Following last weekend’s rampant FA Cup victory, we hosted Dagenham & Redbridge FC, looking to add another three points to our league tally. However, we were held to a goalless draw by the visitors.

Alfie Rutherford is currently our top scorer and it was Rutherford who had the first effort of the match, looping a header over the bar after good build-up play involving Frank Vincent and Jimmy Muitt.

Dagenham currently sit 21st in the league on 6 points and are struggling for form, however, they ensured the game started in an end to end manner, testing the Wanderers defence.

Forward Dylan Stephenson who, alike teammate Andy Carroll, has previous experience with Newcastle, curled an effort past the post.

Wanderers thought they had the lead soon after in the fourth minute. A corner was swooped in towards the head of Jason Prior, whose header was dropped at the feet of Charlie Carter, who turned home.

The goalkeeper however, was adjudged to have been felled by an onrushing challenge, ensuring the goal was disallowed.

Throughout the first twenty minutes, we gradually obtained more and more possession and control of the affair, and forward Jason Prior was left to rue a wonderful missed opportunity on the 17 minute mark after good work from Charlie Carter allowed Dennon Lewis to be set free and cross the ball into Prior’s path, who mishit his effort.

Corners are often pivotal to our success and that nearly proved to be the way 25 minutes in, as Charlie Carter’s flicked header had to be cleared away from near the goalline by the defender as we continued our dominance within the match.

The away side have achieved highly on numerous occasions, most recently reaching the FA Cup Third Round against Millwall last season, however, for most of the first half, the visitors achieved little in the match as their passes in the final third often went astray.

However, the Dagenham goal stood firm as the half wore on.

In the 37th minute, Charlie Carter was able to flick on a long throw in into the path of Dan Gallagher, however Gallagher’s poked effort rolled past Dan Barden’s right-hand post, and a few minutes later, a James McShane side footed effort rolled past the opposite post.

One minute after his previous effort, McShane was once again looking to get amongst the goals.

Forward Jason Prior went on a wonderful run down the right hand side before crossing the ball for McShane, who saw his flicked effort comfortably saved by Dan Barden.

Barden was in action once more just before the half-time whistle, denying Charlie Carter after a driven half volley on target.

The second half started in much the same vein as we attacked on the front foot, with Dennon Lewis ensuring Dan Barden had his posts covered, tipping Lewis’ overhit cross over the bar.

Dagenham’s first real effort of the match in the 55th minute, however was  a troubling one for us as full-back Dermi Lusaca, who has previously had academy experience at the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, struck the bar with a half-volley from the edge of the box, followed by a Donovan Wilson effort that sailed over the bar.

One of our best openings of the match came five minutes before the end as Josh Taylor capitalised on defensive indecision to allow Charlie Carter to have a one-on-one opportunity, however, Dan Barden came out smartly to quickly save the effort, before a collision in the follow up forced a stoppage in play and Barden’s substitution.

The rest of the match was disrupted by frequent stoppages in play, as we were unable to gain the ultimate advantage in the match.

Next week, our FA Cup journey continues as we travel to Salisbury in the third round of qualifying.