Dagenham & Redbridge defeated by lowly Yeovil Town

The defender was shown a straight red card for a foul on Matt Worthington on the half-hour mark, which was adjudged to be inside the box, and saw Jordan Maguire-Drew convert the penalty.

Worthington added a late second to allow the Glovers to complete a National League double over Daryl McMahon’s men, in front of a bumper Victoria Road crowd on Daggers Celebrate Diversity Day.

The first chance of note came on seven minutes, as Worthington teed up Maguire-Drew, but his effort was saved by Elliot Justham before an offside flag went up anyway.

Sam Ling and Morgan Williams both needed treatment after competing for a header from the next phase of play, with Ling unable to continue and replaced by Elliott Johnson.

And Josh Walker clipped a low volley just wide of the near post from Josh Hare’s right-wing cross on the quarter-hour mark.

Andrew Oluwabori forced Justham into a low save down to his right with a shot from the edge of the box on 20 minutes, while Josh Hare floated a free-kick beyond the far post and Jamie Reckord cut out a dangerous looking low cross to deny Walker a shot at goal.

But Daggers were reduced to 10 men on the half-hour mark when Phipps clipped Worthington, as he looked to break into the box, and referee Alan Dale pointed to the spot, before showing a red card to the defender.

Maguire-Drew stepped up to convert from the spot against his former club, with Myles Weston flashing a low ball across the face of Yeovil’s goal as Daggers looked for an immediate response.

Owen Bevan was booked for pulling back Junior 
Morias as he looked to latch onto Dean Rance’s pass from halfway on 36 minutes, with Daggers then spurning a great chance on 40 minutes.

Walker did well to win the ball from former Dagger Josh Staunton and advanced into the box, only to see his shot blocked by Bevan, before an underhit follow-up attempt from Morias was smothered by Grant Smith.

Oluwabori saw another well struck effort saved by Justham, three minutes before the break, while Walker glanced a header beyond the far post from Weston’s left-wing cross during five minutes of stoppage time.

Rance made way for Paul McCallum during the break, as Daggers boss Daryl McMahon looked to bolster his attack, but Yeovil went close within two minutes of the restart as Maguire-Drew’s ball into the box found Oluwabori ghosting in on the far side, only to steer past Justham and the post.

But McCallum saw a half volley blocked from Hare’s deflected cross on 56 minutes, as Daggers pieced together a good move from left to right.

Hare had to make way with an injury soon after and was replaced by Joel Taylor, with Bevan seeing a far-post header from Maguire-Drew’s inswinging cross saved by Justham moments later.

Morias flashed an angled drive beyond the far post on 72 minutes, after a nice touch from Walker, who was then fouled by Staunton, who was shown a yellow card.
But McCallum headed Taylor’s free-kick high over the bar.

Another foul on Walker out by the left touchline gave Weston a chance to send in a free-kick, which appeared to hit the hand of Yeovil substitute Edwin Agbaje, but referee Dale waved play on.

And Daggers fell further behind on 80 minutes when the impressive Worthington drove a fine strike into the corner from 20 yards, sparking something of an exodus among the 2,739-strong crowd.

Smith denied McCallum at close range as 10-man Daggers searched desperately for some encouragement, then pushed a well-struck shot from Morias behind for another corner two minutes from time.

And the only consolation for Daggers was the news that Southend and Wealdstone had also suffered home defeats, allowing them to cling onto a play-off place.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare (Taylor 64), Rance (McCallum 46), Walker, Sagaf, Weston, Robinson, Phipps, Ling (Johnson 12), Longe-King, Morias.

Unused subs: Onariase, Ibie.

Attendance: 2,739 (including 197 Yeovil fans).