National League side Dagenham dump League Two AFC Wimbledon out of FA Cup

Non-league side Dagenham and Redbridge dumped League Two AFC Wimbledon out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

The National League outfit earned their third-round spot thanks to a 79th-minute winner from substitute Josh Rees, after Matty Stevens had cancelled out Junior Morias’ first-half opener for the visitors.

The hosts had the better opening, with James Tilley going close in the seventh minute when he saw his effort blocked by Romoney Crichlow after a James Furlong cross.

The game had a delay midway through the first half as referee Craig Hicks was forced off injured and replaced, although Wimbledon continued to press.

However, the Dons could not find a breakthrough and Dagenham started to find their footing in the contest before stunning their League One hosts by taking a 35th-minute lead, Morias’ long-range effort beating keeper Owen Goodman following a break.

Wimbledon looked for a response and although Furlong was guilty of shooting straight at Elliot Justham in first-half injury time, Stevens bundled home past the Dagenham keeper for the equaliser just before the break.

That was a blow for Dagenham but they almost had the perfect start to the second half when, just a minute after the restart, a Josh Umerah flick went just wide of the post.

Dons forward James Tilley put a 55th-minute free-kick over the crossbar, but the home side looked flat and Dagenham took advantage to score the winning goal with 11 minutes left when Rees turned the ball home through a crowd of players following a corner.