Aldershot almost sparked an impossible comeback after finding themselves 3-0 down with 10-men, but late goals from Dejan Tetek and Jack Barham only proved to be consolations as they fell to defeat at the Chigwell Construction Stadium.
The Shots almost took an early lead as Josh Barrett ratted the inside of the post in just the ninth minute. Ryan Jones skipped past his man and drove forward as Barrett took over the ball and launched a low shot on goal that had Elliot Justham beaten.
Dagenham’s first chances came from an unlikely source as Harry Phipps first headed wide in the opening five minutes, before being played in behind the Shots defence only to fire wide as he looked to make a better angle past Marcus Dewhurst in the 12th minute.
Just a minute later, Ryan Jones won the ball back by his own corner flag before playing a superbly weighted ball over the top of Dagenham’s defence that Jack Barham raced onto only to find the Assistant Referee’s flag raised for offside as he was through on goal with only Josh Barrett to his right waiting for a tap-in.
In the 27th minute, the Shots came close twice in a minute as first Barrett fired into the side netting following good work Cameron Hargreaves and Tyler Frost, before Barham won the ball back from the resulting goal kick and saw his cross-cum-shot deflected onto the post as the woodwork denied Aldershot for a second time.
Rollin Menayese fired a header over the bar just after the half-hour mark but a series of injuries broke up play as Theo Widdrington received treatment and Hargreaves and Phipps required a change of shirts and bandaging after a clash of heads: All were okay to continue.
HALF-TIME
Dagenham came out of the blocks as a different side for the second-half after a rather lacklustre first 45 and Dion Perreira gave Dewhurst his first real call-to-action as he fired a shot straight into his arms from outside the box.
Perreira had a better opportunity to beat Dewhurst in the 51st minute, though, as Dagenham were awarded a penalty. A deep cross beat everyone in the box but Josh Umerah went down after contact with Ashley Akpan and referee Sam Mulhall pointed to the spot. Perreira sent Dewhurst the wrong way to give the hosts the lead.
Having received a yellow card as the players lined up for kick-off for what must have been dissent, Theo Widdrington was then shown a straight red card a few minutes later after a coming together out of sight from the Press Bench and the Shots were reduced to 10-men.
And just two minutes after, Dagenham doubled their lead. Luca Woodhouse scored a brilliant effort on the turn that powered into the bottom corner.
Despite being numerically disadvantaged, the Shots still looked to attack and try and salvage something from the game and were unfortunate as Josh Barrett’s cross was just in front of Jack Barham in the centre. Tyler Frost saw an effort blocked and Barham missed the target from outside the area.
Dagenham scored a third in the 76th minute as Junior Morias raced on to Frank Vincent’s ball forward and saw his shot deflected past Dewhurst as Akpan raced back to get a challenge in.
The Shots perhaps should have had a penalty of their own in the 81st minute as Akpan looked to be tripped as he broke into the Dagenham box down the right, though nothing was given by Referee Sam Mulhall.
But the Shots had a glimmer of hope in the 83rd minute when clever play from Tyler Frost to take a free-kick quickly fed Dejan Tetek through and he managed to score his first goal for the Shots as Justham couldn’t keep his effort out.
The Shots were rejuvenated and Tyler Frost forced Justham to dive across his goal to keep out a low effort from the edge of the area.
And things got even nervier for Dagenham in the second minute of stoppage time as Jack Barham scored a second. Racing on to a through ball, he beat two Dagenham defenders and fired a brilliant strike into the bottom corner to inspire hope of an incredible comeback.
Just a minute later, a golden opportunity fell again to Jack Barham but on his left-foot, he fired over the bar having found himself in behind the Dagenham defence again.
Attendance: 1210 (152 Away)
Shots lineup: 28. Marcus Dewhurst, 5. Christian Maghoma, 6. Theo Widdrington (C) 7. Cameron Hargreaves (34. Dejan Tetek, 72′), 8. Tyler Frost, 10. Josh Barrett (24. Maxwell Mullins, 72′), 11. Ryan Jones (9. Kai Corbett, 85′), 18. Olly Scott, 21. Ashley Akpan, 22. Jack Barham, 25. Rollin Menayese.
Subs not used: 1. Jordi van Stappershoef, 2. Lachlan Byrd, 17. Aaron Jones, 23. Hady Ghandour.
Dagenham lineup: 1. Elliot Justham (C), 3. Frank Vincent, 5. Tom Eastman (2. Luca Woodhouse, 19′), 6. Harry Phipps, 7. Dion Perreira (8. Josh Rees, 90+4′), 9. Josh Umerah, 10. Ryan Hill, 11. Christian N’Guessan, 17. Trent Rendall, 24. Junior Morias, 30. Paul Kalambayi.
Subs not used: 13. Josh Strizovic, 16. Shiloh Remy, 18. Dylan Stephenson, 21. Oscar Rutherford, 25. Ralph Vigrass.
