Dion Pereira penalty proves enough as Dagenham & Redbridge shock Crewe

Dion Pereira’s second-half penalty helped Dagenham & Redbridge provide an FA Cup first-round shock after a 1-0 victory at Sky Bet League Two high-flyers Crewe.

The Daggers’ leading scorer converted a 73rd-minute spot-kick to make amends for several earlier misses as Ben Strevens’ side booked their place in Sunday’s second-round draw.

Junior Morias proved to be a handful for the visitors when he was brought down by a late challenge from Mickey Demetriou on the edge of the box, although the resulting free-kick was wasted by Ryan Hill.

Owen Lunt should have had Crewe ahead when a loose ball deflected into his path, but the teenager miskicked with only goalkeeper Elliot Justham to beat.

At the other end, Marschall pushed away Morias’s 20-yard effort and Pereira twice could have done better with clear sights of goal when he skewed wide with the goal at his mercy and then drove straight at the Crewe keeper.

Pereira was wasteful again after the interval when, put clear on goal by Morias, he hurried his effort and curled wide of the far post.

Justham diverted Max Conway’s shot with his boot and then the keeper got a strong hand to turn substitute Kian Breckin’s effort around the post as Crewe pushed forward.

However, Josh Umerah chased down a long ball and was upended when attempting to round Marschall, leaving Pereira to fire low into the corner to put the Daggers into the second round.