A Patchy Opening

Neither side dictated the play in the early stages, as the ball spent as much time in the air as it did on the grass. Dagenham came close with two mistimed headers, the first from Inih Effiong and the second from midfielder Josh Rees, as the home side showed glimmers of attacking intent.

Woking also came close when Tunji Akinola’s looping cross was missed by everyone in the Dagenham box, moments before Freddie Sears shot straight at Will Jääskeläinen down the other end.

Deadlock Broken

The breakthrough came when Josh Hare’s in-swinging corner met multiple heads before it made its way into the back of the net off of Rees’s body to give the home side the lead. The goal came after a brief spell of pressure from the hosts.

Level Terms

Dagenham were soon caught out at the back though when Reece Grego-Cox brought the visitors level. Grego-Cox leaped highest four minutes later with a header after a great run and cross by full-back Josh Casey.

There was still plenty of time left to play in the half following the equaliser, but the game never got out of second gear aside from a couple of half-chances for both sides, before the half-time whistle went.

An Open Second Half

From the moment the match resumed, both sides tried their best to exploit the wide areas of the pitch. Woking found success with this tactic as they replaced goal scorer Grego-Cox with Rhys Browne. The latter capitalised on a mistake by Harry Phipps but could only send his driven shot over the crossbar.

The game opened up in the second half and the balance of play remained even until a decisive moment. Akinola received a second yellow card for a high challenge on Dagenham defender, Elliott Johnson, and the away side had to play the remainder of the game with 10 men.

Although Dagenham managed to keep Woking locked in their own half after the sending-off, the majority of the host’s chances lacked a cutting edge, as most either sailed harmlessly wide or safely into Jääskeläinen’s gloves as the full-time whistle drew ever closer.

Effiong The Hero

As the pace of the game dwindled, Effiong got in behind the Woking backline and fired a low shot into the corner of the visitor’s net, and sent the home support wild with the prospect of a first league win in almost two months.

The goal was the final event of a match that Dagenham needed to win and eventually did so through Effiong’s first goal of the season.

Manager Ben Strevens Praised His Sides Togetherness At Full Time:

“The boys showed a different side to themselves today… It wasn’t pretty at times but the main thing was that they stuck together… I think they deserved it just by the way they worked for each other.”
(Credit – DaggersTV)

Up Next

Dagenham & Redbridge look to continue their momentum with another home league match against Boreham Wood on Tuesday. Woking will aim to bounce back as they travel to Eastleigh that same day.