halifax Town keeper Johnson with a fierce driving shot towards goal.
Appiah-Forson produced a vital interception, denying Jamie Stott a goalscoring opportunity and kept the scores level before the half-time interval.
Chris Millington’s side started the second half with intent, Oluwabori’s effort heading towards goal but it went wide of the woodwork.
They continued to create great movement into the Daggers box with in-form Florent Hoti launching a low driving shot that forced Jusham into a smart save, before Oluwabori struck a trademark thunderbolt of a strike from 20 yards into the top corner to give Town the lead.
With 20 minutes remaining, Johnson was called into action to deny Tom Eastman’s looping header at the far post – and another chance fell to Eastman from a resulting corner but the defender’s header rattled the frame of the woodwork, while his rebound effort fired straight at Johnson.
Ben Strevens’ Daggers continued their search for an equaliser in the dying moments when midfielder Josh Rees’ effort was comfortably saved by Johnson as the Shaymen saw out victory for a vital three points in their play-off quest. STAR MAN: Andrew Oluwabori (Halifax) ATT: 3,720 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Richard Aspinall