Report: Two for Joy as Mags Beat Daggers

Maidenhead United continued an unbeaten February with a 2-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday afternoon at York Road. 

 

Ryan Peters made one change to the side which took a point at Torquay last weekend, with Miles Welch-Hayes replacing Manny Onariase. New signing Alfie Pendlebury was named as a substitute following his arrival five days prior. 

 

United kicked the game off and were quick to gain the upper hand against a side who held the better head-to-head record. After ten minutes, Josh Umerah opened the scoring against his previous club, slotting home a long throw-in underneath ex-Magpie Sam Howes. 

 

Reggie Young responded with Dagenham's best chance of the half when his shot was deflected over. The resulting corner was held by Jordi van Stappershoef, who quickly launched a counterattack towards the Canal End. A cross was only cleared as far as David Mantle, who set Jayden Mitchell-Lawson up to unsuccessfully assist Liam Dulson - the ball proving a step too far out of reach. 

 

Umerah sought a second moments later, producing an unorthodox volley from 15 yards out into Howes' hands. Dulson also tried to double the lead from the edge of the penalty area, but was unable to keep his strike on target ten minutes from the end of the first half. 

 

 

Remy Clerima tested the Daggers' defence early on in the second half. Two headers - the former wide and the latter caught - initially threatened a two-goal advantage within minutes of the resumption of play, before the Frenchman saw himself booked a few minutes later. 

 

A quiet second half was briefly interrupted when United's opponents, for the second week in succession, saw a penalty appeal punished with a yellow car for simulation - this time Joe Haigh's theatrical fall being outlawed by referee Callum Jones. 

 

Defensive changes preceded another dangerous Dagenham attack, with Ryan Bartley and Dillon De Silva entering in place of David Mantle and Jayden Mitchell-Lawson. Young once again for the Daggers came closest to an equaliser, with his effort this time forcing van Stappershoef to parry away. 

 

The initially dry conditions began to deteriorate, with Matt Robinson earning himself a yellow to go with his new contract for a sliding challenge with a quarter of an hour still to go. 

 

Pendlebury made his United debut shortly thereafter, and his impact was instantaneous, setting up Umerah who fired straight towards Howes with ten minutes to play. 

 

There's always a sense that a goal's coming in the dying stages of a 1-0 encounter, and it happened in the right end after Sam Graham came close for the visitors. Dulson, thanks to Asher Yearwood's interception, was able to latch onto Dillon De Silva's cross at the back post, ensuring all three points remained in Berkshire. 

 

 

Attendance: 1,133