Under-21s win shootout after 5-5 thriller at Dagenham

Our Under-21s staged an astonishing second-half revival, coming back from 4-1 down at half-time to draw 5-5 before winning the resulting penalty shootout at Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night.

Looking down and out after a disastrous first period in what was our inaugural game in the new National League Cup, where Under-21 sides pit their wits against senior opponents from the fifth tier of the game, we made changes and rallied superbly in the second period to get back to 4-3, fine strikes from Rio Kyerematen and Max Robson adding to Jaden Williams' first-half effort.

Dagenham tried to stem the tide through Paul Kalambayi's header from a corner which made it 5-3, only for Williams and Yusuf Akhamrich to hit quickfire goals and haul us back level 10 minutes from time.

We could have won it in truth, missing a handful of chances in the second half, but after an extraordinary game ended 5-5, we claimed a 5-3 victory in the subsequent shootout for an extra point in Group D.

Dylan Stephenson swept the Daggers ahead at the Chigwell Construction Stadium with only four minutes gone and less than 60 seconds later, Ryan Hill capitalised on a mistake at the back to drill home a second for his side. We gained an element of composure and fashioned a wonderful team goal just before the half-hour mark which originated down the left side, Callum Olusesi and Damola Ajayi involved centrally before Williams surged in behind and finished clinically from the right angle inside the box.

Dagenham hit back on 37 minutes when Jake Hessenthaler picked the pocket of Kyerematen at the edge of our box and fed Shilow Remy to slot home, before Hill swept in his second of the game two minutes afterwards to leave us 4-1 down.

Wayne Burnett's half-time team talk clearly had the desired effect, though, and the introductions of Leo Black and Akhamrich gave us real impetus going forward. Black and Williams went close at the start of the second period as we began to aggressively get at Dagenham in the final third, the comeback starting in the 51st minute when Tyrese Hall played a short pass to Kyerematen, who fired a lovely left-footed shot across goal and inside the far post. Midway through the half we got another one back, the determined Williams setting up Robson with a one-touch pass and he hammered home off the far post.

The hosts retorted with Frank Vincent's free-kick saved by Aaron Maguire and from the resulting corner, Kalambayi got the run on everyone else in our box to rise highest and head home for 5-3 with 19 minutes remaining. We were unaffected, though, and Williams and Black missed big chances from close range within seconds of one another before the former bagged his second of the game with a powerful finish from inside the area on 78 minutes. And two minutes later - incredibly but not undeservedly - we were level as a corner wasn't properly cleared and the ball broke to Akhamrich at the edge of the box, who lashed a left-footed effort through the crowded area and into the net.

Williams, Akhamrich and Robson all had attempts at winning it at the end but the National League side held on and the points were shared.

And so to penalties for an extra point in the group - Williams, Hall and Black scored our first three before Vincent hammered one over the bar for the hosts. Will Andiyapan and Remy netted for either side before Akhamrich buried our fifth spot-kick to round off a memorable night in wet and windy Essex.

Penalty shootout

Spurs - Williams - scored
Dagenham - Morias - scored
Spurs - Hall - scored
Dagenham - Stephenson - scored
Spurs - Black - scored
Dagenham - Vincent - missed
Spurs - Andiyapan - scored
Dagenham - Remy - scored
Spurs - Akhamrich - scored

Match data

Goals: Dagenham & Redbridge - Stephenson 4, Hill 5, 39, Remy 37, Kalambayi; Spurs - Williams 29, 78, Kyerematen 51, Robson 68, Akhamrich 80.

Yellow cards: Dagenham & Redbridge - Remy 24, Vincent 58, Kalambayi 90+5; Spurs - Kyerematen 44, King 70.

Referee: Alan Dale.

Venue: Chigwell Construction Stadium, Victoria Road, Dagenham.

Weather: Rain, moderate breeze, 13 degrees.

Attendance: 184.