An enthralling game that saw two men sent off ended in a 5-2 win for Chester as they went top of the Conference.
The home side ended the game with midfielder Chris Blackburn between the sticks, while the Daggers were also reduced to ten men and later even saw their own substitute keeper Paul Gothard dismissed from the bench.
A win had looked unlikely as City got off to the worst possible start falling behind with only 30 seconds on the clock when midfielder Paul Terry picked his spot to slot home in the bottom corner.
Stung by the early goal, the home side pressed forward and got back on level terms after seven minutes when Ryan Sugden latched on to a poor backpass to lob the ball over Tony Roberts into the net.
Roberts produced a couple of good saves to deny Sugden and then Jimmy Kelly, but he undid his good work in the 21st minute by bringing down Sugden in the box to give away a penalty.
Kelly duly sent the keeper the wrong way from his spot-kick.
After 35 minutes the visitors claimed an equaliser as Paul Bruce deftly clipped a direct free-kick over the Chester wall and into the net off the underside of the bar.
The second period saw the game explode, first when the visitors were reduced to ten men as Ashley Vickers saw red after scything down Blackburn.
Chester then made use of their numerical advantage within seven minutes as Phil Bolland arrived unmarked to send a towering header into the net.
The numbers were levelled after 68 minutes when goalkeeper Wayne Brown was harshly sent off after claiming the ball but stepping out of his area while still holding onto it.
The game was made safe ten minutes from time as Scott Guyett powered a header into the bottom corner, and in added time Sugden rifled home a fifth.
On going top of the Conference Chester boss Mark Wright said: "On the whole we more than justified in getting three points.
"I'm happy with a win but there's a very long way to go. It was three points today that was the most important thing."