Daggers prevail after Whitehawk's Emirates FA Cup dreams end

Wednesday 16 Dec 2015
Whitehawk's Scott Neilson, right, challenges James Dunne of Dagenham & Redbridge

Dagenham & Redbridge clinched a five-goal thriller at Whitehawk to set up a third round clash with Everton.

Kyle Vassell and Josh Passley found the net for the Daggers, after Danny Mills had put the National League South side ahead, only for substitute Juan Cruz Gotta to head home a last-gasp equaliser.

But on-loan Charlton Athletic defender Obileye came to the visitors’ rescue on the 100-minute mark to decide an exciting replay and secure a trip to Goodison Park.

Whitehawk 2-3 Dagenham and Redbridge

(After extra-time)
The Emirates FA Cup
Second round
The Enclosed Ground
Wednesday 16 December 2015
Winning sides receive £27,000 from The FA prize fund

Whitehawk opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark when Sam Deering sent Jake Robinson away down the right flank and Mills headed in his looping cross.

Hawks boss Steve King withdrew Dean Leacock shortly before the break, introducing towering Argentinian Gotta in his place, and the move soon backfired.

Vassell collected the ball with back to goal, left his new marker behind with a sharp turn and fired into the far top corner.

The League Two side went ahead for the first time after 77 minutes when Josh Passley netted his first ever senior goal, converting Jamie Cureton’s cross.

Watch the highlights from the replay between Whitehawk and Dagenham & Redbridge

The hosts, who earned this replay with a last-gasp leveller from Jordan Rose, piled forward in search of a winner and they found it in stoppage time when Gotta stooped to head into the bottom corner.

That forced the game into extra time and the see-saw swung once more, this time Obileye outmuscling Gotta to head home a corner of his own.

Daggers went down to 10 men shortly before the end when James Dunne was shown a second yellow card but there was no time for any more drama.

Whitehawk (4-4-2): 1 Craig Ross; 2 Nick Arnold, 6 Paul Lorraine, 5 Dean Leacock, 3 Craig Braham-Barrett; 7 Sam Deering, 8 Sergio Torres, 4 Arnaud Mendy, 11 Dave Martin; 9 Jake Robinson, 10 Danny Mills

Substitutes: 15 Juan Cruz Gotta for Leacock 44, 17 Jordan Rose for Lorraine 48, 18 Scott Neilson for Martin 56

Substitutes not used: 12 Danny Stevens, 14 Chris Sessegnon, 16 David Ijaha, 19 Bryan Van Den Bogaert

Dag & Red (4-4-2): 30 Mark Cousins; 32 Justin Hoyte, 5 Nyron Nosworthy, 29 Ayo Obileye, 33 Joe Widdowson; 2 Josh Passley, 26 James Dunne, 4 Joss Labadie, 23 Ashley Hemmings; 7 Jamie Cureton, 15 Kyle Vassell

Substitutes: 10 Ashley Chambers for Passley 84, 12 Christian Doidge for Cureton 88, 8 Andre Boucaud for Vassell 117

Substitutes not used: 1 Liam O’Brien, 3 Jack Connors, 6 Clevid Dikamona, 17 Jodi Jones.

Attendance: 2,174

By FA Staff