An Andrew Oluwabori wondergoal helped FC Halifax Town to four wins in four
The Shaymen beat Dagenham and Redbridge 1-0, thanks to Oluwabori’s second goal for the club.
Town took the trip down to Dagenham on the back of three wins on the bounce, winning at home against Woking and Maidenhead, as well as an away win at Dorking. They didn’t have the chance to face league leaders Chesterfield at home on Tuesday, with the fixture being abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.
Dagenham began the weekend eight points and two league places behind Town, following back-to-back away draws against Bromley and York. The last time they played at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, the Daggers dominated with a 7-1 win against Oxford City.
The first chance of the game fell to Dion Pereira three minutes in, as he carried the ball into the box and struck it just wide of the Shayman goal.
Dagenham’s Sam Ling picked up an early yellow card after just 10 minutes, taking down Andrew Oluwabori to stop the away side’s counterattack.
Play stopped in the 13th minute with Florent Hoti going down clutching his shoulder following a challenge from Keenen Appiah-Forson. Hoti has struggled with shoulder injuries throughout the season, so the initial signs were worrying but thankfully, the attacking midfielder was able to continue.
Sam Johnson was forced into making a brilliant low save as Ryan Hill linked up with his fellow winger Pereira, slipping him through on goal for his second opportunity of the game 20 minutes in.
Town’s best chance of the half came after 42 minutes. Oluwabori made a weaving run inside from the right flank and played a one-two with Hoti before his shot was blocked by Nick Tavares for a corner. Hoti whipped the corner into Max Wright who flicked it on towards Jamie Stott at the back post, with his attempt being cleared off the line.
The beginning of the second half saw Rob Harker return from injury for the Shayman, coming off the bench for Adan George.
Oluwabori scored a screamer in the 56th minute to put FC Halifax Town 1-0 up. Hoti whipped a corner towards goal and Hessenthaler headed away to the edge of the box. Oluwabori picked the ball up, took a touch out of his feet and whipped it into the top corner leaving Elliot Justham stranded in the Dagenham goal.
Dagenham made their first two changes on 60 minutes as Shiloh Remy and Harvey Kedwell were brought on for Freddie Sears and Appiah-Forson. Shortly after the changes, Pereira floated a free-kick into the box from deep, which dropped kindly to Ling but his header didn’t have the power to test Johnson.
Dagenham had another header on target when Hessenthaler crossed the ball into the back post from a corner, finding his centre-back partner Tom Eastman who nodded it into Johnson’s arms 70 minutes into the game.
The goal-scorer was replaced by Jack Jenkins in the 79th minute shortly after picking up a booking for what the referee deemed to be a theatrical dive.
Just before the 80th minute, the woodwork and then Johnson denied Dagenham from equalising, as Eastman headed the ball at the post from a corner and then volleyed the rebound straight at the Town keeper.
With three minutes of regulation time remaining, captain Johnson made another great low save with his feet to keep his side ahead. His top display of stops allowed his team to see out the away victory, for their 4th win in a row.
FC Halifax Town face Bromley away next Saturday, a team who are currently 2nd in the Vanaram National League.
Dagenham & Redbridge
1 Elliot Justham, 3 Elliott Johnson (16 Harry Phipps 82), 4 Nikola Tavares, 5 Tom Eastman, 6 Jake Hessenthaler, 8 Josh Rees, 10 Ryan Hill, 12 Dion Pereira, 19 Sam Ling, 20 Keenan Appiah-Forson (11 Shiloh Remy 61), 24 Freddie Sears (17 Harvey Kedwell 60)
Subs: 15 Lewis Page, 23 Conor Lawless
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 2 Tylor Golden, 5 Adam Senior, 6 Jamie Stott, 12 Jack Evans, 4 Luke Summerfield, 8 Jack Hunter, 18 Florent Hoti (19 Aaron Cosgrave 72), 17 Max Wright, 22 Andrew Oluwabori (28 Jack Jenkins 79), 27 Adam George (9 Rob Harker 46)
Subs: 14 Kane Thompson-Sommers, 21 Tom Wilson
Referee: Richard Aspinall
Goals: Oluwabori 56
Yellow Cards: Ling 13, Oluwabori 76
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 3720 (103 away)
Dagenham & Redbridge 0 FC Halifax Town 1
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