Daggers advance in Essex Senior Cup

Christian Assombalonga celebrates a goal for Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Dagenham & Redbridge 3 Southend United 0

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Dagenham & Redbridge booked their place in the last 16 of the Essex Senior Cup with victory over Southend at Victoria Road last night.

Luke Howell and Sam Ling were the only players retained by boss John Still in the starting line-up from Saturday’s National League win at Eastleigh, with midfielder Howell wearing the captain’s armband once again.

Mark Cousins, Leon Donnellan, Tyrique Hyde and Jimmy Shepherd were promoted from the bench, though, as Daggers included more youngsters among their substitutes.

And, after a quiet start to the tie, Cousins was called into action to save a free-kick from Harry Kyprianou, before Daggers Jordy Mongoy fired over at the other end.

Daggers went close on 18 minutes when Joe White dragged a chance wide, but Cousins had to get down and make a smart save to thwart Jason Williams three minutes later.

The impressive White then shot wide from Mongoy’s pass for the hosts and Christian Assombalonga headed straight at Josh Bexon from Ling’s excellent cross on the half-hour mark.

Daggers did break the deadlock on 36 minutes, though, when Assombalonga turned provider and produced an excellent cross to pick out White at the far post, before his looping header beat Bexon.

And Assombalonga went close to a second six minutes later, but his shot on the turn was straight at Bexon.

Daggers sent on Elliot Bonds for Leo Donnellan during the break but Southend went close when Dimini Dias sent a half volley just past the post.

Cousins tipped over Abdul Salami’s effort on 53 minutes and Sonny Coutts headed wide from a Southend corner, before Nico Cotton’s free-kick caused some panic in the Daggers defence and Cousins produced a superb save to keep out Elvis Bwomono’s effort.

The visitors kept pushing for an equaliser and Jason Williams pulled a shot wide on the hour, but Daggers then rallied and Howell’s excellent pass picked out Hyde, whose shot was well blocked by Bexon.

Cousins made a good low save from Cotton on 74 minutes, before Daggers finally doubled their lead through Assombalonga, who finished from Hyde’s cut back after a mistake by Southend substitute Tom Clifford on 80 minutes.

Kyprianou’s downward header bounced over the Daggers crossbar with four minutes remaining and substitute Drew Yearwood fired wide from distance.

And the hosts sealed victory in the last minute of normal time when the impressive White claimed his second goal of the night, following up to tuck home a loose ball after Hyde’s shot had been saved by Bexon.

Dagenham: Cousins, Ling, Gordon, Mitchell, Shepherd, Mongoy, Hyde, Assombalonga, Howell, Donnellan (Bonds 46), White. Unused subs: Moore, Ali, Florence, Walker-Brown.