The sloppy relinquishment of what would have been only their second clean sheet all season, mere seconds before its imminent confirmation, proved a minor blight on an otherwise perfect day for Dagenham & Redbridge.
Daryl McMahon's threadbare yet still quality-laden side condemned free-falling Wealdstone to a sixth consecutive defeat across all competitions, the seismic gulf in class yielding a 4-1 scoreline that barely does justice to the sheer extent of domination displayed.
Harry Phipps' opener set the tone, duly followed by an exceptional free-kick from Junior Morias, who later doubled his individual tally with a penalty in stoppage time to add gloss to a victory Josh Walker had put beyond doubt after 67 minutes. Wealdstone at least made things more respectable via Sam Habergham in the last kick of the game.
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Story of the Match
Both sides occupied the mid-table region of the National League table, although that didn't really tell the full story as all the statistical forecasts alluded to a Dagenham victory given that they were unbeaten at home since early September, while five consecutive defeats had thrust visitors Wealdstone into freefall.
Rather indicative of this, the Stones made three changes in an attempt to alter the dynamic. Their hosts, meanwhile, retained the same starting eleven from Tuesday's draw against Boreham Wood, which was somewhat harsh on Omar Mussa and Myles Weston after each made a game-changing impact meriting more than a cameo role this time.
Yet few could dispute the logic of Daryl McMahon's chosen side as they took the lead after just six minutes through the very unlikely source of reborn centre half Harry Phipps' first Dagenham goal in almost exactly four years. Given the recurring injury nightmare he's suffered inbetween, this would have been a moment to savour.
Fantastically taken it was too, the 23 year-old delicately glancing home an inswinging cross from Tyreke Johnson, whose initial corner was cleared invitingly back to him for a second bite of the cherry. It established control which could never subside at Victoria Road.
Sensing blood, Daggers duly went in for the kill against a visibly brittle defence that had conceded nineteen times during October alone. The reasons behind that were no better illustrated than when Tarryn Allarakhia played an ill-advised blind backpass that keeper Sam Howes frantically prevented hitting the net in comical style.
He was troubled enough by the free-flowing home attacks without legislating for his own teammates going rogue, and soon enough the advantage would be doubled after the problematic Johnson won a free-kick around twenty yards out.
Junior Morias duly delivered a magnificent effort into the very top left-hand corner, that Howes managed to get a strong hand on but not enough so to halt its precisely measured trajectory. Dagenham were very comfortable having not really surpassed first gear yet.
What helped them massively was Wealdstone detrimentally repeating the same mistakes, like giving away another presentable set-piece on the hour mark. Morias was mere millimetres from emulating his heroics, this one just a tad further out, though he certainly had Howes worried.
A third would really have killed the contest beyond the realms of feasible jeopardy, and the hosts spurned a golden opportunity to get it in injury time, as a sweeping move resulted in Matt Robinson being supplied in acres of space on the edge of the box, but the marauding midfielder fired the wrong side of the post.
They would have regretted that moment slightly when Wealdstone had their only real spell upon the contest's recommencement, though it consisted more of territory than tangible chances. Nonetheless, they kept the ball neatly.
However, in committing more men forwards as was necessary to pursue a fightback, the Stones consequentially left themselves open at the other end. Josh Walker had already been thwarted at the final moment twice when he received the ball deep into his own box with 67 minutes on the clock and finally settled the match all by himself.
One heavy touch beyond substitute Sam Matthews, the initial culprit of losing possession, gave Walker a clear run on goal. Sam Habergham desperately sprinted back but wasn't quick enough to prevent Daggers' number seven coolly firing into the net; game, set and match.
Further gloss was added in the dying seconds, as Omar Mussa was tripped in the box to leave referee Jason Richardson with little choice but to award a spot-kick. Morias stepped up and blasted into the left-hand side, Howes nowhere near it despite guessing the right way.
That appeared to cap a flawless day for the East Londoners, however Wealdstone would ultimately have the last word, although it was more a tame whimper in the circumstances. A last-gasp corner was sloppily allowed to float all the way to the far post, where Habergham swept home for the most inconsequential of all consolations.
Daryl McMahon's team would have been disappointed to lose their deserved clean sheet so avoidably, but the sound of the final whistle soon superseded that minor negativity. They are now just three points off the play-offs, albeit having played an extra game.
Wealdstone are back in action with a long trip to Altrincham on Tuesday evening, as Stuart Maynard seeks to mastermind a change in fortunes.
Junior Morias receives the adulation for his excellently-placed free kick. (Image: Dagenham & Redbridge FC)
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Star Man
Junior Morias (Dag & Red) | The prolific Jamaican has frequently demonstrated his ability to score all types of goals, and dead balls can now be added to that ever-growing list after he magnificently dispatched a free-kick with sheer perfection then later converted confidently from the penalty spot. Wealdstone simply couldn't contain him, nor his strike partner Josh Walker who was equally exceptional. Infact, there are four or five other candidates for the 'Star Man' tag, so impressive was the performance.
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Match Details
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE: Elliot Justham 🟨; Tyreke Johnson (Omar Mussa 72'), Harry Phipps ⚽, Manny Onariase, Josh Hare, Sam Smart (Myles Weston 54'); Dean Rance, Mo Sagaf, Matt Robinson 🟨; Josh Walker ⚽ (Aaron Blair 86'), Junior Morias ⚽⚽🟨
WEALDSTONE: Sam Howes; Jaydn Mundle-Smith (Lewis Kinsella 81'), Sam Habergham ⚽, Jack Cook 🟨, Charlie Barker; Simeon Akinola (Alex Dyer 67'), Dominic Hutchinson (Sam Matthews 58'), Giovanni McGregor, Tarryn Allarakhia; Olufela Olomola, Micah Obiero
Referee: Jason Richardson | Attendance: 1503 (147 Away)