HOW IT HAPPENED
The game got off to a lively start, as to be expected of a local derby, with a couple of early challenges flying in from both sides.
It was the Daggers though who enjoyed the majority of the ball in the opening exchanges, having a number of set pieces, which the Bees did well to deal with.
Though the visitors were controlling the bulk of possession, the Bees still posed a threat including when Courtney Baker Richardson made a lung bursting run to win his side a corner, which only just got dealt with.
Former Bees striker Paul McCallum nearly punished his old team mates minutes later, when he was played through on goal, only to be denied by a vital save from new loan signing Adam Parkes in the Bees goal.
The Daggers continued to assert themselves in the game as it entered the last 15 minutes of the first half and were throwing everything to create that vital chance and in the 37th minute were rewarded for their patience. The Daggers had a corner which was missed by everyone, but McCallum was there to poke the loose ball in at the far post giving his side the lead.
Even with half time looming, Dagenham continued to create problems for the Bees, especially from the left hand side where Mauro Vilhete and Angelo Balanta were linking up well, but the Bees managed to see out the half at just 1-0.
The second half started just like the first, with the Daggers posing a threat to the Bees goal, very nearly making it 2-0 early on, when Will Wright fizzed in a corner which just needed any touch to be put into the Bees goal, but missed everyone.
But it didn’t take long for the visitors from East London to double their lead, with Matt Robinson curling an effort into the top corner with a superb finish in the 56th minute.
Set pieces were becoming the Daggers key component in the game, winning a number of them in the first 15 minutes of the second half and were unlucky to not get more from them, including Wright who had a long range free kick palmed away by Parkes.
The Bees didn’t show much in the way of an attacking intent in the second half, until a double change from Simon Bassey saw Antonis Vasiliou and Tomi Adeloye come onto the field which did inspire them to get higher up the pitch, but still didn’t follow with any real chances, as Elliot Justham had a relativity quiet afternoon in the Daggers goal.
Dagenham remained resolute across the pitch with a commanding display, up until the final whistle, meaning the bragging rights were theirs.
Barnet Team: Parkes, Preston, McQueen, Petrasso (Adeloye 73′), Kefalas, H.Taylor, Richards-Everton, Baker-Richardson, Beard (Nugent 35′), Mason-Clark (Vasiliou 73′), Vaughan
Subs not used: Callan and McBurnie
