ALTRINCHAM 0, DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1
Altrincham were unable to arrest their slide down the National League following a home defeat by fast-improving Dagenham & Redbridge.
The Robins, who not long ago were in the promotion play-off places, have now posted only one win in 10 league games to slip to 13th place.
Daggers’ centre-back William Wright inflicted the latest loss with a spectacular 80th minute winner.
The former Colchester United player added to the pain after Tom Hannigan was booked for a foul by scoring from the free kick, a spectacular effort into the top corner from 20 yards.
The Robins ought to have heeded the warning about conceding free kicks as in the opening period Wright also went close with a similar effort from distance.
Amazingly it was Wright’s first goal of the season and only his fourth in 80 appearances for Daggers yet he could easily have scored twice in this match.
While there was disappointment for the Robins, the Daggers stretched their unbeaten run to five matches as they continue to inch their way clear of the relegation places.
Their side included former Brentford winger Miles Weston and ex-QPR player Angelo Balanta, a player who hails from Colombia.
Altrincham, without the suspended midfield dynamo Matty Kosylo, were surprisingly playing their first Saturday match of 2021.
The Daggers, unbeaten in their last four matches, made the livelier start without troubling the hosts.
And it was the Robins who came close to breaking the deadlock in the 17th minute when Ryan Colclough’s header from Yusifu Ceesay Ceesay’s cross was cleared off the line by Liam Gordon.
Colclough’s delivery from corners was excellent as Jake Moult headed narrowly wide at the far post and then a low one struck the near upright as it almost crept in.
The visitors managed only one decent effort in the opening half hour when former Macclesfield Town striker Scott Wilson had a shot deflected narrowly wide.
Then on the stroke of half time, Wright’s free kick from almost 30 yards fizzed just wide of the upright.
The Robins were in need of a spark and former Crewe, Wigan and Scunthorpe winger Colclough came as close as anyone to providing that in the second period.
A dazzling run ended with a cross-cum-shot across the face of goal which was followed by a diving header which flew wide.
In the end it was a defender, Daggers’ Wright who found a route to goal as he was the visitors’ matchwinner in a game in which both sides lacked a cutting edge.