A pulsating five-goal thriller unfolded at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, where Dagenham & Redbridge held off a spirited late comeback from ten-man Aldershot Town to secure a 3-2 victory in the National League.
The first half remained goalless, a cagey affair with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances. Dagenham & Redbridge were forced into an early change, bringing on Luca Woodhouse for Tom Eastman. The second half, however, provided a stark contrast, erupting into a dramatic encounter. The deadlock was broken in the 52nd minute when Dion Pereira confidently converted a penalty to give the Daggers a 1-0 lead.
The game’s momentum shifted decisively just six minutes later. Aldershot’s Theo Widdrington, already booked, received a second yellow card and subsequent red for violent conduct, reducing the visitors to ten men. Dagenham & Redbridge swiftly capitalised on their numerical advantage. In the 58th minute, the first-half substitute Woodhouse doubled their lead, finishing a move initiated by Paul Mbiya-Kalambayi’s assist.
With a two-goal cushion and an extra man, Dagenham & Redbridge continued to press forward. Their dominance paid off in the 77th minute when Junior Morias extended their lead to 3-0, concluding a slick passing move with a well-taken finish, courtesy of an assist from Frank Vincent. At this stage, the three points seemed firmly in the Daggers’ grasp.
However, the ten men of Aldershot Town displayed remarkable resilience, staging a dramatic late fightback. Substitute Dejan Tetek, introduced in the 71st minute, ignited a flicker of hope for the Shots, pulling a goal back in the 83rd minute, assisted by Tyler Frost. The tension inside the stadium ramped up significantly in the 91st minute when Jack Barham, benefiting from another Tetek assist, further reduced the deficit to 3-2.
Despite a frantic final few minutes, with Aldershot throwing everything forward, Dagenham & Redbridge held on to claim a hard-fought victory. The win moves them up to 13th in the National League table, while Aldershot Town remain in 17th.