Dagenham and Redbridge’s star name, Andy Carroll saw red but almost saw his side hold on against Bedford Town in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup at The Eyrie on Saturday, only to concede a 91st minute equaliser as the Eagles took the game to a replay.
Eddie Panter’s last gasp strike was a deserved one, as Bedford Town controlled large parts after the game-changing incident that saw the name on everyone’s lips see red before half-time, in an otherwise turgid and attritional FA Cup tie.
Both sides have endured difficult starts to their respective lives in the National League; visitors Dagenham are 21st in National League South, while Lee Bircham’s men are in the same position in the North equivalent.
The National League South club made headlines in July when they announced the free transfer of former England striker, Carroll from Bordeaux, who was once worth £35million in a move from hometown club, Newcastle United to Liverpool in 2011.
Now 36 years old, the veteran striker still draws appeal and has reportedly signed a three-year contract in the capital, although the target man will want to put what was his full debut for the sixth tier side behind him quickly.
Long ball dominates
It took just ninety seconds for Carroll to be in the thick of the action as his back post header flew in at the near post only for the referee to rightly disallow the goal for a push on Bedford’s, Greg Taylor.
Other than the chalked off strike, the majority of the first half became a forgettable affair as, perhaps predictably, the long ball dominated proceedings.
The visitors’ tactics were clear, and Carroll was front and centre of it, but Bedford Town’s centre back pairing of Taylor and Lewis Green more than held their own as chances were few and far between.
One of the few opportunities in an otherwise flat first half fell to Reggie Young; the left winger, who was one of the few bright sparks was left free on the penalty spot following a nod down from Carroll, but his air shot left a lot to be desired.
Within moments however, Dagenham had taken the lead in scrappy fashion.
Taylor lost the ball in a dangerous area at the Eagles’ back post to Christian Maghoma, who dinked it back into the danger zone to find Donovan Wilson who managed to nod the ball on to the underside of the bar and over the line.
It was a dire goal worthy of a forgettable first half, but just three minutes before the break, it became a memorable one for all the wrong reasons, especially for the visiting fans.
Another long ball was played up towards Carroll, but a flailing elbow caught the face of Green, and despite a moment of pause from the official, he eventually flashed a red card, leaving Carroll to trudge back to the changing rooms.
Eagles dominate second half
The red card changed the complexion of the game entirely, and the second period turned into a game of attack versus defence.
Dagenham came out and immediately sat back in what was an excellent but ultimately unsuccessful defensive effort as Bedford Town set about trying to break them down.
Lee Bircham had made three half-time substitutions, one of them, Joseph Ajose was immediately into the action with a deep cross that Norwich loanee, Dan Barden had to claw away at his back post, before the rebound fell to Ellis Brown who shot straight at the keeper.
Other chances fell to Taylor, Tyrone Marsh and Gyamfi as Dagenham’s defensive verve was interspersed with elements of time-wasting and gamesmanship, but in truth, despite all of their possession, the Eagles attack rarely troubled Barden.
Two half-hearted penalty appeals, against Marsh and Gyamfi, were also waved away as it looked like another early FA Cup exit for the Eagles before another substitute struck in the first of eight minutes of injury time.
Yet another cross had drifted in from the right boot of Ajose, and could only find an otherwise impressive, Young but his clearance sliced off his shin on to his own crossbar, before the rebound fell to a delighted Panter to smash home into the roof of the net.
It was no less than Bedford deserved as they would have felt hard done by to leave The Eyrie with another loss, although they had chances to snatch the tie in the remaining seven minutes.
Sam and Ellis Brown’s excellent interchange on the left wing ended with a pass to Gyamfi in the area who had an excellent chance to win it, but sliced his shot wide before a subdued Marsh almost stole the headlines with a 35-yard strike that flew just wide.
It was the final act of a game that will only be remembered for the red card shown to Andy Carroll, and both teams will have to go at it again in just three days time as they replay at Victoria Road for a place in the third qualifying round.
That game will take place on Tuesday 16 September, while the draw for the next round takes place the day before.
