A first half headed goal from Josh Rees gave Dagenham and Redbridge all three points in a frustrating game for Town.
The first chance of the game came from the visitors after a counter broke loose at the hands of Josh Rees, who played a looping through ball to striker Joshua Umerah down the right hand side.
The number nine cut the ball back for Rees, who had continued his run, but the Dagenham captain saw his outside-of-the-box shot just fire wide of Sam Johnson’s woodwork.
A promising build up from the Town saw Tom Pugh make a darting run down the left-hand side, beating Umerah who was tracking the midfielder down. Pugh managed to play a ball inside to find an unmarked Florent Hoti, who then played a ball through to Luca Thomas but despite looking like an encouraging attack, the young attacker was in an offside position.
The Shaymen had grown into the game more by the 20th minute mark, after the home side endured a slow start to the game. A moment that had most fans in The Shay thinking they had been given the lead came from an effort by Jack Evans. The midfielder was played down the far-left side by Pugh, and despite Evans being pushed out wide by a Dagenham defender, he managed to get a shot away, which just hit against the near post’s side netting.
A fantastic effort came for the Town after new signing Josh Emmanuel cut inside from the right and had an ambitious effort from outside the box. The winger’s shot was fired with shear power but was unfortunately just wide of the goal. The ex-Hull City attacker joined the Town earlier this month and has featured in the previous two games against Yeovil Town and Sutton United, but tonight was The Shayman’s first start.
Another exciting chance came for the home side again, this time from a set piece. Evans’ deep free kick found Festus Arthur, who managed to head the ball down towards the edge of the box, where
Zak Emmerson was able to get control of the ball. Florent Hoti then seized the opportunity to have a shot towards goal, after Emmerson had brought the ball down for him, but the long-ranged effort sailed over the crossbar.
Despite being a half which saw Town dominate the vast majority, The Shaymen found themselves trailing just before halftime, after Rees headed his team into the ascendancy. The goal was dealt by the visitors after Oscar Rutherford crossed a ball into Town’s crowded box. The sweeping ball found defender Harry Phipps, who rose above all the awaiting players, to nod the ball to Rees, whose header found the back of the net minutes before the interval.
The second half saw the Town continue their lively approach to the game, as the home side looked for an equaliser.
Town’s efforts to bring the game back level were halted when Umerah fouled Ryan Galvin just outside the Town box. The attacker had clipped the defender as Galvin ran ahead of Umerah, which caused the Shayman to be laid out injured whilst Umarah was booked for his mistimed challenge.
An Emmerson chance came after Hoti had played the striker through, but the Shaymen still waited for their goal to come, as Emmerson’s effort not only was fired wide, but was also called offside.
In return, Dagenham kept Town on their toes too, after Umerah took an opportunity to test Johnson, who was off his line but the striker saw his long-ranged effort palmed and handled safely by the Town keeper
A fantastic ball into the box, delivered by Hoti from a deep freekick saw many fans in The Shay believe their prayers had been answered as Emmerson attacked the ball with a mighty header. The effort forced a dive out of Dagenham keeper Louis Jones, but Emmerson’s effort was headed too square on, and was just wide of the far post.
After a defensive error from Dagenham, Town looked to capture the opportunity and attempt to bring the game back even. An effort for Emmanuel just outside the box was palmed by Jones and saw the ball go out for a corner. The play that followed on from the corner saw a striking shot from defender Festus Arthur just fire over the bar. The audacious effort came after Galvin flicked a header on for Arthur on the edge of the box, but the chance wasn’t enough to see the Town rewarded for their attacking efforts.
Going into the last ten minutes, Town began to throw everything at the away side. A close chance came as Thomas found the ball land at his feet and took a shot towards goal, but his chance just rolled wide of the far post. Another great effort came minutes before injury time, when Emmanuel shot just on the edge of the box and forced a stretched save out of Jones, who just tipped the shot over the bar.
Jones was continued to be kept busy, as the keeper was forced to make a double save. An effort from outside the box by substitute Jamie Cooke saw Jones make an initial diving save. Arthur, who had been kept in an attacking position for the final stages of the game, followed up after the save, but Jones managed to scramble to make a second save to keep Dagenham in the lead and give the away side all three points.
The Town look to their next game as they are on the road this weekend, in an away fixture against 4th place Oldham Athletic.
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson © 5 Adam Senior, 4 Festus Arthur, 3 Ryan Galvin, 23 Tom Pugh [Adam Adetoro – 57] 16 Josh Emmanuel, 6 Jack Evans, 20 Jack Jenkins [Owen Bray – 74], 18 Florent Hoti, 9 Luca Thomas, 21 Zak Emmerson [Jamie Cooke – 81]
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, , 14 Harvey Sutcliffe, 17 Jimiel Chikukwa, 28 Lewis Leigh
33 Louis Jones, 4 Jake Hessenthaler, 6 Harry Phipps, 8 Josh Rees, 9 Josh Umerah [Conor Lawless – 90+1] , 10 Ryan Hill, 11 Christian N’Guessan, 15 Aaron Loupalo-Bi [Marcus Wylie – 64] 20 Kayden Harrack [Trent Rendall – 64], 21 Oscar Rutherford, 30 Paul Kalambayi
Subs: 12 Nathan Harvey, 16 Shiloh Remy, 24 Regan Clayton, 28 Rafiq Khaleel,
Referee: Dale Baines
Goals: Josh Rees [44]
Yellow Cards: Harrack [30], Umerah [52], Hessenthaler [90+3]
Red Cards:
Attendance 1243 (21 away)
FC Halifax Town 0 Dagenham & Redbridge 1
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