Grecians leave it late to down Daggers

Dagenham conceded two late goals to surrender all three points against Exeter City.

The relegation threatened Daggers took a 76th minute lead through Romain Vincelot`s header.

Matt Taylor nodded in the equaliser from a free-kick soon after, before substitute Richard Logan met Daniel Nadiello`s cross to complete the turnaround three minutes from time.

Troy Archibald-Henville and Liam Sercombe hadn`t fully recovered form knocks picked up last Tuesday so starts were handed to the returning Steve Tully and Scott Golbourne as Paul Tisdale reverted back to 3-5-2.

With every point precious for struggling Dagenham their defensive approach rather stagnated the game in the opening exchanges as Bas Savage cut a lone figure spearheading the visitors attack.

City tried to force the pace and created an early chance. Tully`s slide rule pass set John O`Flynn free down the right and he pulled back for the advancing Jamie Cureton who fluffed his lines from inside the box.

Further half chances soon followed. Golbourne`s superb whipped cross was glanced wide by Cureton. The front man then turned provider crossing for Harley who headed over under pressure from two defenders.

Midway though the first-half Richard Duffy charged down a clearance and the ball eventually fell at the feet of Cureton who was allowed to turn and flash a shot across Tony Roberts that went agonisingly wide of the target.

Despite making most of the running City were unable to break through and the first-half proceeded to fade out into a goalless stalemate.

Dagenham began to play with more freedom after the break and finally began to exert some pressure on Ben Hamer`s goal. Savage stood up a testing cross to the back post where John Nurse was waiting to power a header a goal that Hamer had to tip over on the bounce.

With the game opening up Tisdale threw on attacking players Nardiello and Logan for Billy Jones and O`Flynn in an attempt to exploit gaps appearing in the visitors defence.

But it was Dagenham who were enjoying a spell of pressure. Abu Agogo speculative drive moved late and Hamer did well to parry the ball out to Savage who couldn`t convert the follow up.

With the Grecians lacking natural width Tisdale`s final change was to introduce Jake Thomson for James Dunne, as City reverted a conventional 4-4-2 shape with Nardiello operating down the left.

With 15 minutes left Dagenham took a barely deserved lead when from Peter Gain`s knockdown at a corner Vincelot planted a firm close range header into the net. 0-1.

City trailed for only five minutes though. David Noble floated in an inviting free-kick deep into the box where Taylor rose unchallenged to guide a beautiful header back across goal into the top corner to make it 1-1.

City began to push hard for a winner in the final stages as a despondent Dagenham tried to protect their draw.

Thomson cut in off his wing to force Roberts into a smart low save but moments later the keeper was picking the ball out of the net. Golbourne fed Nardiello down the left and he fizzed in a wicked cross that Logan met with a clean header from point blank range to complete the turn around. 2-1.

The victory takes City up to tenth in League One and despite only showing glimpses of their best the Grecians have completed back-to-back home victories this week.

Next up for City are Bristol Rovers – another team in relegation trouble – next Saturday at the Memorial ground.

City: Hamer, Tully, Duffy, Taylor, Jones (Logan), Golbourne, Noble, Dunne (Thomson), Harley, Cureton, O`Flynn (Nardiello).