Maidstone’s woeful home form continued as Dagenham inflicted another home defeat as they rose to third in the league after this result.

The game started slowly for both teams and in the 9^th minute Dagenham had their first half chance when Corey Whitely tried his luck from 25 yards but saw it sail over the bar then in the next minute Maidstone had their chance when Bobby Joe Taylor passed out wide for Jamar Loza who cut in and his shot went just past the post.

Six minutes later another chance came Maidstone’s way when a corner into the area saw Kevin Lokko head wide from 8 yards.

In the 22^nd minute Taylor’s free kick wide on the left wing forced Elliot Justham to push around the post and from the resulting corner Jamie Coyle’s header was cleared off the line but only to Alex Flisher whose volley whistled past the post. In the 26^th minute Dagenham took the lead when a throw in by Joe Widdowson found Whitely who passed into the area for Luke Gutteridge who from 10 yards saw his goal bound shot deflect of Coyle beating Lee Worgan.

The Daggers were now in control of the game and in the 33^rd minute a Jordan Maguire-Drew cross from the left found Oliver Hawkins and his header from 10 yards was saved at the 2^nd attempt by Worgan.

Half time was getting close and in the 42^nd minute a free kick into the area was half cleared to Jack Paxman who from 18 yards saw his shot go past the post, then in the 44^th minute Loza on the left cut inside and his shot from an acute angle hit the side netting.

In the 3^rd minute of added on time Dagenham should have doubled their lead when Maguire-Drew on the right wing cut inside beat one defender and saw his goal bound shot hit Coyle and go for a corner, the whistle went for half time and Maidstone were still in the game and from Saturday a better performance.

The second started with Maidstone on the front foot and with Dagenham sitting back and hoping to catch Maidstone on the counter attack.

In the 55^th minute Taylor put Tom Mills in and his cross from the by-line was deflected goalwards by Jimmy Shepherd forcing Justham to push around the post, a minute later Loza found himself going towards goal and from 10 yards his shot was saved by Justham’s legs.

In the 69^th minute Dagenham should have doubled their lead when Whitely on the right crossed into the 6 yard box where Maguire-Drew headed over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

Four minutes later Dagenham again could have increased their lead when the ball flew across the area and landed at Frankie Raymond’s feet and from 10 yards his goalbound shot came back off the crossbar.

In the 85^th minute another chance went the Daggers way when Whitely crossed into the area for Maguire-Drew and his shot was superbly tipped over by Worgan.

Time was running out for Maidstone and in the 89^th minute they nearly snatched an equaliser when a long ball into the area found Yemi Odubade and his swivelled shot was saved by Justham, then in the 2^nd minute of added on time a free kick into the area was cleared out to Seth Nana Twumasi who knocked it back into the area and was half cleared to Coyle who from 25 yards saw his shot go over the bar.

The full time whistle went and again the Maidstone contingent were wondering where their next point was coming from although this was a better performance than Saturday’s whilst Dagenham carry on moving up the table and it was a great return to Maidstone for John Still.

 

MAIDSTONE UNITED:

1. WORGAN 3. T.MILLS  4. J.COYLE  5. K.LOKKO  6. J.ROGERS (75)  8. D.SWEENEY  10. J.PAXMAN 11. A.FLISHER 16. B-J TAYLOR (84)  22. S.NANA TWUMASI   25. J.LOZA (80)

SUBS USED: 23. Y.ODUBADE (75)  9. B.HUSON-ODOI ( 80)  24. L.ENVER-MARUM (84)

SUBS NOT USED:  12. J.EVANS   17. B.GREENHALGH

BOOKINGS:  25. J.LOZA (29)  11. A.FLISHER (34)

 

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE:

1. JUSTHAM 3. J.WIDDOWSON  4. S.DOE (45)  8. F.RAYMOND  12. O.HAWKINS  15 J.MAGUIRE-DREW 11. A.BOUCAUD 23. J.SHEPHERD  25. C.WHITELY  32. J.STAUNTON  10. L.GUTTERIDGE

SUBS USED: 14. P.BENSON (45)

SUBS NOT USED: 30. M.COUSINS  9. C.ASSOMBALONGA   21. S.HEARD  20. T.HYDE

BOOKINGS:  17. A.BOUCAUD (29)   25. C.WHITELY (81)

 

REFEREE:  Mr C.HATZIDAKIS

ASSISTANTS: Mr B.GILL  & Mr G.PARSONS

4^TH OFFICIAL: Mr D.BANDARA

ATTENDANCE: 1970