Daggers upset by second half comeback from Islanders

A STRONG Dagenham & Redbridge were eliminated from the Essex Senior Cup by Canvey Island on Tuesday night, despite taking a two-goal lead.

Without a game for more than two weeks, manager John Still fielded a number of first team players and there were debuts for recent loan signings Simon Locke and Eddie Oshodi.

The Daggers cruised into an early lead when Jon Nurse sent a hopeful ball forwards which former Repuclic of Ireland under-21 goalkeeper James Russell mis-judged and saw fly over his head into the net.

Still’s side controlled large portions of the first period and Nurse should have it two, but blasted his shot wide of the target after collecting the ball at the back post.

A second goal did arrive on th stroke of half time when Crystal Palace loanee Nathaniel Pinney broke down the left-hand side of the pitch and squared to Josh Scott, who drilled his effort home from close range.

After the break, Darren Currie had another good opportunity to put the game out of the Ryman League side’s reach, but Russell’s low save acted as a turning point in the contest.

Barely two minutes later, Craig Davidson curled past Locke to half the deficit, before the Gulls stunned their hosts with two more goals in a` frantic five-minute spell.

The equaliser came when Rob King scored with a well-placed effort from the edge of the area and the comeback was complete when Ellis Skidmore, back after a loan spell at Redbridge, tapped home from close range.

With half and hour still to play, there was ample time for Daggers to find a way back and Scott went close on 71 minutes, but, after taking the ball past Russell, his goal-bound shot was blocked on the line by John Easterford.

Currie and Scott both went close again later in the contest, but Russell stood up to everything which was thrown at him and the visitors nearly made it 4-2 in the dying seconds.

Daggers: Locke, Ifil, McCrory, Odoshi, Doe, Bingham, Okus, Currie, Nurse, Pinney (Tejan-Sie, 72 mins), Scott. Subs not used: Sambridge, Gayle, Larner, Dennis.

Canvey Island: Russell, West, Ward, King, Moore, Easterford, Hussain, Davidson, Skidmore, Kerrigan, Dumas. Subs: Heale, Rhodes, Britnel, Matthews, Dobinson