Hartlepool defeat Dagenham to boost survival bid
Hartlepool grabbed a crucial three points after overcoming Dagenham & Redbridge 3-1 in the Sky Bet League Two basement battle at Victoria Park.
Billy Paynter, Jake Carroll and Jake Gray got the goals as Craig Hignett's men took the spoils in a meeting of 22nd versus bottom.
Pools opened the scoring inside four minutes when Paynter sent Liam O'Brien the wrong way from the penalty spot following Joe Widdowson's inexplicable decision to push Luke James over in the area.
A second followed just 10 minutes later as Carroll rose highest to flick Nathan Thomas' delicious free-kick into the bottom corner.
The hosts' dominance continued until Dagenham pulled one back from out of nowhere in the 33rd minute, Trevor Carson misjudging Matthew Cash's 30-yard effort.
Ashley Hemmings saw a would-be equaliser cleared off the line by Carroll before the break, only for Hartlepool to restore their two-goal lead nine minutes after the restart.
James freed Gray following a wave of Dagenham attacks and the Crystal Palace loanee drove a powerful 20-yard strike into the corner.
That knocked the wind out of the visitors' sails as Pools ended the day seven points above the drop zone with multiple games in hand.
Source: PA
