Dagenham and Redbridge fell one goal short in their quest to make the Coca Cola League Two play-offs as Shrewsbury Town hung on for a 2-1 win to ensure it was they, rather than the Daggers who would continue to battle for promotion.

The Daggers were two goals down at half time and despite a brave second half fight back, they couldn't quite get the equaliser that they so badly wanted.

It was a first half that left the Daggers with a mountain to climb. It didn't start too badly. Matt Ritchie swung over a deep cross where he found, of all people Sam Saunders. Saunders got up to head towards goal but could only direct the ball over.

Shrewsbury gave notice of their intentions after fifteen minutes where the Daggers could consider themselves a touch fortunate not to fall behind. Nick Chadwick got on the end of a cross and looked certain to score from close range. The returning Tony Roberts however somehow got his body in the way to make a brilliant save.

The home side's resistance only lasted a couple more minutes. Chris Humphrey was clearly the danger man on the right hand side of the Shrews midfield and he put in an excellent cross that allowed Grant Holt to head his team into the lead.

Humphrey proved more than a handful for the Daggers defence to cope with. He outpaced Scott Griffiths before driving a shot that Roberts did well to save.

The Daggers had a couple of half opportunities to level things up. Ritchie had a shot blocked while Saunders skied over after being set up by Benson.

But the identity of the next goal scorer really wasn't really much of a surprise. Humphrey's pace yet again allowed him to get in behind the Daggers defence. He then coolly lobbed the ball over Roberts to double Shrewsbury's advantage.

The Daggers nearly got themselves a goal back before the half time break. A Ritchie corner rather struck Saunders in the visitors goalmouth and bounced wide of Luke Daniels goal

The half time break certainly helped the Daggers and there was some encouragement of a comeback a couple of minutes in. They piled in the visitors penalty area and Benson drilled a shot against a post. The rebound fell to Strevens who powered in a shot that Daniels somehow managed to block; the referee ignored some claims that the ball had crossed the line.

The Daggers did get themselves back into it with their next attack. Ritchie swung over a perfect cross where Benson was on hand to head home raising the volume level inside the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Stadium.

That hope continued right until the very end. Saunders and Solomon Taiwo combined brilliantly for the latter to cross towards Benson at the near post. Benson got a good connection on the header but directed it straight at Daniels.

Nerves clearly affected both teams as the final whistle approached. Shrewsbury had a couple of really good opportunities to put the game to bed. Holt miscued an effort wide when he really should have scored while desperate Dagenham defending crowded out a Chadwick effort.

The Daggers threw more bodies forward including Tony Roberts for a couple of corners right at the end. But their last effort was a Griffiths one that went over the bar and with it their play-off dreams had gone for this season.

Att: 4,791 (1,368 Shrewsbury)