Wealdstone 1 – 2 Dagenham & Redbridge

Wealdstone

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Dagenham and Redbridge

KO: 15:00 | Sat 16th Oct ’21

Ten-man Dagenham & Redbridge produced a stunning late comeback against Wealdstone at The Vale to advance into the next round of the FA Cup.

Manager Stuart Maynard made two changes to the side that were beaten by Eastleigh last week as captain Jerome Okimo returned from injury, along with top goal scorer Josh Umerah.

A last-gasp three-minute brace by captain Angelo Balanta completed the Daggers’ fightback, after Jay Bird’s goal had given the hosts an early lead.

The visitors had a disastrous start to the match when their top goal scorer Paul McCallum was shown a straight red by referee Tom Bishop on the two-minute mark after committing a foul on Alex Dyer.

Wealdstone made quick use of their numerical advantage as Milton Keynes Dons’ loanee Bird latched onto Okimo’s pinpoint pass and rifled home a sublime half-volley into the bottom corner past Elliot Justham on the 7th minute mark.

The Daggers looked like they had drawn level in the 25th minute when danger-man Myles Weston struck goal-bound, but Stones’ number one produced a vital save to tip the forward’s effort onto the crossbar.

Dagenham were handed another bite of the cherry in the 69th minute when they were awarded a penalty after substitute Joey Jones was brought down in the box; however Wickens reacted with a fantastic save to deny Balanta.

Late drama ensued as the resilient Daggers rallied for an equaliser, and they were duly rewarded in the 87th minute as substitute Matt Robinson fed Balanta who clinically dispatched home past Wickens to avenge his earlier penalty miss.

Spurred on by this, the visitors clinched victory in style on the 90th minute mark when the excellent Balanta popped up again to notch his brace and condemn the Stones to an early cup exit.

Wealdstone return to action next Saturday, 23rd October, when they travel to the Bob Lucas Stadium to face Weymouth.

Report by Nicole Cho-Yee

WEALDSTONE: Wickens, Cook, Charles (Elito 75), Okimo ©, Umerah, Lewis (Buse 81), Eleftheriou, Tavares, Dyer, Bird (Jackson 66), Cooper. Subs not used: Wishart, Fasanmade, Marigliani, Parish.

Post Match Interviews HERE

Jon Taffel Match Pics HERE