Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Wycombe Wanderers 1

Last updated : 17 February 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Wycombe Wanderers new boy Jon-Paul Pittman scored on his second appearance for the club to sink Dagenham and Redbridge and move his side level on points with Brentford at the top of League Two.

Peter Taylor snapped up the 24-year-old striker from Crawley Town after missing out in his bid to sign Daggers forward Ben Strevens last month. And, in an ironic twist, it was Pittman who made the vital contribution of the evening, while his opposite number toiled to no avail at the other end.

It was the hosts who began brightly however, as they bombarded the Wycombe goal in a furious five-minute spell.

Jon Nurse should have put the hosts ahead but he skewed a free header wide from an excellent Matt Ritchie cross after seven minutes.

More heavy pressure ensued and Dagenham thought they had taken the lead when Strevens bundled in Ritchie's cross, but the celebrations were cut short as the striker wheeled away to see the linesman's flag raised for offside.

That was to prove the best chance of the half, as both sides struggled to exert their authority on the game. Indeed, Wycombe didn't muster a meaningful shot on goal until Pittman chased his own flick on and fired the ball across Tony Roberts.

But the striker emerged with his shooting boots after the interval, as he put the visitors ahead on 50 minutes.

Tommy Doherty threaded a ball into his path and Pittman used his searing pace to get away from the Daggers defence, before unleashing a rasping drive into the far corner.

It wasn't long before the home side were back on the attack. Ritchie's effort was deflected out to Doug Loft, who connected with a fierce volley, but a combination of Wycombe players threw their bodies in the way and the danger was cleared.

The hosts continued to press but the Wanderers wall stood firm as they escaped Victoria Road with all three points.