Lincoln City 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 0: Away day struggles continue as Daggers are beaten by Imps

Dagenham & Redbridge manager John Still (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

National League: Lincoln City 2 (Whitehouse 47, Rhead 68) Dagenham & Redbridge 0

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Dagenham & Redbridge lost their fourth away game in the National League in a row after being beaten at leaders Lincoln City.

Having spent much of the first half under plenty of pressure, Daggers did well to go into the break without conceding.

However, two goals in the second half for the Imps proved to be the difference, with the Essex club again looking over their shoulder in the race for the play-offs.

Despite beating Eastleigh on Saturday, Daggers made three changes for the trip to Sincil Bank, all of which were somewhat expected.

Shaun Donnellan, Luke Howell and Oliver Hawkins all started, with Luke Guttridge and Paul Benson dropping to the bench and Curtley Williams missing out altogether.

The Essex club were under pressure early on, with Nathan Arnold flashing wide of the far post after a deep cross from the left in the sixth minute.

Just four minutes later, Daggers midfielder Andre Boucaud was dispossessed just inside his own half, allowing the Imps to break.

The ball eventually wound its way to Terry Hawkridge, whose ball for striker Matt Rhead was coolly cleared over his own bar by Craig Robson for a corner that came to nothing.

With 11 minutes on the clock, Daggers finally fired off their first shot through Corey Whitely, but his effort from a wide right position 20 yards out was poor.

Less than a minute later at the other end, the ball broke to Lincoln midfielder Elliott Whitehouse, whose snapshot through a crowd of players was only saved at the second attempt by Daggers stopper Elliot Justham.

Just eight minutes later, the Victoria Road outfit were dealt a blow when Hawkins was forced off with an arm injury picked up in a collision with Imps keeper Paul Farman, with Benson coming on.

From there, though, little in the way of action, before a poor touch from Josh Staunton nearly allowed Arnold in to shoot in the 33rd minute.

However, Daggers skipper Scott Doe was alert to the danger, covering across to clear the ball to safety.

Daggers were able to keep the ball out of their net for the remainder of the half, and probably breathed a sigh of relief at the break with the score 0-0.

Just two minutes into the second half, though, Daggers conceded the game’s opening goal.

A deep cross from the right into the box from Arnold was headed onto the post by Rhead, prompting a goalmouth scramble.

Somehow, Imps midfielder Whitehouse was able to get the ball over the line despite the best efforts of several Daggers defenders.

It was a goal that increased the pressure on the Essex club, with the Imps getting forward in numbers regularly looking for a second.

Daggers did fashion another chance 12 minutes after going behind, but Craig Robson blazed over from 25 yards after carrying the ball from just inside the Lincoln half.

However, with just 22 minutes left in the game, the Imps put the result to bed with a second goal.

Powerful Lincoln forward Rhead headed home a corner from the left before celebrating in front of the travelling fans, which did not go down well with the Daggers supporters.

In need of a response, Daggers fired off their first shot on target in the 78th minute, but Whitely’s 25-yard effort was straight at Farman.

The Essex club were unable to find what would have been only a consolation goal before time ran out, as they slipped to a first loss in three matches.

And with a trip to Macclesfield Town to come on Saturday, boss John Still will hope his team can end their away day blues sooner rather than later.

Lincoln (4-4-2): Farman; Wood, Raggett, Waterfall, Habergham; Arnold, Whitehouse, Woodyard, Hawkridge (Anderson 81); Rhead (Knott 79), Angol (Marriott 90+2)

Subs: Long, Ginnelly

Daggers (4-1-2-1-2): Justham; Donnellan, Staunton, Doe, Widdowson; Robson; Boucaud, Howell (Raymond 82); Whitely; Hawkins (Benson 20), Romain (Maguire-Drew 66)

Subs: Cousins (GK), Guttridge

Referee: Anthony Backhouse

Attendance: 7,173 (105 Daggers fans)