York City's FA Trophy runs rolls on

Victory for the visitors never looked likely following a tepid display in normal time but Clayton Donaldson’s 97th-minute penalty changed everything at the end of normal time, incredibly, 1-1.

Dagenham all but looked through after Paul McCallum’s 15th-minute opener, which was the only difference on the scoreboard between City and their National League hosts – right until the death.

On the pitch, York were never out of it as a contest, but never looked like troubling the scoreboard again with a disjointed, somewhat cowed display.

The visitors had a decent amount of the ball throughout but showed little adventure going forward and Daggers keeper Elliot Justham enjoyed a fairly routine day.

But hard work, the hallmark of John Askey’s City, was not in short supply, and City reaped the rewards of their never-say-die attitude when Clayton Donaldson netted a penalty with the last kick of the game.

Pete Jameson was City’s hero in the 7-6 shoot-out win, making three saves after Akil Wright had netted York’s final effort.

City boss Askey made three changes to the side that started Tuesday night’s 3-1 league win over Darlington.

Askey was able to welcome back Matty Brown into the back line, partnering Maxim Kouogun, with penalty-scorer Clayton Donaldson replacing the cup-tied Lenell John-Lewis up front.

Michael Woods came in for Paddy McLaughlin in the midfield, which lacked Doncaster Rovers loanee AJ Greaves, who left the field on Tuesday injured. Jack McKay, also cup-tied, missed out entirely.

A very welcome sight for City was winger Remy Longdon, who was back on the bench after having taken time out for tests on heart palpitations.

The Daggers went into the game having enjoyed back-to-back 3-0 National League wins, seeing off Maidenhead United and Yeovil Town.

Boss Daryl McMahon made two changes to the starting 11 from the latter victory, promoting Matt Robinson and captain Angelo Balanta from the bench.

Top scorer Paul McCallum kept his place, having netted his 12th goal of the campaign in midweek.

City started well enough at Victoria Road and saw a decent amount of the ball, but were almost too keen to get forward at times. Mitch Hancox gave away the ball twice when rushing a ball up to Kurt Willoughby.

Dagenham were ahead after 15 minutes. The ball broke from midfield for Junior Morias on the edge of the area, where Scott Barrow did well to halt the attacker’s progress before Myles Weston took possession the left of the area. He squared for McCallum, who slid in from close range.

The Daggers followed up their goal with a spell of pressure, which both Kouogun and Brown did well to deal with in the air.

Where York frustrated was in not using the ball when they won back possession and thus, despite enjoying possession in the midfield third, failed to threaten for the first quarter of the game.

Woods was doing well after his extended absence and he battled c– as did everyone in a York shirt – to win the ball from a smart footballing side in Dagenham.

City were not under masses of pressure as the first half approached its end but they were ill at ease in themselves. Players consistently misread each other, and there was none of the composure or panache they have shown.

York started the second half with a bit more verve, with Donaldson making some headway down the left, while Barrow fizzed a low effort just wide of keeper Elliot Justham’s left-hand post and Olly Dyson put a decent corner to the near post, where Brown was outnumbered.

Balanta might be disappointed he did not extend the hosts’ lead, having nicked the ball off Kouogun as the last man, gathered himself, and shot tamely straight at Pete Jameson from 17 yards.

Away fans’ hearts were surely in mouths in the 68th minute when McCallum slightly miscued an effort from a corner inches wide of Jameson’s left-hand upright.

City had a brief purple patch themselves shortly after. With 19 minutes to go, the ball broke in the area for Willoughby, who – in space and around eight yards from goal – might have done better to hit it first time. As it was, he took a touch and lost out to a back-tracking defender.

McLaughlin – on for Woods, who had seemed to fade a bit – looked to inject a bit of urgency into his side and whipped a left-footed effort in from the right-hand side. It was deflected out for a corner, which ended with another disappointing Dyson delivery.

The Daggers, with just over five minutes to go, looked like they had done enough to see out the contest. They were working almost off a shoot-on-sight policy at one end, and slowed things down at the other.

But right at the end of six minutes of injury time, Kouogun attacked a ball in the box and was taken down by Yoan Zouma. Referee Sam Purkiss pointed to the spot, and Donaldson cheekily netted with a panenka penalty, chipping in after Justham had already dived.

Dagenham: Justham, Wright, Reynolds, Johnson, Sagaf, Rance (Comley 52), Robinson, Weston, Balanta (Zouma 75), McCallum, Morias (Walker 78). Subs not used: Lawlor, Clark, Scott, Akanbi.

Goals: McCallum Yellow cards: Rance York: Jameson, Duckworth, Kouogun, Brown, Barrow, Wright, Woods 6 (McLaughlin 65), Hancox, Dyson 5 (Longdon 74), Donaldson, Willoughby. Subs not used: Campbell, Haase, Dale, James.

Star man: Pete Jameson. The reliable shot-stopper held his nerve at two crucial moments to secure sudden death penalties before winning on a memorable day out for the sizeable York following and their resurgent side.

Goals: Donaldson (97) Yellow cards: Hancox Penalties: McLaughlin (scored), Weston (scored), Willougby (scored), Reynolds (saved), Hancox (saved), W Wright (scored), Longdon (missed), McCallum (scored), Donaldson (scored), Walker (saved), Barrow (scored), Robinson (scored), Brown (scored), Sagaf (scored), Kouogun (scored), Comley (scored), A Wright (scored), Johnson (saved).

Referee: Sam Purkiss Attendance: 2,417 (848 away supporters) Stats for Dagenham | York Shots (on target): 6 (2) | 5 (1); Corners: 7 |4; Offsides: 1 | 3; Fouls: 11 | 7; Yellow cards: 1 | 1.