Maidenhead United slip again as Haigh strike hands Dagenham & Redbridge tight victory

Dagenham & Redbridge 1, Maidenhead United 0

It was another defeat and another mixed performance from Maidenhead United this afternoon as they lost 1-0 at Dagenham & Redbridge to fall to 15th in the National League South table.

While this was a big improvement on the Magpies’ insipid FA Trophy exit at the hands of Leamington seven days ago, they again failed to return to Berkshire with a positive result after Joe Haigh poked home the only goal of the game just before the hour mark.

Try as they might, the Magpies couldn’t force an equaliser, with Jayden Mitchell-Lawson firing just wide in the closing stages, and it’s now six defeats in a row in all major national competitions - barring Tuesday’s comfortable win over Winslow United in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup.

It’s also seven defeats in eight winless games for the Magpies who have fallen out of contention for a play-off spot in recent weeks, barring a remarkable turnaround in form.

They are though, still only eight points off the top seven, so it’s not completely out of the question for a side who should really be doing a lot better.

They also won six league games in a row earlier in the season, so maybe this is still a time for patience and pragmatism rather than knee-jerk reactions.

The Magpies had a stronger backline to call upon for this trip to London, with Remy Clerima, Manny Onariase, Will De Havilland and Miles Welch-Hayes all starting, with Jordon Raguette having also come back from injury recently. They were needed as well to counter a Dagenham side featuring the former Liverpool, Newcastle and West Ham United striker Andy Carroll.

Maidenhead more than played their part in an all-action opening at Victoria Road, but for all their energy and desire, the visitors couldn’t find the back of the net.

Kai Yearn met Liam Dulson’s cross early, but Howes was able to save his goal bound effort.

Yearn again went close in the sixth minute, sending a shot narrowly past the post after Christian Maghoma had seen a header saved by Jordi Van Stappershoef at the other end.

Manny Onariase made a huge block in the 10th minute to keep out a strike from Haigh and keep the Magpies on level terms.

Josh Umerah came close to continuing his recent decent form in front of goal when he sent a header straight at Howes from Jordon Ragguette’s cross.

Dagenham hit the post just before the half-hour mark through Sam Graham after former England international Andy Carroll had headed the ball down to him at the back post.

Yearn again came close to breaking the deadlock in the 36th minute. Taking aim from distance, his cleanly hit shot flashed inches over the bar.

Maidenhead were probably the better side in the early stages of the second half, with Yearn going close and Owen Cocrahne seeing his effort from 30 yards well held by Howes.

But in the 57th minute the Daggers drew first blood. It was a simple goal, with Carroll causing problems for the Magpies with his presence, heading down for Haigh to tap home from close range.

United shuffled the pack in the closing stages as they bid to get back into the game, but Corie Andrews’ dismissal for an off the ball incident in the 87th minute robbed them of momentum.

The visitors had one last chance deep into stoppage time when the ball broke kindly for substitute Mitchell-Lawson in the area, but he fired over from a tight angle and Maidenhead’s chances of taking something from a tight game were gone.

Dagenham skip above them in the table to 14th.

Maidenhead are back on the road at Salisbury on Tuesday evening before returning to York Road to play Chippenham Town on Saturday.