League Two: Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Port Vale 3

It proved another fruitless festive fixture for Daggers as they lost out 3-2 to Port Vale who moved top of League Two in the process.

A quickfire double for Vale in the space of five first half minutes did the damage through Tom Pope and Jennison Myrie-Williams although Sam Williams gave the Daggers a lifeline from the penalty spot.

Louis Dodds chipped in a third and despite a reply from Scott Doe seven minutes from time, the Daggers came up short.

The hosts were on the front foot from the off, but with their first chance of the match Micky Adams’ side took the lead after four minutes.

Chris Lewington came out to claim a long throw in from the left and got nowhere near the ball, which was flicked to the league’s top goalscorer Tom Pope who had the easiest of headers to open the deadlock.

And five minutes later the lead was doubled when a throughball played in Jennison Myrie-Williams who poked the ball past an onrushing Lewington.

Daggers had a lot of the ball in the opposition half, but looked short of ideas as it got to the edge of an area.

However, Medy Elito stole possession off the Valiants in his own half and played in Sam Williams who was tripped in the area by Jamie McCombe and the linesman immediately flagged.

The protests fell on deaf ears and Williams stepped up and send Chris Neal the wrong way to give Daggers a lifeline.

But six minutes from half time it was a home attack which lead to Vale’s third when Michael Spillane was dispossessed of the ball in the visitors area.

A ball over the top found Louis Dodds who expertly chipped the ball over a stranded Lewington.

After the break Luke Wilkinson just failed to get on the end of an Elito free-kick after 50 minutes, but up the other end Scott Doe cleared Tom Pope’s header off the line.

Michael Spillane saw a delicate chip well tipped away by Neal as they looked for a way back into the game, though Pope headed a great opportunity wide despite being unmarked just after the hour mark.

But with seven minutes remaining the hosts had another lifeline when Scott Doe forced the ball home from four yards.

And despite plenty of pressure the Valiants lived up to their nickname and held out for the win.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Lewington, Ilesanmi, Doe, Wilkinson, Ogogo, Elito, Howell, Maher (Caprice 73), Spillane, Scott (Woodall 66), Williams.

Unused subs: Seabright, Hoyte, Bingham, Reed, Wakefield.

Attendance: 1,697 (256 Port Vale fans)