Dagenham & Redbridge edged out by Chesterfield
Boss Ben Strevens made one change to his starting line-up from the Good Friday win at Boreham Wood, as Sydney Ibie came in for Matt Robinson, who missed out altogether.
And the opening exchanges were fairly even, with Chesterfield unable to capitalise on a free-kick in a dangerous position on 13 minutes or a succession of corners midway through the half.
Elliot Justham saved from Ryan Colclough just before the half-hour mark, then saw former Daggers striker Joe Quigley hit the crossbar on 35 minutes as it remained scoreless at the interval.
Chesterfield went close to breaking the deadlock from a corner eight minutes into the second half, with Quigley firing well over from range moments later.
But Daggers then saw Inih Effiong break into the box and fire goalwards, forcing Ross Fitzsimons to turn the ball behind for a corner, which came to nothing.
Ibie made way for George Saunders just past the hour mark, with Effiong shown a yellow card midway through the half for a raised boot.
And the Spirites broke the deadlock on 70 minutes as Liam Mandeville headed home at the far post.
Balanta made way for Omar Mussa for the final quarter of an hour, with Jay Bird replacing Mo Sagaf for the last nine minutes of normal time.
Jesurun Uchegbulam forced a good save from Justham during five minutes of stoppage time, while Darren Oldaker went closer still when hitting a post.
And Fitzsimons saved from Effiong at the expense of a corner, with Daggers unable to force the ball home during a goalmouth scramble.
Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare, Onariase, Effiong, Sagaf (Bird 81), Balanta (Mussa 76), Weston, Phipps, Ling, Longe-King, Ibie (Saunders 63). Unused subs: Strizovic, Franz.
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