WEYMOUTH 1

McQuoid 38

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 2

Walker 71, McCallum 83

WEYMOUTH succumbed to a second-half fightback from Dagenham & Redbridge, losing their Vanarama National League contest 2-1 at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

The Terras began quickly and had the better chances in the first half, Josh McQuoid deservedly putting the hosts ahead after converting Sean Shields’ marvellous pass.

But Dagenham improved in the second half as sub Josh Walker levelled matters before Paul McCallum headed home seven minutes from time after Ross Fitzsimons’ sublime save.

READ MORE: Weymouth 1-2 Dagenham - how it happened

Weymouth unveiled a new signing before kick-off as defender Aaron Drewe joined on-loan from QPR, immediately earning a debut.

It signalled a reunion for Drewe and Weymouth boss David Oldfield, with the two having worked together at Oxford City during their stunning run to the FA Cup second round last season.

Drewe was the sole change to the line-up that began the 1-1 draw at Boreham Wood at the weekend.

Omar Mussa missed out after his medical incident midway through that match.

On the bench there was also just one change as winger Ahkeem Rose was drafted in to the matchday squad at the expense of midfielder Xander McBurnie.

He joined Brandon Goodship, Ben Morgan, Tom Bearwish and Tom Blair as options from the dugout.

Prior to kick-off, Weymouth had lost each of their past four league home games, the last victory coming against King's Lynn in late October.

But under new boss Oldfield, the Terras made a high-octane start, zipping the ball about on the Bob Lucas turf.

Jordan Greenidge was integral to the early moves, winning a corner with a swivel shot before crossing low for the incoming Drewe, only for Daggers’ keeper Elliot Justham to intercept.

Dagenham weathered the storm and grew into the half, Myles Weston jolting past two defenders and firing wide of the near post.

Will Wright then blasted over from 30 yards but from Weymouth’s next attack Greenidge swept over from Drewe’s cross after a neat one-two with McQuoid.

Weymouth had three shots in the 18th minute when Ollie Harfield saw well-struck volleys blocked by Wright and Weston, before Tom Solanke scooped well wide.

Greenidge then wasted a clean through chance when he seized upon Kelly Clark’s weak header back, seeing Justham block for a corner.

Dagenham used long balls to Paul McCallum as the focal point of their attack and his flick-on found Junior Morias whose first-time shot flew well wide, Matt Robinson also misdirecting a header seconds later.

Morias skewed another McCallum flick-on wide before a moment of pure class from Shields helped put Weymouth 1-0 up.

Solanke did superbly well to wriggle out of trouble on the near touchline and Haji Mnoga’s pass to Shields allowed the winger to fade a sumptuous crossfield ball to McQuoid.

Showing an exquisite first touch, the Terras’ captain never looked like missing as he bore down on goal, slotting home past Justham in the 38th minute.

Dagenham replied when Weston’s dangerous low ball steamed across the six-yard box, but Greenidge nearly made it 2-0 at the break when his powerful run and shot was smothered just in time.

Dagenham began the second half on the front foot, Weymouth having to hook clear inside the six-yard box and Weston then chipping a cross onto the roof of the net.

Morias stabbed over the near angle after zig-zagging past Harfield, prompting Weymouth to reply when Greenidge poked Drewe’s low cross wide.

Daggers’ sub George Saunders then began to storm down the right at will, planting several dangerous low balls into the box which Dagenham failed to capitalise on.

Instead, it was Saunders’ fellow sub Walker who made the bigger impact, finding space on the left and firing past Fitzsimons in the 71st minute.

Oldfield reacted by bringing off Greenidge and Olomowewe for Blair and Rose, the latter an attacking switch.

Dagenham continued to look a threat, pulling the Weymouth defence around and the Daggers took advantage of large gaps when Saunders fired at goal inside the area.

Fitzsimons produced a magnificent save to turn the shot onto the inside of the post but McCallum reacted quickest to head home from three yards.

With seven minutes to go, Weymouth pressured for a leveller but Dagenham defended well from the Terras’ deliveries into the box.

Four minutes of added time failed to yield a chance, despite heavy Weymouth attacks, as Dagenham had all the answers to Weymouth’s searching crosses.

On the whole this was an improved showing in front of Weymouth’s home fans, but a familiar result as Dagenham turned the match on its head to snatch all three points.

Terras: Fitzsimons, Cordner, McQuoid (Goodship 69), Mnoga, Drewe, Murray, Solanke, Harfield, Greenidge (Blair 76), Olomowewe (Rose 76), Shields. Subs not used: Morgan, Bearwish.

Dagenham: Justham, Rance, Wright, Clark, McCallum, Jones (Walker 69), Weston, M Robinson, Vilhete (Saunders 56), Morias, Zouma. Subs not used: Sagaf, Akanbi.

Referee: Elliot Swallow

Attendance: 901