Tuesday 8th December 2009, Barrows Farm, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex Fourth Round.
A late Graeme Montgomery goal saw Dagenham & Redbridge eventually hold off the challenge of plucky Harlow Town to progress to the quarter-finals on the Essex Senior Cup supported by BBC Essex at Barrows Farm.
Montgomery grabbed his second of the game for the Coca-Cola League Two side high-fliers with just two minutes remaining to clinch victory by the odd goal in five in a thrilling tie in which struggling Ryman League Division One North hosts Harlow had led and then later equalised in through Ola Akinnawo.
Harlow could have stolen a surprise lead on just 4 minutes, Daryl Doolan angling a shot wide of ‘keeper Chris Lewington’s post before Harlow stopper Ashley Harris made the first of many top saves in tipping Tommy Tejan-Sie’s effort over the top after a neat pull-back from Wesley Thomas.
Akinnawo had a great chance to give the home side the lead when he fired over the top with only Lewington to beat having received a cool pass from Julian Edwards before the Ryman Leaguers did grab the ascendancy on 23 minutes. Akinnawo slid in at the far post following Edwards’ pacey run and low centre across goal.
The lead lasted merely a minute, though, as Dagenham levelled the tie when Thomas latched onto a long ball before poking the ball beyond on-rushing ‘keeper Harris. Harris then kept the scores level when he acrobatically pushed Tejan-Sie’s drive over the top after fine work by Scott Doe. Akinnawo saw his own 20-yard shot fizz off-target.
Dagenham soon grabbed the advantage themselves on 35 minutes, Montgomery angling a 15-yard shot into the far corner, but then they had Lewington to thank for preserving the lead as he tipped Jason Mason’s curling free-kick around the post. Harlow pulled themselves level two minutes before the break, Akinnawo picking up a loose ball on the edge of the area before striding forward and smashing in off the top of the post.
The entertainment of the first half wasn’t quite repeated after the interval, although Harlow were dealt a 55th minute blow when danger man Akinnawo limped off with an ankle injury which handed much of the initiative to Dagenham. A quick break from Daggers’ Thomas eventually saw a low shot deflected inches wide before Harris produced another fine stop in the home goal to thwart Thomas and the home stopper was also in the right place to hold onto Doe’s close range stab from Danny Spiller’s free-kick.
However, with time ticking away, Harlow hearts were broken as Harris made a rare misjudgement, allowing Montgomery’s cross-cum-shot to drop into the net and seal a place in the last eight for Dagenham.
Harlow Town: Ashley Harris, Joe Clemo, Gbenga Adegbite, Damien Green, Liam Thomas, Michael Pelley (Tom Whitbread, 76), Daryl Doolan (Ashley Taylor-Forbes, 71), Jason Mason, Julian Edwards, Mervin Abrahams, Ola Akinnawo (Jason Grima, 55). Unused Substitutes: David Hunt, Emmanuel Osei.
Dagenham & Redbridge: Chris Lewington, Abu Ogogo, Charlie Bland, Scott Doe, Matthew Pooley (Jack Jeffries, 60), Danny Spiller, Steve Demetriou, Stuart Thurgood (Jay Nash, 58), Wesley Thomas, Graeme Montgomery, Tommy Tejan-Sie (Alfie Wren, 90). Unused Substitutes: Daniel Sambridge, Lee Wouton.
Bookings: Harlow: Doolan (62, foul). Dagenham: Thurgood (48, foul), Spiller (56, dissent).
Referee: Stephen Rubery (Ilford).
Assistant Referees: Peter Wilson (Chelmsford) and Nigel Bond (Chelmsford).
Attendance: 200.
Man of the Match: Ola Akinnawo (Harlow): A constant thorn in the Dagenham side during a terrific first-half performance. Utilised his pace and scored two well-taken goals. Harlow weren’t quite the same side after his withdrawal early in the second half with an ankle knock.