Words John Edwards | Pictures Ben Roberts

Altrincham 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 1

Tom Crawford scored his first Altrincham goal as the Robins grabbed the lead in the second half and, this time, flatly refused to let go as they made a welcome return to winning ways with a deserved victory at The J.Davidson Stadium.

After being given a flying start by a goal from Regan Linney after just 28 seconds, Alty found themselves pegged back by a Dagenham & Redbridge penalty that was earned in the 39th minute and converted in the 40th.

But they regained the lead through Crawford in the 71st minute, and it was one they were clearly intent on keeping as they saw out the final stages without ever looking in danger of repeating Saturday's calamitous finale, when 10-man Boston United somehow managed to salvage a point when all looked lost.

Indeed, Alty's one-goal advantage might well have been doubled but for substitute Olly Crankshaw being denied his first goal for the club by a smart save from Daggers keeper Elliot Justham.

What a start it was for the Robins, ahead inside 30 seconds, much to the chagrin of the 52 travelling fans behind the Dagenham goal who had only just finished applauding their team on to the pitch.

An attack down the right ended with Lewis Banks seizing possession near the corner of the six-yard box and cutting the ball back for Linney to fire beyond the reach of Justham.

It was the in-from striker's fourth goal in six Alty appearances, and it gave his side the perfect start as they sought to put the frustration of surrendering two points to Boston well and truly behind them.

Alex Newby has been in equally impressive form of late, and he engineered another opening in the fifth minute.

A slick one-two with Crawford gave him the chance to open up space for a crack at goal from the edge of the area, but it lacked the power to trouble Justham, who was able to gather the shot comfortably.

As the first half unfolded, Alty continued to carry the greater goal-scoring threat.

A clever free-kick routine in the 25th minute teed up Justin Amaluzor for a low left-footed drive that fizzed inches wide of the right-hand post, with Justham rooted to the spot.

Two minutes later, a superb through ball from Kahrel Reddin sent Linney charging towards the Dagenham area on the right.

Weighing up his options, the Alty marksman unselfishly rolled the ball square towards Newby, who would have had a tap-in but for a defender's outstretched boot reaching it first.

As Alty kept up the pressure, a half-clearance in the 28th minute reached Banks, who returned it with interest as he hammered a first-time volley that flew narrowly over.

Crawford was next to try his luck in the 35th minute after another purposeful Alty build-up, but the shot was straight at Justham, who gathered it easily enough.

For all Alty's attacking verve, the lead remained a slender one, and it was wiped out following a rare Dagenham raid into the Robins area in the 39th minute.

Alty were caught out midway inside their own half, and when the ball was played through to Josh Umerah, he nicked it past the advancing Ethan Ross and tumbled over the keeper's challenge.

Referee Farai Hallam had no hesitation pointing to the spot, and Dion Pereira drilled a well-taken kick into the bottom corner to level the scores.

Dagenham could even have finished the half in front after a spectacular effort from Frank Vincent in the 45th minute. The left-back thumped a ferocious shot from 25 yards that looked bound for the top corner until skimming off the head of Jake Cooper and cannoning against the top of the crossbar.

Newby had a goalbound volley blocked in the 50th minute, as Alty looked to start the second half as brightly as they had the first.

Newby was getting into some promising positions, and when Linney whipped in a low cross from the right on the hour, he was perfectly placed to meet it with a first-time shot that was held by the keeper.

Dagenham could not be discounted on the break, and when they won a corner a minute later, Harry Phipps met it with a header that had to be tipped over by Ross.

Joe Nuttall went on as substitute for Reddin and almost restored Alty's lead with his first touch of the ball in the 67th minute.

Newby swung a corner in from the right, and Nuttall connected cleanly with a crisply-hit volley that only cleared the bar by a foot or so.

Four minutes later, Alty were in front again, and what a moment it was for Crawford.

The summer signing from Hartlepool United has come close to opening his Alty account a few times, and he finally succeeded as he controlled a Tylor Golden pass on the left of the area and drilled a low shot into the far corner from a tight angle.

Twenty minutes or so still remained, but there was no way back for the opposition this time, as George Wilson went on to strengthen the heart of midfield and the Robins saw the game out with no alarms to bank a thoroughly-merited three points.

Harvey Nichols MOTM Tom Crawford

Altrincham Ross; Banks, Cooper, Osborne, Linney (Crankshaw, 84'), Newby (Wilson, 76'), Amaluzor, J.Jones (c), Reddin (Nuttall, 66'), Crawford, Golden. Subs not used: Kosylo, Humbles, Bickerstaff, Randle.

Dagenham Justham (c); Woodhouse (N'Guessan, 62), Vincent, Phipps, Pereira (Stephenson, 84'), Rees, Umerah, Grego-Cox (Hill, 73'), Ling (Rutherford, 90'), Morias, Kalambayi. Subs not used: Strizovic, Remy, Vigrass.

HT 1-1

Goals Linney 1', Crawford 72' | Pereira 40'

Yellows None | Woodhouse 20', Kalambayi 24'

Reds None | None

Referee Farai Hallam

Assistants Jonathan Wyatt & Adewunmi Soneye

Fourth official Robert Claussen

Attendance 1,236 (52 away)

Next Up

We travel to Tamworth on Saturday afternoon for Match Day 12 of the Vanarama National League season - kick-off in Staffordshire in at 3pm.

Tickets for the game at The Lamb can be bought from our hosts here.