West Ham United edge past Dagenham & Redbridge in fundraising friendly

West Ham United just edged past cash-strapped Dagenham & Redbridge in a friendly match arranged to raise money for the National League outfit to help support their financial crisis.

A brace from Michail Antonio and a late goal from Jordan Hugill was enough to earn the Hammers the win - despite a consolation goal from Mason Blomfield in front of over 4,500 fans at Victoria Road.

The Daggers side were managed by supporter Gary Singh for the evening after he won the bid to take over from John Still for the clash with his £2,500 bid.

Meanwhile, in the opposite dugout David Moyes named a strong starting XI with the likes of Michail Antonio, Adrian, Pablo Zabaleta, Mark Noble and Patrice Evra all involved.

It took until the 21st minute for the first real chance of the match when Arthur Masuaku, who has just finished his six-game suspension, fired a cross across the face of goal and ended up hitting the bar.

Straight back down the other end Bloomfield cut back and found Jake Howells in the box, but the left back’s effort from 10 yards failed to hit the target and went into the stands.

The Hammers’ Masuaku then cannoned a shot from 30 yards and keeper Mark Cousins tipped it wide for a corner.

They failed to take advantage of the corner and then Dagenham had another chance of their own as Bloomfield picked out Luke Howell but his effort was denied by Adrian.

In 29th minute West Ham received a blow when James Collins headed straight for the tunnel after signalling to the bench an injury concern and he was replaced by former Daggers loanee Josh Pask.

There was a fantastic run down left by the hosts’ Dan Sparkes, before his cross found Bloomfield in the middle, but the striker headed over.

In the 33rd minute Chike Kandi made a storming break down the right to work his way into the box, but his effort bobbled just wide of the goal.

West Ham broke the deadlock when Antonio pounced on a mistake in the Daggers defence to open the scoring.

Seconds earlier, Hugill missed an open goal after attempting to connect with a Noble ball in.

Early in the second half an effort from Aaron Cresswell flew past the post, much to Daggers stopper Cousins’ relief, before a stinger from West Ham’s Masuaku was fumbled by the keeper, who then prevented Antonio from getting to the rebound, before the linesman flagged for offside.

Kandi beat his marker and drove into the box, but pushed the ball too far forward, and Adrian did well to smother the ball.

Antonio doubled the Hammers lead and got his second of the evening in the 55th minute, running through the Daggers defence, before sliding his shot into the net.

But in the 59th minute Bloomfield netted to claw one back for the hosts after a minute of absolute mayhem in the Hammers box as a handful of Dagenham players all had an attempt on goal before the striker finally bundled it home.

Antonio then had a chance of getting his hat-trick but was denied by substitute keeper Lewis Moore, before the attacker left the pitch to use the toilet.

There was a great double save by West Ham stopper Adrian, first to keep out an effort from distance by Daggers midfielder Matt Robinson, before stopping Sparkes from scoring on rebound in the 75th minute.

Three minutes from time striker Hugill was picked out by youngster Ben Johnson and he side-footed the ball into the back of the net for his first goal for the club.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Cousins (Moore 61), Nunn (Gordon 45), Robson (N’Gala 45), Pennell (Agboola 77), Howells (Southam 77), Boucaud (Bonds 61), Adams (Robinson 46), Howell, Sparkes (Mongoy 77) , Kandi (Okenabirhie 82), Bloomfield (Cheek 61).

West Ham United: Adrian, Zabaleta (Johnson 61), Collins (Pask 29), Cresswell (Barrett 61), Evra (Bernardo Rosa 89), Noble (Powell 61), Lewis, Holland (Scully 77), Masuaku, Antonio (Akinola 89), Hugill.

Unused subs: Anang and Longelo.