Dagenham & Redbridge pegged back by late Bromley goal

Having seen recent games against Eastleigh and Maidenhead postponed due to frozen pitches, the visitors made a bright start, with Josh Walker’s pressing causing a nervous moment for the Bromley keeper before the ball was cleared.

And Harry Phipps glanced a header from Myles Weston’s corner just over on five minutes, before Louis Dennis saw a speculative effort blocked by Dean Rance.

The hosts had penalty claims waved away when Harry Forster went down in the box, before the first notable chance of the night fell to Junior Morias, whose far-post header from Hare’s cross found the side netting on 18 minutes.

Forster picked up the first yellow card for a cynical foul on Mo Sagaf, as he looked to counter from a Bromley corner, with Daggers inches away from taking the lead when Rance fired just over from the edge of the box on 31 minutes.

The deadlock was broken five minutes later, though, as Morias won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Hare whipped the set-piece into the bottom corner of the net.

Phipps had his name taken just before the break, with Bromley seeing a good chance go begging after some neat passing when Forster overhit his cross.

Forster made way for Ben Krauhaus during the break and Walker was booked three minutes into the second half for a late challenge on Byron Webster, with Elliot Justham smothering a shot from James Vennings soon after.

Corey Whiteley then tried his luck but sliced high and wide, with Rance earning the third yellow card for Daggers before the hour mark.

Kellen Fisher’s low cross, looking for Michael Cheek, was superbly cut out by Phipps as Bromley continued to pose more of a threat, before Bromley had another shout for a penalty, this tie for handball, turned down.

Daggers got the first clear sight of goal midway through the half when Walker was played through, but his tight-angled shot was straight at Reice Charles-Cook.

And the hosts made two more changes in the final quarter, with Whiteley replaced by Adam Marriott and Billy Bingham withdrawn in favour of Mitchel Bergkamp – the 24-year-old son of Arsenal legend Dennis.

After Sam Ling had his name taken by referee Adrian Quelch, Paul McCallum replaced Morias in Daryl McMahon’s first change of the night, nine minutes from time.

Walker and Bromley’s Omar Sowunmi suffered a clash of heads in the closing stages, with both left looking worse for wear, but somehow able to continue.

And Bromley got back on terms with just three minutes left when the ball dropped to Krauhaus after a scramble in the box and he slotted home.

The night nearly got worse for Daggers as normal time drew to a close as Justham denied Krauhaus a second, saving with his feet, and Marriott headed into the net, only to be ruled offside.

Dennis then curled just wide of Justham’s right-hand post in the second minute of stoppage time, as it ended all square and Bromley remained above Daggers on goal difference.

Daggers now turn their attention to their home game against lowly Yeovil Town on Saturday, which is also Daggers Celebrate Diversity Day at Victoria Road, with discounted tickets on offer.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare, Longe-King, Phipps, Ling, Rance, Sagaf, Robinson, Walker, Morias (McCallum 81), Weston.
Unused subs: Saunders, Taylor, Bird, Ibie.