Aldershot Town left last-place in the National League table in their shadows with a win against Dagenham and Redbridge thanks to Scott Rendell’s header and Shamir Fenelon’s volley on Tuesday night at the EBB stadium.
The home side got off to the perfect start inside three minutes as Dagenham and Redbridge’s Alex Davey tussled with Scott Rendell in the box, the ball looked to have cannoned off the Chelsea loanee’s head but the goal was awarded to the Shots’ talisman.
Town’s main source of attack was supplied by Dominic Bernard and Shamir Fenelon with the pair combining superbly down the right-wing. Fenelon in particular was causing Dagenham and Redbridge a first-half headache with his pace and agility that complimented the strike pairing of Rendell and Dan Holman.
The biggest blow for the home side was losing George Fowler to injury with the centre-back strolling down the tunnel in the 28th minute, replaced by Adam McDonnell. Gary Waddock has a dilemma in the heart of defence having seen Karleigh Osborne pick up an achilles injury in the 1-0 defeat at Solihull Moors on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Dagenham and Redbridge were causing new signing between the sticks Will Mannion, on-loan from Hull City, hardly any problems with Peter Taylor’s side looking toothless in the final third as the half-time whistle sounded.
The Shots found the illusive second goal 10 minutes from the restart as Luke Wanadio received the second bite of the cherry to put in a delicately chipped cross. The winger’s delivery met Fenelon, who drilled his volley into the bottom left-hand corner leaving opposition goalkeeper Elliot Justham with no chance.
At 2-0, Gary Waddock’s men were cruising to first league win of the season, until Chike Kandi’s impact from the bench gave the visitors a lifeline as the striker latched onto Lamar Reynolds’ cross at the back post.
Momentum was firmly on the Daggers’ side and with less than 10 minutes remaining they could have found a fortunate equaliser as Elliot Romain’s teasing cross was millimetres away from meeting teammate Tommy Adeloye.
Dagenham and Redbridge thought they had stolen a precious point with two minutes remaining of injury time but Romain’s one-on-one finish was ruled offside by the linesman.
This much-needed victory has propelled the Shots to 17th in the National League table going into the home fixture against Harrogate Town on Saturday.
