National League: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Rochdale 2 – report

Inih Effiong fired a shot over from distance on seven minutes, while Elliott Johnson did superbly well to stop Jeserun Uchegbulam breaking clear at the other end.

Great play between Charley Kendall and Myles Weston led to a cross from the latter which was headed just wide by Effiong on 17 minutes, before Louie Moulden saved well from the big striker after he burst past the visiting defence.

But Dale took the lead on the half-hour mark as Cian Hayes curled a shot into the top corner.

Daggers had a chance to get back on terms on 38 minutes when Weston’s corner found Frank Vincent on the edge of the box and Johnson tried to redirect his shot, but could not trouble Moulden.

And Effiong then did superbly well to find Weston in the box two minutes before the break and he fired across goal to Kendall, who shot just wide.

Dale doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half through Ian Henderson to leave Daggers with a mountain to climb.

Elliot Justham produced a great save to deny Hayes another goal on 74 minutes, while Josh Hare did well to pick out Effiong at the far post but his header looped just over.

Vincent pulled one back for Daggers, driving into the box and squeezing a shot past Moulden to give the hosts late hope with nine minutes left.

And Weston found space on the edge of the box before forcing a save from Moulden with a low shot in the last minute of normal time as Daggers were left empty-handed.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare, Johnson, Vincent, Eastman, Tavares, Hessenthaler, Rees (Phipps 65), Weston, Effiong, Kendall.
Unused subs: Francis-Clarke, Ling, Appiah-Forson, Longe-King.