Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Heybridge Swifts 3: Shomari Barnwell goal not enough as Daggers suffer another Swift exit from Essex Senior Cup

Shomari Barnwell of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Essex Senior Cup fourth round: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 (Barnwell 42) Heybridge Swifts 3 (Sykes 16, Grant 17, Godbold 35)

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For the second year in a row, Dagenham & Redbridge were knocked out of the Essex Senior Cup in the fourth round by Ryman North outfit Heybridge Swifts.

Last year, the Victoria Road side were defeated on the road, and though they had home advantage this time around, well unable to make it count as they became the victims of a cup shock.

Daggers named a starting XI made up mostly of academy players, though there were some more experienced heads among.

Mark Cousins started in goal, while Scott Heard, Tyrique Hyde and Leo Donnellan all lined up in midfield with Shomari Barnwell leading the line.

As if to emphasise how highly the 17-year-old is rated, Hyde was named captain despite the presence of the experienced Cousins.

And within 30 seconds of the kick-off, the teenage midfielder had the game’s first chance, but his 30 yard shot was straight a Danny Sambridge in the Heybridge goal.

In the 15th minute, the Victoria Road side went close again after Jordy Mongoy shot following a one-two with Joe White, but the former’s effort from the edge of the area was comfortable for Sambridge.

A minute later, Daggers surprisingly fell behind despite dominating possession when Joshua Sykes nodded in a free-kick for the Ryman North club.

And Swifts doubled their lead a minute later when Reece Grant robbed Donnellan of the ball after he received a short goal kick from Cousins before the former slotted home from close range.

After conceding twice in quick succession, Daggers knew they needed to respond quickly and nearly drew level through right-back Keiran Walker-Brown in the 25th minute.

The defender shot first time from around 30 yards, but Sambridge flew through the air to turn the ball behind for a corner, which was easily dealt with.

With 16 minutes left in the half, Hyde was next to try his luck after a long run from his own half, but fired just over from a central position 18 yards out.

But in the 35th minute, the young Daggers fell further behind when Lewis Godbold slammed in a rebound from close range after Cousins did brilliantly to keep out George Cole’s initial shot.

With three minutes left in the half, Hyde drew a free-kick, which was taken quickly to Donnellan, who dinked the ball into the area.

His lobbed pass found Scott Mitchell, who played the ball across goal for Joe White, whose header was saved on the line by Sambridge, but Barnwell was on hand to tap in the rebound.

That was the final goalmouth action of the half, with Daggers looking to claw back a two-goal deficit.

Within five minutes of the restart, Daggers were denied once more by Sambridge, who brilliantly pushed a half-volley from Scott Mitchell that was driven into the ground onto the post.

The Victoria Road side continued to pile on the pressure, with White smacking the woodwork in the 55th minute after being found just inside the area by Hyde.

Daggers were unable to capitalise and needed Cousins to be at his best eight minutes later, with the keeper at full stretch to save a Cole shot from the edge of the area.

In the 69th minute, White went close again for Daggers, but was denied once more from Sambridge with an excellent save.

Less than 60 seconds later, the Swifts keeper continued his remarkable display to keep out a Barnwell shot from point blank range.

With 11 minutes to go in the match, White and Sambridge continued their ongoing battle, with the Daggers forward again denied from six yards after being found in the box by Mongoy.

Daggers were unable to cut the deficit before the end though as they succumbed to a another loss to Heybridge.

Daggers (4-1-2-1-2): Cousins; Walker-Brown, Lee, Mitchell, Gordon; Donnellan; Heard, Hyde; Mongoy; Barnwell, White

Subs: Justham, Ali, Brown, Agboola, Bonds

Heybridge (4-3-3): Sambridge: Njie, Anderson, Mallardo, Ramon; Baker, Dark, Godbold; Grant (Eaton-Collins 81), Sykes (Smith 90), Cole (Brown 71)

Subs: Andrews, Little

Attendance: 160

Referee: Anthony Pope