Dagenham & Redbridge attack primed to face National League promotion rivals Macclesfield Town

Dagenham & Redbridge pair Oliver Hawkins and Jordan Maguire-Drew (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Daggers striker and assistant talk up forward options ahead of visit from Silkmen

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Corey Whitely of Dagenham & Redbridge and Sam Cox of Wealdstone (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Corey Whitely of Dagenham & Redbridge and Sam Cox of Wealdstone (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

Dagenham & Redbridge’s attack can cause problems for any team in the National League, according to the division’s top scorer Oliver Hawkins.

Daggers return to league action this weekend as they entertain Macclesfield Town, fresh from beating Wealdstone 3-1 in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round on Saturday.

Hawkins himself netted in that game — his first goal in four matches — while Jordan Maguire-Drew and Fejiri Okenabirhie also found the net, prompting the tall striker to praise the Essex club’s forward players.

“With our attacking options, we know we can score and create goals, so as long as it works on the day we can damage teams, like it did against Wealdstone,” said Hawkins, who has 11 goals in all competitions this season.

Hawkins & Co. could certainly have more fun this weekend against a Silkmen side who have been a little leaky on the road this season, despite sitting fifth in the table.

On their travels, the Cheshire club have shipped eight goals in seven matches, yet have still lost just twice away from Moss Rose this season.

Daggers, though, can also take comfort from their excellent home record this season, with their only defeat at Victoria Road so far coming against Boreham Wood at the start of September.

Goals from Hawkins, Maguire-Drew and Okenabirhie may be key for Daggers to maintain their good home form, but there is another attacking option who will be desperate to get among the goals at Victoria Road.

Corey Whitely has delighted the Daggers faithful with some electric displays since joining from Enfield Town of the Ryman Premier in August, but his performances have not got the goals they have deserved.

So far, the 25-year-old has netted twice, but both efforts have come away from home having scored at Bromley and Eastleigh, meaning he is yet to fire at Victoria Road.

Saturday’s match at home to Macclesfield presents Whitely with another chance to put that right, and Daggers assistant boss Darren Currie has backed the forward to finally break his duck at his new stamping ground.

“Corey has contributed to what we’re doing as well, but he probably hasn’t got as many goals as he would have liked at the minute,” said Currie, who plied his trade as a winger.

“It’s not through a lack of effort, he’s trying and contributing with goals and assists.

“He got an important goal for us last week at Eastleigh, so the front four are a real handful.”