Report

Dover remain bottom of the league as an early second half goal condemned them to their eighth loss of the season.

Angelo Balanta’s second half header sealed victory for Dagenham & Redbridge after Josh Passley was sent off for a dangerous challenge in the first half.

Andy Hessenthaler’s men bravely fought back, winning a penalty when Ade Azeez was felled in the area, but the forward saw his spot-kick well saved by visiting keep Elliot Justham.

Daggers dangerman Paul McCallum went close to putting the away side ahead early on, but his shot from the edge of the area went over the bar.

The striker went close again shortly after when a shot from ex-White Dean Rance found its way to McCallum who could only flick the ball into the hands of Yusuf Mersin.

Halfway through the first half, Mersin had to be alert to once again deny McCallum an opening goal after a cross from Andrew Eleftheriou found the head of the forward who headed the ball into the hands of the goalkeeper.

Darren McQueen then shot wide after being put through one on one, before Passley was given his marching orders for a dangerous challenge on the attacker.

McQueen then went close to putting the away side ahead two minutes into six minutes of first half added time, but his shot from outside the area went wide.

Daggers had another chance in added time and would’ve been ahead if it wasn’t for Paul Rooney who got in the way of Balanta’s effort.

However, it didn’t take the Colombian long to get into the action in the second half as he headed home a cross from Myles Weston within minutes of the restart.

Weston then went close to doubling the away sides lead but after running into the box from the right hand side, his shot was well saved by Mersin.

Whites then had their best spell of the game and almost got the equaliser on the hour mark when Elliot Justham was forced to make a save to deny Ahkeem Rose.

Dover were then awarded a penalty after Ade Azeez was fouled, but Justham made himself big to save from the Dover striker.

McQueen then went close to doubling the away sides lead but his shot was deflected onto the post by Mersin.

Daggers looked to seal victory towards the end of the game as both Callum Reynolds and Liam Gordon saw their efforts saved.

However, there was no way back in it for Whites who suffered their fourth consecutive loss in the National League.

Earlier in the day, Hessenthaler made two changes from last weeks defeat at Woking, with Ryan Hanson and Steve Rigg coming back in for Kurtis Cumberbatch and TJ Bramble.

Dover are back in action on Monday afternoon as they travel to Sutton United, kick off 3pm.