Dagenham & Redbridge 2 North Ferriby United 0: Daggers overcome dogged Villagers

Oliver Hawkins of Dagenham & Redbridge is congratulated by Jordan Maguire-Drew after opening the scoring against North Ferriby United (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

National League: Dagenham & Redbridge 2 (Hawkins 36, Howell 86) North Ferriby United 0

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Dagenham & Redbridge returned to the top of the National League with a win at home to struggling North Ferriby United.

Daggers controlled the play in the opening 45 minutes, but were only able to register one goal despite their dominance.

The Villagers offered more resistance after the break, but the hosts showed good character before wrapping up the win with a late goal.

After recording a solid 2-0 win at home to Dover Athletic on Tuesday night, Daggers boss John Still elected to make no changes for the visit of the Humberside outfit.

It meant Joe Widdowson remained at right-back, with Frankie Raymond on the left side of defence.

There was a return to the matchday squad for Craig Robson as the ex-Bognor Regis Town defender was named on the bench after missing the past two games with a thigh injury.

It looks less than 90 seconds for the game’s first shot on target to be registered after Corey Whitely wriggled his way into the box for the Essex club.

The former Enfield Town attacker unleashed a powerful effort from the right edge of the 12 yard box, but Rory Watson saved well in the North Ferriby goal.

That chance aside, it was a quiet opening to the game with both teams struggling to adapt to the blustery conditions.

With 13 minutes gone, Jordan Maguire-Drew went close to opening the scoring in spectacular fashion after cutting inside from 25 yards, but his shot clipped the bar on its way over.

A minute later and Fejiri Okenabirhie was next to try his luck, but was closed down before he could apply the finish to a ball across the box from Widdowson.

The match became one-way traffic from there, with Daggers domination North Ferriby, but for little reward.

With 20 minutes left in the half, a Widdowson cross was cleared only as far Matt Robinson on the edge of the area.

The ex-Luton Town midfielder let fly with a low, first-time effort, but Watson was well placed to save for the visitors.

Three minutes later, a mix-up in the Villagers defence granted Oliver Hawkins a chance from 12 yards.

Sadly, the former Hemel Hempstead Town attacker could not get any power in his effort, with Watson saving before clutching the ball at the second attempt.

Finally, though, with nine minutes left in the half, the hosts finally made the breakthrough that their play deserved.

Raymond had made his way forward to the left side of the box and delivered a splendid cross to the middle of the area.

Hawkins was present and correct to head in the teasing ball, much to the delight of the home support.

The forward had a chance for a second with a minute left in the half, but headed Maguire-Drew’s corner from the right narrowly over.

It was a miss which meant Daggers led by just the one goal at the break, though it perhaps should have been a few more.

Four minutes into second half, the hosts were nearly pegged back when Sam Topliss found space in the area, but Daggers stopper Elliot Justham comfortably saved the resulting shot.

It proved to be a rare blip for the hosts, with Whitely, still in search of his first Daggers goal, testing Watson with a curling shot in the 55th minute.

A minute later, Whitely nearly turned provider when gliding into the box and teeing up Hawkins, who saw Watson smother his close range shot.

The onslaught continued from the hosts, with Raymond narrowly shooting wide in the 62nd minute after receiving the ball just inside the area from Okenabirhie.

Sixty seconds later, and it was Okenabirhie’s turn to go close, but fired straight at Watson from the edge of the area.

The United keeper initially spilled the ball at the first attempt, but was able to gather before Whitely could tap in the rebound.

At the other end, the Villagers had perhaps their best chance in the 64th minute when Simon Russell shot narrowly wide after finding room in the area.

Slowly, North Ferriby were becoming more of a threat in the match, though Daggers perhaps should have doubled their lead in the 67th minute.

Whitely shot low and hard from just inside the area, with his effort parried by Watson into the path of Hawkins.

With the goal at his mercy, the striker looked odds on for a second goal of the afternoon, but lost his balance as he shot and missed the target.

Hawkins missed another glorious chance in the 84th minute when, after creating a one-on-one with Watson, could only fire his effort against the post.

A second did come, though, in the 86th minute with Luke Howell netting shortly after coming on.

The midfielder turned a cross from Okenabirhie into the net from close range for his first goal since rejoining Daggers in the summer.

It secured the win for Daggers, which in truth should have been by more, but attention now turns to next Saturday’s trip to Bromley.

Daggers: Justham; Widdowson, Doe, Staunton, Raymond; Boucaud, Robinson; Maguire-Drew (Howell 85), Whitely, Okenabirhie (Assombalonga 90); Hawkins (Benson 90)

Subs: Cousins, Robson

United: Watson; Topliss, Gray, Skelton, Hare; Clarke (Fallowfield 29), Oliver, Middleton, Russell; Robinson (Kendall 81), Thompson (Mukendi 81)

Subs: Emerton, Armstrong

Attendance: 1,119 (including 25 North Ferriby fans)

Referee: Craig Hicks