FC Halifax Town fell to their first defeat in their last six matches after they were beaten 3-1 by Dagenham and Redbridge at Victoria Road in the Vanarama National League.
Dagenham led 3-0 at half-time with goals from Craig Robson and Craig Whitely as well as an own goal from Scott Garner put the home side into a comfortable lead.
Town pulled a goal back through Matty Brown in the second half with a bullet header but the hosts proved too strong.
Defeat for Halifax means that they fell to fifth in the table whilst Dagenham overtake Town to take second place in the league.
It was Halifax who started the game more brightly, registering the first two shots on goal through Matty Kosylo. In just the 6th minute, the winger hit the near post with a shot from an acute angle. Just three minutes later the winger met the target as he cut inside past two defenders before testing the palms of goalkeeper Mark Cousins.
However, Dagenham responded exceptionally to Town’s early pressure and scored twice within the space of just five minutes to lead by two goals at the midway point in the half.
Dagenham captain Robson opened the scoring as he leapt highest at the back post to meet Howells’ corner and head the ball into the top left corner for his first goal of the campaign.
Soon after, the Daggers doubled their advantage through Whitely as the midfielder finished off a bright attacking move with a drilled shot low in the right corner securing his eighth goal in just ten league appearances.
The home side continued to dominate proceedings but proved wasteful with their next few chances as they aimed to extend their lead.
Morgan Ferrier could only shoot over the bar after finding space in the penalty area whilst Jake Howells’ powerful effort from 18 yards was straight at Town keeper Sam Johnson.
Dagenham capped off a brilliant first-half with a third goal just seconds before the break. Ferrier made a typical break down the left flank before sending a low cross into the area which deflected in off Scott Garner and past Johnson at the near post.
The second half begun slowly with Halifax only able to conjure a couple of half-chances from Tom Denton in the first 15 minutes of the second period. The striker shot over from 25 yards out in the first minute of the half before seeing a header go wide from a MacDonald cross.
Dagenham thought they had furthered their lead just after the hour mark when Chike Kandi broke down the right but his shot hit the side netting to the frustration of the cheering home fans.
Against the run of play, Halifax managed to pull a goal back with captain Brown scoring in the 70th minute. A crossed free-kick midway into the Dagenham half from Oliver was headed home by Brown at the far post into the top corner as Town denied the Daggers a clean sheet.
Dagenham continued to prove to a threat going forward but seemed content to see out their two-goal cushion. Whitely came close to hitting his second goal of the afternoon when he forced Johnson into a low stop from a free kick 20 yards out.
With just seven minutes remaining, Dagenham substitute Mason Bloomfield latched onto Ferrier’s knock down on the edge of the area but shot well over the crossbar.
In the final minute, one of Halifax’s substitutes came close as Dion Charles tested Cousins after coming inside and shooting in the penalty area.
Dagenham & Redbridge: Cousins, Nunn, Robson (C), Robinson, Kandi, Ferrier, Boucaud, Lokko, Ling, Whitely, Howells
Subs: Justham, Adams, N’Gala, Wheeler, Bloomfield
FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Wilde, Brown (C), Garner, Kosylo, Hotte, Denton, Oliver, McManus, MacDonald, Morgan
Subs: Nicholson, Moyo, Lynch, Tomlinson, Charles
Attendance: 1,182
Referee: Mr S Yianni
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