Dagenham and Redbridge boss Lee Allison didn’t feel as if his side were deserved winners after substitute Archie Tamplin’s late goal gave the Daggers a 2-1 win over Farnham Town.
Farnham dominated the early stages of the match, putting together several sequences of slick passing moves before pulling the trigger to test Daggers goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore.
Charles Claydon rifled Allinson’s side in front after the hosts moved quickly to counter on their opponents before seeing out the rest of a cagey first half.
“It’s very easy for managers to say how good Farnham were when they get beaten, but I’d have said it either way. I’m a very honest manager. I thought they were exceptional. They are a very good footballing side. We knew the troubles they’d cause us, but I felt that we could hurt them in certain areas,” said Allinson.
Allinson, on tenterhooks throughout the match due to Farnham’s attacking threat, sunk his head into his chest in the 82nd minute when Ashmore dithered in possession before Farnham’s Sam Evans slotted into an empty net after dispossessing the Dagenham goalkeeper.
But the hosts had the last laugh when Archie Tampin fired into the bottom corner in stoppage time to give the hosts a valuable three points just two games into the new National League South season.
“It was a very good Friday night football match, and I just felt that we’d weathered the storm at 1-0. I felt comfortable, and we then started to create as the subs were making such a difference,” the Dagenham boss continued.
“What character to come back and find a way to nick the three points at the end? Was it deserved? Probably not, but you have to take them and I’m over the moon with that.”
The win saw Allinson’s side take maximum points from their opening fixtures, after the 1-0 away win at Dorking Wanderers on the opening day of the season gave the Daggers some much-needed confidence under new stewardship.
Speaking to the club website post-match, Allinson said: “The character of the group, the resilience, and the throwing their bodies on the line were incredible to make sure that we came out with three points.
“I think everyone can see the connection between the supporters, the players, and the football club. It’s all coming together nicely.”
Despite the elation of another hard-fought win, Allinson warned his players that they will need to take control of their own destiny if they are to have a successful season.
“I do think we need to be better in possession of the football. I thought, at times tonight, that we were really wasteful,” he warned. “We gave it back to them too quickly, but at the start of seasons we are never quite settled up until six or seven games in.
“It’s all very frantic, and we’re trying to figure out other teams, and I have to say tonight that it was an excellent advert for this league.”
Dagenham and Redbridge travel to Surrey on Tuesday evening hoping to extend their winning start to the club’s National League South campaign before hosting Torquay United on Saturday.
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