MATCH REPORT: Daggers 0-1 County
County welcomed back Andy Sandell and Mark Byrne, who both missed last weekend’s game against York through suspension.
After a fairly quiet opening period the first real chance fell to the home side, when an unfortunate slip by Ismail Yakubu allowed the home side to break. The ball found its way to George Porter on the right hand side who then advanced into the area and fired a shot into the side netting.
Porter was involved in the action again when an Ashley Hemmings cross found the mid-fielder at the far post. Pressure from Darren Jones meant that he was unable to make a clean strike at the ball and luckily for County the ball ballooned over the crossbar.
County had a few chances of their own, Chris Zebroski linked up with Yan Klukowski on the edge of the area whose shot was saved down low by Mark Cousins.
County tested the home keeper again shortly after, with Lee Minshull finding James Loveridge who forced Cousins to make a save, low down to his right.
The home side were forced in making a change before the break, as Joss Labadie was forced off through injury and was replaced by Billy Bingham.
The second half started lively, with Joe Pigott hitting the post with a curling effort in the 49th minute.
The home side responded with a series of chances on the County goal. Substitute Billy Bingham saw his free-kick rise narrowly over the crossbar, while striker Ade Yussef wanted a penalty after he took a tumble in the County box.
The home side then introduced veteran striker Jamie Cureton. The 39 year-old had an immediate impact, forcing Joe Day into a brilliant save to tip-over his effort that was heading for the top corner.
The turning point of the game came in the 77th minute when a tussle between Abu Ogogo and Lee Minshull got heated and Ogogo lashed out at the County midfielder. After a pause for deliberation referee Tim Robinson sent The Daggers captain off and booked Lee Minshull for his role in the altercation.
County struggled to create chances in the last ten minutes, against the ten men and the game looked destined to be a heading towards a draw. That was until the 90th minute, when captain Andy Sandell swung in a cross from the left-wing which found Chris Zebroski who headed home past Mark Cousins.
County managed to hold on for the four minutes of stoppage time and record their second away victory of the season.
Justin Edinburgh said;
“We feel slightly fortunate to take all three points; I think a draw would have been a fair result. Sometimes you’ve got to win ugly and I think we did that today.
I felt we lacked any real width today and struggled to get the ball in the box. We had to change personnel a little bit and ask certain players to play in positions that they aren’t comfortable with or used to.
“It took us a while to get a grip on the game and you sit there wondering why the forms different for home to away games. You hope that this is the kick-start for some good form away from home”
Attendance: 1,654 (176 County Fans)