Leicester 3-2 Dagenham & Redbridge

Leicester came from behind twice to beat Dagenham & Redbridge, courtesy of a superb Matty Fryatt hat-trick. The win sees the Foxes advance to the third round of this year’s F.A Cup, where they can now face clubs from the top two divisions.

Leicester’s leading scorer Fryatt took his total goals tally to 19 for the season, helping the Foxes avoid an unwanted defeat after two goals from the visitors put them ahead twice.

The opening 5 minutes of the game were fairly uneventful; Leicester’s Marc Edworthy received lengthy treatment after an early challenge but was able to continue.

The home side failed to trouble the Daggers’ defence early on, and were punished in the 9th minute of the game when Matt Ritchie bundled in after impressive work on the right wing from Sam Saunders. The midfielder managed to get to the byline to square the ball to Ritchie who sent the ball home unopposed to give the visitors the lead.

Leicester hit back firmly, and levelled immediately afterwards through a well taken goal from Fryatt. Winger Nicky Adams played the ball to the striker to rifle home from inside the box to make matters even.

The Foxes could have gone ahead minutes later, but Fryatt saw his free-kick superbly saved by Dagenham ‘keeper Tony Roberts to deny him.

Leicester looked threatening from set-pieces all game and nearly took the lead when centre back Michael Morrison headed at goal for Roberts to save once again.

However, it was the Daggers who dealt yet another blow to the Foxes when they raced up the other end of the pitch to take the lead courtesy of Ben Strevens. Leicester defender Aleksander Tunchev uncharacteristically failed to deal with a long ball to allow Paul Benson to race through and cross low for Ritchie, who saw his initial shot well saved by Foxes goalkeeper David Martin, but Strevens was there on the rebound to give the visitors the lead.

Again Leicester refused to lie down, and hit back minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after a handball in the Dagenham & Redbridge penalty area. Fryatt duly stepped up and cooly side-footed the penalty into the bottom corner to restore the game for the Foxes.

The momentum was in City’s favour now and they began the push for a third goal, firstly with full back Joe Mattock who saw his low effort well saved by ‘keeper Roberts for a corner.

Another dangerous set-piece allowed Aleksander Tunchev to head towards the Daggers’ goal, only to be denied once again by Roberts, this time saving with his legs for another corner.

It was then the turn of the visitors to push for another goal, and it was Leicester this time who had their goalkeeper to thank, producing a fingertip save to deny Ritchie. The ‘keeper on loan from Liverpool then saved once again, this time from Benson to deny Dagenham & Redbridge a third goal.

A goal-filled first half saw both sides head in level at the break with two goals each.

A quiet first 10 minutes was brought to life when former-Walsall striker Fryatt completed his hat-trick in style, delightfully lobbing the advancing Roberts to had his side the lead for the first time in the game. Marc Edworthy’s ball down the right found the forward who was able to find the net and grab his first hat-trick for the club.

Recent loan signing Mark Davies replaced Bruno Berner with just over half and hour remaining to make his debut for the club.

Leicester winger Lloyd Dyer narrowly missed Fryatt’s cross in the 63rd minute to potentially seal the game for the Foxes.

However, the Daggers hadn’t given up and were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area in the 71st minute. Martin again saved well from Saunders’ effort, tipping the ball over for a corner.

A series of corner kicks for the visitors allowed the dangerous Ritchie to head at goal, but unfortunately for him, Davies was on the line at hand to head the ball away from further danger with 10 minutes remaining. Benson then headed Saunders’ cross over with 5 minutes of the game to go to give the home side a nervy ending.

A minute later Fryatt saw a potential fourth goal for him ruled out for offside after he tapped in Dyer’s attempted drive.

However, Leicester had eventually done enough to win the game against the resilient League Two side and progress to the third round.


City: Martin, Edworthy, Tunchev, Morrison, Mattock (Powell 66), Adams, Berner (Davies 57), King, Dyer, Fryatt, Howard ©. Subs not used: Hobbs, Cisak, Campbell, Gradel, Dickov.

Daggers: Roberts, Foster, Okuonghae, Ritchie, Griffiths, Saunders, Taiwo (Southam 83), Benson, Strevens, Gain, Arber ©. Subs not used: Nurse, Huke, Nwokeji, Uddin, Tejan-Sie, Thompson.