Report: Dagenham & Redbridge 1-0 Magpies

A Josh Rees goal paved the way for a 1-0 defeat for Maidenhead United at Victoria Road in a major blow to the Magpies’ survival ambitions. 

 

Alan Devonshire made two changes to the starting XI, with Tristan Abrahams re-entering the squad after his suspension and Shawn McCoulsky returning from injury. 

 

It was a cagey start for both teams, with the only real opportunity for the hosts coming in the first minute. Jake Hessenthaler found Marcus Wyllie in the box, but the striker’s powered effort towards goal found the wrong side of the net. 

 

Chances were few and far between for the rest of the first half, with United’s first shot on target coming in the 27th minute. Will de Havilland’s flick onto McCoulsky left him through on goal with Jake Turner, who was directly in the path of the forward’s strike. 

 

Dagenham & Redbridge had a half-chance as the first 45 drew to a close when Harry Phipps struck from distance, although his strike was well wide of the far post. 

 

 

United had the first opportunity as the teams emerged from the tunnel for the second half. Excellent link up from Thierry Latty-Fairweather and Reece Smith allowed the former to cross into the box. The subsequent clearance only went as far as Smith, whose strike was blocked before it could truly threaten the Dagenham goal. 

 

Five minutes later, the hosts scored the only goal of the game when Rees headed home a Dagenham free kick. It was an easy header for the Daggers’ captain as he converted Ryan Hill’s delivery under little pressure. 

 

With three points a minimum, the Magpies sought a pivotal equaliser which ultimately never came. Latty-Fairweather’s charge into the box resulted in a shot which was remarkably cleared off the line by Hill as the hour mark struck. 

 

Fresh faces in the form of Brendan Kiernan and Chris Wreh made little difference to United’s fortunes. A Will de Havilland header in the 84th minute was well reached by the centre-half, but little came of it as his effort was off target. 

 

Even with Craig Ross coming up for a last-minute corner, Dagenham held on for all three points, leaving the Magpies in a challenging position with six games remaining in the 2024/25 campaign. 

 

 

Dagenham & Redbridge: Turner, Hessenthaler, Phipps, Rees, Umerah, Hill (Clayton, 90+5’), Nguessan, Harrack, Rutherford, Wyllie (Loupalo-Bi, 85’), Kalambayi 

 

Magpies: Ross, de Havilland, Latty-Fairweather, McCoulsky, Ferdinand, Pettit, Smith, Cochrane (Wreh, 73’), Clerima, Abrahams (Kiernan, 62’), Onariase 

 

Attendance: 1,809 (164)