Dagenham 3 Crawley 0: Disappointing start for new boss Drummy

Dermot Drummy made four changes in his first game in charge, with goalkeeper Callum Preston, striker Liam McAlinden, Shamir Fenelon and Lewis Young coming in place of Jack Rose, Simon Walton and injured duo Gwion Edwards and Jon Ashton.

Crawley played with a new 4-3-3 formation with McAlinden, Barnard and Fenelon the main attacking trio.

Reds actually shaved the first half with several promising moves with attacking full-back Lewis Young impressing with his attacking runs.

Crawley went close early on when a Lyle Della-Verde corner was driven by Lee Barnard but was blocked by a defender.

Callum Preston came to Reds’ rescue when he blocked a shot and collected the ball after Oliver Muldoon pounced on a defensive mistake.

Gavin Tomlin set-up Barnard for a shot from around 12 yards which forced a fine diving save by Daggers’ keeper Mark Cousins.

Dagenham had done little to threaten Crawley in the first half but emerged the sharper after the break and took the lead when a chip forward found Christian Doidge who turned and netted their opening 51st minute goal into the corner of the net.

Daggers them made it 2-0 moments later with a bizarre speculative shot by Doidge from outside the area found its way into the net after Preston left it, believing it was going wide.

The goals brought the game to life and in the next few minutes Della-Verde and Fenelon went close with shots for Crawley.

Preston kept Crawley in the game with a good save to deny Frankie Raymond, before Jamie Cureton blasted a chance wide for the home side.

Dagenham bossed most of the second half and Doidge looked a menace before scuffing his shot before the chance was cleared by skipper Sonny Bradley.

Barnard forced Cousins into making a good save as Crawley made a rare chance at the other end.

Finally, Ashley Hemmings put away a breakaway attack given to him by substitute Oliver Hawkins with his first touch, via another sub Matt MClure.

REDS (4-3-3): Preston, McNerney (Yorwerth 74), Bradley, Smith (capt), Barnard, McAlinden (Bawling 53), Young, Fenelon, Tomlin (Sutherland 65), Delle-Verde, Dunne

Unused subs: Rose, Walton, Deacon

DAGGERS (3-5-2): Cousins, Dikamona, Cureton (McClure 70), Doidge, Raymond, Muldoon (Passley 53), Hemmings, Cash, Hyam, Shepherd (Hawkins 78), Pennell.

Unused subs: Moore, Boucard, Chambers, Taylor

Referee: Mr M Brown

Attendance: 1,643 (278 away)

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