Dagenham’s survival hopes depended on a late penalty as former Fleet striker Josh Umerah struck in the closing stages to grab the three points, although it was the visitors who looked much more likely to win this game.
Josh Wright made one enforced change with Alex Lankshear returning in place of the injured Luke O’Neill while Dagenham left another former Fleet player, Christian N’Guessan, on the bench.
The first chance of the match arrived for the Daggers with just four minutes on the clock when Oscar Rutherford attacked to provide Josh Rees with some space and he rifled a shot towards goal that smacked off the Fleet crossbar.
It was a slow-paced first-half with neither side enjoying many chances. Dagenham had a couple of promising crosses but nothing that really tested Cousins and they tried to lift the tempo as they needed a goal with sides in and around them in the table winning but the best they could manage was Rees’ low effort into the gloves of Mark Cousins. Fleet were also relieved to see a corner whip right across goal towards Paul Kalambayi but no red shirt could get a touch.
Josh Passley had the Fleet’s best opportunity eight minutes before half-time when his run down the right got him some space to see goal but his effort was palmed up and over by Jack Turner at his near post.
Dagenham’s tempo wasn’t enough for the home fans who booed their side off at half-time and with Fleet beginning to apply pressure after the break, those fans directed their anger at an increasing volume.
Cousins was forced into action with a low dive on 53 minutes to keep Dion Pereira’s shot out, whilst Mustapha Olagunju tracked back well to halt an attack from Umerah. But that was all Dagenham really managed for most of the second half as Fleet expected more urgency from the home side that didn’t really come.
Toby Edser looked to snatch the opener as he brilliantly held off his man to get a shot away which dragged just wide before Cousins once again pulled off an excellent save to deny Harry Phipps’ close-range header but any other Daggers’ chances were wasted.
Wright looked to win it by sending Dominic Poleon on with 15 minutes left as the visitors looked the more likely to score with a couple of corners and several crosses into the Dagenham box.
But the big turning point of the game arrived when the Daggers were awarded a penalty with five minutes remaining after Hessenthailer was brought down by Ryan Carr. Former Fleet man Umerah went up against former Dagger Cousins who launched himself the right way but couldn’t keep the kick out.
Things turned worse for the Fleet when they went down to 10 men in the eight minutes of stoppage time following the dismissal of Passley who tangled with Ryan Hill in the far corner.
EUFC: Cousins, Lankshear, Manktelow (Aoraha 83), Olagunju, Passley, Chapman, Bolger, Carr, Edser (Harriott 90), Moncur (Poleon 75), Cosgrave. Subs: Tanga, Anthony, Goddard
DRFC: Turner, Francis (Remy 78), Hessenthaler (Rendall 89), Rutherford, Loupalo-Bi (Wyllie 68), Phipps, Rees, Hill, Kalambayi, Pereira (Lawless 71), Umerah (N’Guessan 90+9). Subs: Harrack, Harvey
Attendance: 1,747 (137 EUFC)
Photos: ©EUFC / Ed Miller
Vote for your man of the match.
