Solihull Moors suffered their heaviest home defeat for twenty months, and only their second this calendar year overall, at the hands of a resurgent Dagenham & Redbridge outfit whose rapid intensity in attacking position proved too sharp.

Birthday boy Matt Robinson capped a memorable weekend, in which he was also nominated for a prestigious music award under his alias 'Kamakaze', with his first two goals of the season either side of one from the equally impressive Josh Walker to secure a magnificent result for the continually-improving Daggers.

While the visitors had to withstand intermittent spells, they were very good value for a statement victory that underlines their improvement in recent weeks, albeit against a Solihull outfit that were noticeably off-colour from their usually vibrant selves.

  • Story of the Match

After relinquishing their invincible status on home soil this calendar year via a shock midweek defeat to Halifax Town, Solihull Moors would have fancied themselves to bounce back against a Dagenham side whose woeful away record of just five points taken from a possible 24 made them advantageous opposition.

However, that didn't necessarily tell the full story because the Daggers were steadily improving having only lost once in nine across all competitions, so were never going to be pushovers in the West Midlands. 

Sure enough, Daryl McMahon's resurgent troops outlined their intentions with an electric start that yielded an almost immediate opener after just ninety seconds, leaving the hosts thoroughly shell-shocked.

Matt Robinson played a neat one-two with Josh Walker to engineer space in the centre of the pitch before supplying Junior Morias, who probed for an angle to shoot then cut back to Robinson on the edge of the box. His subsequent effort was heading down Ryan Boot's throat until Fiacre Kelleher inadvertently diverted it into the corner.

Jolted yet defiant, Moors came close to an instant response when Joe Sbarra scampered down the left-hand side and pulled the ball back to Josh Kelly. The ex-Maidenhead frontman sat Manny Onariase down expertly before unleashing a fierce strike that Elliot Justham tipped over the bar brilliantly.

Nonetheless, Dagenham remained vastly superior as they transitioned upfield with neat efficiency. Much of that was down to the astute awareness of debutant loanee Joel Taylor, who had the opportunity to score on twenty minutes but instead was denied by Boot from a tight angle.

The 28th minute saw massive openings go begging for both sides at either end of the pitch. Firstly, Callum Maycock spun superbly in the box before shooting low, but Justham was there again to come to rescue.

The visitors counter-attacked at breakneck speed from the ensuing corner, with Morias running at a retreating Maycock before sliding a crucial pass to the overlapping Mo Sagaf.

Now three-on-two inside the area, somehow they would conspire to scupper it as Morias received the return ball then slid to Walker at the far post, however Daggers' number seven elected to take an extra touch on his right foot rather than shoot straightaway, which proved too heavy.

Matt Robinson receives the adulation after his second minute opener. (Image: Dagenham & Redbridge FC)

Such can be the nature of football that, after two key moments inside a minute, there would be nothing noteworthy again before half time. Dagenham took a narrow lead into it, however would be tested to their limit upon the contest's resumption as Solihull produced a sustained spell of pressure.

They went closest after Ryan Barnett embarked on a marauding solo run forcibly ended by a shirt-pull from Onariase around the cusp of the box. Josh Kelly saw his curler uncharacteristically spilled by Justham, out to Sbarra whose low delivery was cleared off the line.

Then came a dangerous set-piece at the other end, though Morias was unable to threaten the keeper as much, whipping wide of the target in an underwhelming attempt that didn't quite justify the sizeable delay beforehand.

Daggers had now recovered a foothold to resume their domination, and soon enough would have the all-important second. To call it a gift would be a disservice to Walker's composed finish, but it was certainly a major mistake from Alex Gudger as he misjudged a long ball.

Seeing the striker bearing down on him, Gudger panicked by playing an ill-advised backpass that proved far too short, as Walker was able to chest it down before knocking beyond Boot. 

Icing was added to an immaculately-crafted cake from a visiting perspective when Morias' pile-driver was spilled for Robinson to bag his brace with a soft header into an empty net.

The result is a massive platform to build upon, especially as five of their next six league outings come against teams currently occupying the relegation zone, starting with Scunthorpe United at home next Saturday.

Meanwhile, Solihull will be seeking a return to winning ways following this immensely disappointing week, as they head to Hartlepool United for an FA Cup replay then Chesterfield in a vital league encounter.

  • Player of the Match

Matt Robinson (Dagenham & Redbridge) | As weekends go, this likely won't be topped for Daggers' captain Robinson, who hadn't registered a single goal contribution before getting on the scoresheet twice here to cap his 28th birthday in some style, as well as being nominated for a music award in his alternate profession. While the opener was tinged with the fortune of being deflected, the midfielder nonetheless demonstrated excellent positional awareness in occupying a dangerous pocket of space. His brace was then secured through anticipation after Morias' saw a fierce drive parried into his path.

  • Lineups

SOLIHULL MOORS: Ryan Boot; Ben Coker, Fiacre Kelleher 🟨, Alex Gudger, James Clarke; Kyle Storer, Callum Maycock, Joe Sbarra; Alex Reid (Justin Donawa 75'), Josh Kelly, Ryan Barnett 🟨

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE: Elliot Justham; Joel Taylor (Omar Mussa 🟨 71'), Harry Phipps, Manny Onariase, Josh Hare, Myles Weston; Dean Rance 🟨, Mo Sagaf, Matt Robinson ⚽⚽; Josh Walker ⚽ (Tyreke Johnson 90'), Junior Morias 🟨 (Sam Smart 88')

Referee: Scott Simpson | Attendance: 1540 (87 Away)