Dagenham and Redbridge got back to winning ways after overcoming nine man Chesterfield in a competitive encounter at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium. Despite the win, the Daggers actually dropped a spot in the League Two table to fifth but that couldn't dampen the teams spirits at the end.

In form Sam Saunders got the game off to a cracking start. He had already tested Chesterfield's new goalkeeper Trevor Carson with a free-kick before scoring an absolute screamer of a goal two minutes in.

Paul Benson chased down a long punt from Tony Roberts, before laying the ball back to Saunders. The Daggers midfielder struck a superb right footed shot from twenty yards as the ball arrowed into the top corner.

The visitors took a little time to recover from Saunders' strike but began to pepper Roberts area with several crosses, earning many a corner in the process. From one of the set-pieces, Kevin Austin muscled his way towards the ball before seeing his header rebound off the bar.

The home side also had to reshape after losing central defender Mark Arber to a facial injury. Arber had to come off after only 27 minutes and it meant that John Still was forced to move Magnus Okuonghae to centre back and bring on Jon Nurse at right back. Both adapted superbly to their new roles and Okuonghae fully deserved his man of the match award.

Anwar Uddin skied a clearance narrowly over as the crosses kept coming, but the major talking point of the first half came from a skirmish in the middle of the pitch. A skirmish occurred after the referee decided that Robert Page had fouled Ben Strevens when both were competing for a high ball. Spireite midfielder Lloyd Kerry then quite clearly struck Strevens in the ribs, the sound could be heard in the stands, and the referee had little option but to brandish a red card to the former Sheffield United man.

There was another sending off early in the second half for the visitors and once again it involved Strevens and Page. The referee decided that the former Welsh International had jumped with his elbow raised, clattering Strevens in the process and the red card was on display for a second time.

Despite being up against nine men, it took the Daggers quite a while to put this one to bed. Benson in particular had a few opportunities including forcing a brilliant save from Carson with a header. Benson had a better opportunity later on, chasing down a clearance from Niven before bearing down on goal. His shot however rebounded against Carson's legs. He also shot into the side-netting after Carson had denied Saunders with another good block.

There was a little bit of anxiety as the Daggers waited for their second goal. The lively Jamie Ward worked hard up front and he gave Roberts his only save from a strike from the edge of the area.

The home supporters had to wait until until the 87th minute before finally seeing their side secure the points. It was another terrific finish, this time from sub Mark Nwokeji. The forward picked up the ball on the edge of the area and unleashed a super strike that saw the ball rocket into the roof of the net.

The third arrived a minute later. Saunders swung in a high ball that saw Nwokeji compete with Carson in the air. The ball dropped to Benson, who nodded the ball into an empty net. Benson also struck a post but by then it didn't matter as the points were staying with the Daggers.

Dag & Red: Roberts, Okuonghae, Uddin, Arber, Griffiths, Saunders, Taiwo, Gain, Graham (Nwokeji 78), Strevens, Benson: Subs: Thompson, Southam, Nurse, Lokando.

Chesterfield: Carson, Downes, Page, Austin, Goodall (Robertson 45), Niven, Winter (Harsley 64), Kerry, Lowry, Currie (Boden 64), Ward. Subs: Picken, Hall.

Att. 1,682 (292 away)