Report - Dagenham & Redbridge 1 - 0 Wealdstone
Angelo Balanta’s goal meant Wealdstone fell to their first defeat of the season at Dagenham & Redbridge in the late National League kick-off on Saturday evening.
The Stones remained unchanged from the start at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, as Connor Stevens began on the bench following injury as well as Alex Dyer whose international clearance was approved this week.
Both sides set a good tempo from the start, Captain Jerome Okimo missed the target from a corner while Harry Isted made two saves from Angelo Balanta and Mitch Brundle in the first 10 minutes.
The game did slow down as both sides settled in, the first buzz of the BT Sport cameras clearly on show in the opening passages of play.
Dagenham had the better chances throughout the first half but the Stones were holding off their opposition to a goalless first half.
Wealdstone looked more positive at the start of the second period but it was the hosts that broke the deadlock, good work between Paul McCallum and Balanta ended with the latter finding Isted’s bottom corner.
Stones Manager Dean Brennan looked to make three impact changes with Jorome Slew, debutant Dyer and Ross Lafayette called upon after the Daggers’ opener.
Isted was made to work late on as Mitch Brundle’s strike on the edge of the box was fired on target, but it was a comfortable save for the Luton Town loanee.
Two of Brennan’s substitutes had a late chance to steal a point at the very end, Connor Smith lofted pass found Lafayette at the back post which was saved by Elliot Justham before Slew came steaming in but fired over.
The Stones were competitive in the fixture in East London, but it was the experienced Daggers who dominated and took all three points.
Report by Dec O’Reilly
Wealdstone: Isted, Efete, Phillips, Okimo, Mendy, Smith, Green, Benyu (Dyer, 69), Wakefield (Slew, 65), Lewis, Emmanuel (Lafayette, 71).
Subs not used: Stevens, Parish.
Dag & Red: Justham, Eleftheriou, Reynolds (Wright, 45), Clark, Johnson, Brundle, Adams, Balanta, Brown, Weston (Deering, 79), McCallum (Clifton, 86).