FC Halifax Town returned to winning ways with a 3-1 away victory at Dagenham & Redbridge in the Vanarama National League this afternoon.
First half goals from Matty Warburton and two goals from top goalscorer Billy Waters helped the Shaymen to victory despite a second half header from Matt Robinson to half the deficit after two 1-0 defeats at Maidenhead and at home to Boreham Wood in midweek.
Town boss Pete Wild made three changes to the team that started against Boreham Wood on Tuesday night with Tyrell Warren, Luke Summerfield and Jamie Allen coming into the side for Niall Maher, Jay Benn and Harvey Gilmour.
The home side had an early corner, but Sam Johnson was able to punch clear, two minutes later the Shaymen were appealing for a penalty. Tyrell Warren’s cross struck the armof Yoan Zouma but referee Scott Jackson waved away the appeals from the Shaymen.
Junior Morais tested Johnson with a shot from the edge of the box that he pushed wide for a corner.
On 10 minutes, Jack Senior played a lovely ball over the top of the home defence that Billy Waters was able to run onto, but he couldn’t control, and the ball went out of play.
Matty Warburton had an effort over the bar, but he wasn’t to be denied, he picked the ball up on the right wing hitting a shot past Elliot Justham into the top corner for the opening goal of the game.
Aaron Martin had his back to goal before turning and his left footed shot was saved by Justham as Town looked for a quick second goal.
Martin and Warburton combined to find Jamie Allen in behind the Dagenham defence, but his effort was over the bar, then Waters had an effort that went wide of the goal from the edge of the box.
Waters finally got his first goal of the game on 43 minutes. Senior’s cross was headed over Justham which saw Warburton’s header strike the post, but Waters was able to smash the rebound into the net for 2-0.
The home side looked to find a way back into the game and found it through Matt Robinson. Kenny Clark headed across goal and Robinson was able to head past Johnson to make it 2-1.
Dagenham nearly had an equaliser just a couple of minutes later as Junior Morias lined up a volley, but his effort was blocked by the Town defence.
Wild made a change with Aaron Martin replaced by Gerry McDonagh for his first league minutes since the 3-2 home victory over Notts County in October.
A succession of corners for the home side didn’t provide them with a real opportunity before McDonagh and Warburton combined with the latter sending a left footed curler over the bar from just outside the box.
Paul McCallum had a shot over the bar from the edge of the box, but it wasn’t troubling Johnson.
Town rounded the win off in injury time with Billy Waters second goal of the afternoon. Tyrell Warren beat his made and played the ball across goal and Waters was on hand to hit his shot past Justham for his 15th goal of the season.
The Shaymen will be in action on Tuesday night with the short trip to Liversedge in the West Riding County Cup, 7.45pm kick-off.
Match Stats:
Dagenham 1 Elliot Justham, 5 Will Wright, 6 Kenny Clark, 28 Yoan Zouma, . 19 Sam Ling (14 George Saunders 46), 4 Dean Rance, 12 Matt Robinson, 11 Myles Weston, 24 Junior Morias, 9 Paul McCallum, 7 Josh Walker
Subs 8 Mo Sagaf, 18 Tykey Scott, 21 Ibby Akanbi, 26 joey Jones
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson, 3 Jack Senior, 4 Luke Summerfield, 5 Jesse Debrah, 6 Tom Bradbury, 7 Jamie Allen, 9 Aaron Martin (15 Gerry McDonagh 67), 10 Matty Warburton (16 Jamie Thomas 85), 11 Billy Waters, 21 Tyrell Warren, 26 Martin Woods (20 Harvey Gilmour 84)
Subs: 2 Jay Benn, 18 Javid Swaby-Neavin
Referee: Scott Jackson
Goals: Warburton 19, Waters 43, 90 Robinson 58
Yellow Cards Zouma 60
Red Cards None
Attendance 2460 (163 away)
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 FC Halifax Town 3
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