Sloppy starts sees Burnett’s Daggers exit the cup

Dagenham & Redbridge conceded at the start of the first and second half to exit the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy following a frustrating night against Oxford United.

Wayne Burnett’s men would have fancied their chances against an understrength Yellows team, but conceded two avoidable goals to exit the tournament.

It means they have now gone four games without a goal at home and their winless run stretches back to October 7 when they beat Stevenage to progress to this stage in the competition.

Burnett made six changes from the side that was held to a goalless draw at Victoria Road by Morecambe in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Jack Connors and Justin Hoyte were unavailable due to international duty while Kyle Vassell was cup tied for the visit of the Yellows.

Nyron Nosworthy, Jake Mulraney and Jamie Cureton missed out as well, though the latter two took places on the substitutes bench.

Josh Passley, Josh Pask and Joe Widdowson came into the back four while Ashley Chambers, Christian Doidge and Matt McClure earned recalls for the cup tie under the lights.

Although Daggers had made a number of changes, Oxford had too which added to the optimism that the League Two strugglers could surprise a side pushing to gain promotion to League One.

But they made the worst possible start as they conceded with just 27 seconds on the clock.

The Yellows attacked after winning the ball back off the hosts from kick-off and Danny Hylton got in down the right before crossing into the box for Pat Hoban to score.

It took Burnett’s men some time to settle after that with Oxford dominating possession inside the opening 10 minutes.

But captain Joss Labadie was trying to urge his side on and won a free kick in a dangerous position following a determined run in the 11th minute.

Chambers stood over the free kick, but his curled effort took a deflection before going wide and the resulting corner came to nothing.

The game was scrappy with neither team able to create much, although the Yellows were looking the more dangerous.

Daggers came to life midway through the half, however, when Chambers tested Benjamin Buchel from range and the away custodian parried the ball out.

Passley latched onto the rebound and his cross came all the way through to Ashley Hemmings at the back post, he cut inside but Buchel made a fantastic save from close range and the chance was gone.

Oxford hit back five minutes later as Alex MacDonald tested Mark Cousins in the home goal, but he managed to parry the ball away from danger.

Burnett was forced to make a substitution eight minutes before the break as Ayo Obileye picked up an injury after a late tackle on AJ George and Clevid Dikamona come on in his place.

Hylton nearly doubled Oxford’s lead four minutes before the break when he turned well inside the area.

But with just Cousins to beat his low drive was stopped well and despite three minutes of stoppage time, it remained 1-0 at the break.

Jake Mulraney was introduced at the interval with Doidge the man making way and Ashley Chambers moving behind McClure.

After their poor start to the first period, Daggers would have been determined to do better at the beginning of the second.

Despite coming out early again it was the Yellows that started the better and a minute after the interval and their lead had been doubled.

Burnett’s men failed to clear a corner properly and MacDonald effort from outside the area found the bottom corner.

It was 2-0 the visitors and a long way back for Daggers, but McClure nearly reduced the arrears in the 49th minute when he clipped the ball over Buchel.

But Cheyenne Dunkley got back on the line to head clear and the opportunity was gone.

The final roll of the dice from the hosts was the introduction of Cureton in place of Widdowson just past the hour mark.

In the 72nd minute McClure had an excellent chance to pull one back for Burnett’s men when he controlled Hemmings pass in the box.

But his effort took a slight deflection and whizzed past the post before, predictably, the resulting corner kick came to nothing.

The seconds were ticking away at Victoria Road with a comeback looking increasingly unlikely as the visitors defended well.

Daggers huffed and puffed but were unable to create anything of note in the latter stages and fell to another defeat in front of their own fans.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Cousins, Passley, Pask, Obileye (Dikamona 37), Widdowson (Cureton 62), Chambers, Dunne, Labadie, Hemmings, Doidge (Mulraney 46), McClure.

Unused substitutes: O’Brien, Raymond.

Oxford United: Buchel, Skarz, Rose, Sercombe, Hoban, Hylton (Ashby 71), MacDonald (Humphreys 82), Gayle, Cundy, George, Dunkley.

Unused substitutes: Slocombe, Giles, Carroll.

Attendance: 1,011 (224 Oxford United supporters).