In a dramatic finale at Victoria Road, former Newcastle and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll proved he still has the magic touch, scoring a sensational 90th-minute header to seal a 2-1 victory for Dagenham & Redbridge against Crawley Town.
A Fairytale Start for Carroll
The 34-year-old target man, who shocked football fans by dropping into the National League this summer, made an instant impact for his new club. Towering above defenders in stoppage time, Carroll connected perfectly with a pinpoint cross to bullet home the winner, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Match Highlights
- 12th minute: Crawley take shock lead through Dom Telford's clinical finish
- 57th minute: Dagenham equalise via Josh Rees' penalty after handball decision
- 90+3 minute: Carroll rises highest to nod home dramatic winner
Manager's Delight
Dagenham boss Ben Strevens couldn't hide his excitement: "When that ball left the boot, I knew Andy would attack it. He's brought that Premier League quality when it matters most. This is exactly why we brought him here."
The victory moves Dagenham up to 5th in the early National League table, while Crawley - recently relegated from League Two - suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
