Vanarama National League: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 (Walker o.g. 45+1) Wrexham 2 (Young 44, Summerfield 68p)

Dagenham & Redbridge slipped to a fifth straight defeat in the Vanarama National League after going down 2-1 at home to Wrexham.

A lacklustre first half came to life in the closing minutes, with both teams getting on the score sheet before the break.

A penalty midway through the second period ultimately settled proceedings, with the home side suffering another loss.

Daggers boss Peter Taylor made three changes to his starting XI following last weekend’s defeat at Gateshead.

Liam Bellamy was handed his first start since joining the Essex club last month, while Liam Gordon and Ollie Harfield were recalled to the starting XI.

Chike Kandi dropped to the bench, while Alex Davey and Harry Donovan missed out altogether.

Things were fast and furious early, but neither side was able to show any real quality to fashion a good chance at a shot.

It took until the 25th minute for Daggers stopper Elliot Justham to be called in action, saving a 25-yard shot from Jordan Maguire-Drew at full stretch.

The former Daggers loanee went close again 10 minutes later, latching on to a flick on from Dragons team-mate Stuart Beavon.

One-on-one with Justham, Maguire-Drew looked odds-on to score, but was denied by a brilliant save from his former colleague.

In a rare chance for the Essex club, a cross from Bellamy found Elliott Romain at the back post, but the forward’s header was comfortable for away custodian Rob Lainton.

Wrexham’s pressure told in the 44th minute when Luke Young found the net with a stunning 25-yard effort.

Daggers, though, only had themselves to blame with Will Wright poorly giving possession away in the build-up to the goal.

Taylor’s men drew level in bizarre circumstances in stoppage time, though, when a Gordon cross caused confusion in the Welsh side’s defence.

Both Lainton and Brad Walker came to collect the ball, with it bouncing off the latter before trundling into the net.

That ensured the teams went into the break level, with the Essex club perhaps breathing a sigh of relief.

Wrexham could have regained the lead just six minutes into the second half, but Justham was able to push a venomous Akil Wright effort onto the bar and behind for a corner that came to nothing.

The hosts were next to go close, with a flowing move ending with substitute Lamar Reynolds drawing a good save with an effort from the edge of the box in the 61st minute.

Reynolds was in the thick of the action seven minutes later, though for the wrong reasons as he conceded a penalty for a foul on Kevin Roberts.

Luke Summerfield stepped up to take the spot-kick for Sam Ricketts’ men, calmly slotting past Justham from 12 yards.

The Victoria Road outfit were fortunate not to fall further behind the 75th minute, but Pyke mercifully was unable to get on the end of a ball across the box from the right by Beavon.

Daggers were then indebted to a goalline clearance from Gordon to clear a chip from Paul Rutherford off the line in the 89th minute after Justham had rushed out of his goal.

All that did, though, was keep the score down as Daggers suffered another defeat in the league, but next visit Boreham Wood in the FA Cup.

Daggers (4-4-2): Justham; Nunn (Kandi 80), Wright, Pennell; Gordon; McQueen (Munns 55), Bellamy, Robinson, Harfield (Reynolds 55); Mullings, Romain.

Subs: Moore (GK), Hoyte.

Wrexham (4-3-3): Lainton; Roberts, Pearson, Lawlor (Wright 41), Carrington; Summerfield, Young, Walker; Maguire-Drew (Fondop 62), Pyke, Beavon (Rutherford 78).

Subs: Dibble (GK), Deverdics.

Attendance: 1,601 (including 321 Wrexham fans).

Referee: David Rock.