Dagenham & Redbridge cut down Boreham Wood to boost hopes

Having shocked title-chasing Notts County in the Saturday evening TV slot in late February, less than 24 hours after the sudden departure of manager Daryl McMahon, they saw Inih Effiong’s 12th-minute header secure a second win in five games for new boss Ben Strevens.

And victory lifted Daggers up to 10th place, six points off seventh-placed Eastleigh with five games left and Chesterfield the visitors to Victoria Road on Bank Holiday Monday.

Elliot Justham returned in goal, having missed the first four games of Strevens’ reign, while Angelo Balanta also came into the starting line-up and Sydney Ibie was named on the bench.

And the visitors opened the scoring when Josh Hare’s free-kick found David Longe-King to head across goal for Effiong to nod past Nathan Ashmore.

Zak Brunt fired wide from a Wood free-kick on 26 minutes, but Daggers had a great chance to double their advantage just past the half-hour mark, only for Ashmore to save well from Myles Weston.

The home side had another sight of goal five minutes before the interval when Dennon Lewis found George Broadbent, but the midfielder scuffed his shot.

And Daggers were awarded a penalty on 41 minutes, ony to see Effiong’s spot-kick saved by Ashmore.

Tyrone Marsh headed into the side netting after the restart as Wood tried to get back on terms, with Sam Ling producing an heroic piece of defending to deny the hosts after the hour mark.

And captain Matt Robinson was shown a yellow card midway through the second half, joining Wood’s former Daggers left-back Femi Ilesanmi in the little black book of referee Jacob Miles.

Weston found himself in space on 70 minutes for another good opportunity but fired straight at Ashmore, then made way for Ibie soon after in the first change of the evening by Strevens.

And Balanta had a chance of a second on 77 minutes after dancing through the home defence, but rolled his shot past the target and was replaced by George Saunders soon after, as Harry Phipps picked up a second yellow card for the visitors.

Omar Mussa was sent on for Mo Sagaf in the closing stages as Daggers held on for an impressive win to keep the play-off dream alive.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare, Onariase, Effiong, Sagaf (Mussa 88), Balanta (Saunders 79), Weston (Ibie 72), Robinson, Phipps, Ling, Longe-King. Unused subs: Strizovic, Bird.