Daggers disappoint as Sainte-Luce strike seals Wimbeldon win

Colin Munford at Victoria Road Saturday, February 23, 2013
4.58 PM

League Two: Dagenham & Redbridge 0 AFC Wimbledon 1

Substitute Kevin Sainte-Luce’s fine strike for AFC Wimbledon helped them secure a vital 1-0 win over a poor Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road.

Daggers boss John Still kept faith with the same side that put a strong performance against table toppers Gillingham last week and they started well within the opening minute.

They stole possession almost immediately from the kick-off and launched an attack but Ben Strevens’ effort was straight at veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.

And for much of the half it was the Dons which were on top and they had the better chances.

A long ball over the top from Sammy Moore had Scott Doe in all sorts of problems and Midson eventually got a shot on goal but it went into the side netting after nine minutes.

Midson proved to be a menace for the home defence the whole game and he again fired wide.

Doe was having a hard time against Midson and brought the attacker down on the edge of the area and was subsequently booked.

And home goalkeeper Chris Lewington was forced into a fine save after the initial free-kick came to nothing.

He managed to deny the experienced Gary Alexander with a fiercely struck effort from Harry Pell’s deep ball in as half time approached.

There was little to liven up the crowd in the early stages of the second half, though Matt Saunders fired an effort wide from just outside the box with 49 minutes on the clock.

Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley made all three subs earlier in the half to try and claim a much-needed three points but the action appeared to peter out.

Luke Moore did well when presented with a chance in the box, only to see it hit the side netting, with the 873-strong away following believing the ball had found the net.

The visitors always looked the most likely goalscorers all day and they did so with a fine finish with 11 minutes left on the clock.

A corner in from Chris Hussey was hacked off the line by Daggers, but fell on the edge of the area to substitute Kevin Saint-Luce who fired it left footed past the outstretched hand of Lewington.

And just as the game entered time added on, home goalkeeper Chris Lewington went forward for a corner and he managed to get a head on the ball but unfortunately for Daggers the effort was cleared off the line.

That was as close as the hosts got and now Daggers are just eight points off the drop approaching the final dozen games and currently sit in 16th spot.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Lewington, Ilesanmi, Doe, Wilkinson, Hoyte, Elito (Green 80), Howell, Ogogo, Saunders (Reed 65), Strevens, Williams.

Unused substitutes: Seabright, , Maher, Caprice, Woodall, Bingham.

AFC Wimbledon: Sullivan, Balkestein, Bennett, Hussey, Meades (Mitchel-King 51), S Moore, Pell, L Moore, Dickenson (Sainte-Luce 61), Alexander (Darko 61), Midson.

Unused substitutes: Jaimez-Ruiz, Cummings, Long, Yussuff.

Attendance: 2,265 ( 873 Wimbledon fans)