Report: Maidenhead United 1-1 Dagenham & Redbridge

 

United welcomed Dagenham & Redbridge to York Road, a 1-1 draw with goals from James Golding and Josh Umerah meant it was a point a piece. 

 

The Daggers got the game underway in what was a gloomy afternoon in Berkshire, but it was the hosts with the first chance. Tristan Abrahams latched onto a loose backward header but a strong wrist from Eliot Justham prevented any early joy. 

 

Another great chance fell United’s way when Jayden Mitchell-Lawson beat his man down the line before drilling a cross into Abrahams who was denied by a combination of Justham and the post. 

 

In a strange manner Dagenham were able to create their first opening of the game, Dion Pereira seemed to stop to put his boot back on, and so everyone else stopped. However, once Pereira replaced his boot, he continued to drive forward creating a chance for Junior Morias at the back post – but his header was straight at Craig Ross. 

 

Pereira was again the dangerman, this time Morias dinked the ball to the back post and Pereira struck his volley off of the crossbar. 

 

After a frantic opening 20 minutes, the game seemed to settle down for a while with few chances for either side. The visitors probed into the area but failure to pull the trigger meant the chance faded. 

 

With just over five minutes left of the first half the Daggers had a glorious chance to take the lead as substitute Trent Rendall flashed a great ball across the face of goal but the contact from Frank Vincent at the far post failed to turn it goalwards. 

 

With the last chance of the half, Maidenhead took the lead through James Golding on his return to the club. A mazy run from Mitchell-Lawson opened space for a cross, after a couple of ricochets in the area the ball fell kindly for Golding who smashed it into the bottom corner. 

 

 

With 10 minutes of the second half gone there was little goalmouth action until Pereira created a spark for this visitors but strong defensive work from Will de Havilland nullified any danger. 

 

Again, it was Dagenham that went close on the hour mark with Rendall creating some space for himself in the corner of the area before drilling his shot across goal and past the post. 

 

Another Daggers attack and it was Pereira involved again, a dinked cross to Harry Phipps forced a great save from Ross but Josh Umerah was on hand to bundle the rebound in to equalise. 

 

Within seconds of coming on Shawn McCoulsky almost gave United the lead, Mitchell-Lawson did well to create a crossing opportunity but some last-ditch defending from Eastman put the ball out for a corner. 

McCoulsky had a great chance to win it just as we approached the end of normal time, the striker sped through, but his near post shot was thwarted by Justham. 

 

 

An end-to-end encounter sees United gain another hard-earned point. The Magpies are in action again on Tuesday (10th September) night when they make the long journey up to Rochdale. 

 

Maidenhead United: Craig Ross ©, Will de Havilland, Kevin Lokko, Thierry Latty-Fairweather, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, Bradley Keetch (Barratt 66’), Casey Pettit, Reece Smith, Owen Cochrane, Tristan Abrahams (McCoulsky 72’), James Golding 

 

Dagenham& Redbridge: Eliot Justham, Frank Vincent, Tom Eastman, Harry Phipps, Dion Pereira, Josh Rees, Josh Umerah (Grego-Cox 80’), Christian N’Guessan (Rutherford 77’), Sam Ling (Rendall 29’), Tim Akinola, Junior Morias (Stephenson 89’)