MATCH REPORT | Hemel Hempstead Town 1 - 0 Dagenham & Redbridge

Written by Allan Mitchell

Hemel made it two wins on the bounce after a battling display against another of the full time side in this division and there was a general feeling around The Focus Arena that ‘we have our Tudors back’ after a recent run of form had seen them slip out of the play off places.

This result

moved them back up to sixth place and it was return to the sort of performance that the home fans have been used to seeing this season, solid at the back, controlling the centre of the park and looking dangerous on the counter.

The first half was a tight affair with both defences coming out on top and neither keeper having any real saves of note to make. Dagenham came close to opening the scoring on 23 minutes when Hemel lost possession out on the left, the ball was quickly fed through to Tim Dieng who struck the ball first time from the edge of the box but it drifted just wide of the far post with Michael Johnson beaten.

Kyle Ajayi managed to get his head to a George Williams corner on the half hour mark but it hit a Hemel player which took the sting out of it and the Daggers keeper was able to claim the ball easily.

Williams had to be replaced shortly after when he slipped on the icy surface and couldn’t continue, he was replaced by Trae Cook-Appiah.

Half-time score: 0-0

The second half saw Hemel switch Cook-Appiah and Millar Mathews-Lewis around to give the Daggers back line a new problem with Trae’s pace and height offering an outlet for the Tudors.

It looked like the Daggers had been given instructions to come out of the blocks with a bit more vigour at the start of the half and they quickly forced Hemel back but they were made to pay when a superb ball from Kyle Ajayi who was just outside his own penalty area, found Mauro Vilhete who raced clear before audaciously chipping McKenzie-Lyle, the ball just dipping under the bar, it was almost in slow motion as the crowd waited for it to drop. It was Mauro’s second goal in two games, justifying the managers decision to give him a start in both.

The Tudors rarely looked in any trouble after the goal as they defended superbly whilst creating chances of their own. Matty Achuba was having a superb game, another player who has made the most of his opportunity of starting the last two games.

Vilhete came close again when he rose above a defender at the back post but could only direct his header just wide.

Cook-Appiah cut inside from the left skipping past a couple of tackles before firing a shot just wide and Vilhete picked the ball up after a brilliant driving run by Achuba, cutting inside he saw his shot go straight at McKenzie-Lyle who saved easily.

Ex Tudor Reggie Young came on for the Daggers and there was a worry that his pace and skill would give the Tudors some problems but after an early scare when he managed to go past a couple of players before shooting just wide, he was superbly marshalled by the Hemel back line and the threat was nullified.

It was Hemel who finished the stronger of the two sides and only some desperate defending prevented them going further in front in injury time. Vilhete picked up a poor clearance from a long throw and saw his shot blocked, the ball ran through to Achuba who hit it first time but once again a Daggers defender managed to get a foot in to prevent it going into the bottom corner.

Boss Lee Allinson was delighted with the performance and said he felt it was the best we’d played since Wigan. He also gave a special mention to Mauro and Matty who have been very patient waiting for their opportunity to get a start and they were superb today. He gave a special thanks for the back room staff who worked hard to clear the pitch of snow to ensure the game went on.

He is looking to move one or two players on and bring a couple in over the next week or two but they players coming in have to be the right ones who will fit into this group who have a special bond which is vitally important going forward into the second half of the season.

Match Attendance: 1008

Tudors Man of the Match: Matty Achuba (Mitch)

Mauro Vilhete (Sponsors)

Watch Lee's post-match interview here: