Dagenham & Redbridge gained ground on the play-off places with a hard-fought win over Farnborough Town.
With results going their way elsewhere it was crucial that the Daggers capitalised but they had to wait until five minutes from time when they won a penalty.
Farnborough meanwhile will be disappointed to loose late on and it was more disappointing news for a club that has seen a number of players join chairman Graham Westley at Stevenage recently.
The game itself was not a classic but Farnborough more than held their own in the first half and enjoyed more shots on goal the first of which came from Rocky Baptiste in the second minute when he cheekily tried to chip Tony Roberts after the Daggers keeper had been forced to clear hastily under Ken Charlery's challenge.
Both Charlery and Baptiste could have given the visitors the lead but their shots always seemed to go straight at Roberts.
The Daggers created little in the first half. Goalkeeper Tony Pennock touched away John McGrath's goalbound cross and Mark Stein had a good chance as he chased McDougald's flick-on, but his shot harmlessly cleared the bar.
The second half saw Daggers apply more pressure. An unmarked Lee Mathews should have done better when he headed McGrath's cross over and Daggers had valid claims for a penalty when Stuart Reeks seemed to clearly chop down McDougald when he was through on goal.
Farnborough's best chance fell to Baptiste, but his header at the far post went wide after Geoff Pitcher's accurate corner.
Still the Daggers pressed however and it looked as though Farnborough had done enough to hang on until Joff Vansittart held down Matthews in the box following a McGrath corner and the referee pointed to the spot much to the relief of the Daggers.
McDougald found the bottom left corner to giver Daggers a late win and three valuable points in the scramble for a coveted play-off spot.