Swifts were denied victory in controversial circumstances against Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

With 10 minutes remaining and the sides locked at 1-1, Heybridge were pressing forward looking for the victory their second-half dominance had deserved.

Nicky Simpson burst through with just semi-pro England goalkeeper, Paul Gothard to beat when the Dagger's custodian raced off his line to bring Simpson down.

Before the referee had time to blow for a penalty the ball ran to Chris Heasman who missed the open target.

The referee booked Gothard for the initial challenge, but turned down the crowd's demands for a penalty, insisting he had given Swifts the advantage and played on.

The home side charged forward and in the final minute following two corners, Swifts assistant manager, Tony English, stayed forward and when the ball was hooked back into the box he pounced to round a defender and shot.

But not for the first time that afternoon the crowd were left holding their hands in anguish as Gothard managed the faintest of touches to the ball and pushed it onto the bar.

From the resulting corner Dagenham broke forward quickly and Swifts' keeper, Kingsley Banks, raced off is line to slide the ball away from Cobb.

The referee then sent the home fans wild as he pointed to the penalty spot and Cobb converted the spot kick to give Dagenham an unexpected victory.

There was furthercontroversy deep into injury time when ex-Swifts player Kirk Game, appeared to push the ball onto the post with his hand following a good cross from Simpson.

Wayne Adcock then headed over a shot which may have already been going in.

Heybridge were still without the injured Ben Lewis and also John Devine, but welcomed back from suspension Colin Wall and Adcock returned to the front line to partner Heasman.

The first chance fell to Alex Fiddes but he was denied by the first of many outstanding saves from Gothard.

In the 15th minute Swifts midfielder Adam Gillespie burst down the right, looked up, and sent a curling pass beyond the Dagenham defence into the path of Adcock but the Swifts striker was adjudged to have strayed off side.

In the 22nd minute Colin Wall picked up his 11th booking of the season and now faces a lengthy ban, which will give Swifts' survival hopes no help.

The best action of the first half was in the last five minutes of injury time.

With four minutes to go before the break, Gillespie went on one of his blistering runs as he won the ball in midfield before setting off down the right.

His cross fell on to the penalty spot and Adcock pounced to fire Swifts in front.

In the 45th minute of the half a long cross beyond the far post was headed back across goal by Game and Bird equalised from close range.

Heybridge could have been back in front moments later as Heasman forced a one handed save from Gothard with a deft header.

On the stroke of half time Simpson was bundled over in the box for a penalty but Wall's spot kick was poor and Gothard saved it and then held the powerful follow-up from Simpson.

Swifts won two corners early in the second half, the second seeing English outjump Game who guided his header just over the bar and another Swifts chance was gone.

In the 69th minute Gillespie won the ball in midfield and glided down the right at speed before slipping a pass neatly inside for Simpson. His first time effort from an angle at the rear post forced another outstanding save from Gothard.

So at the end Swiftswere pointless from one of theirmost outstanding performances of the season.

Heybridge Swifts: Banks, Cranfield, Cutbush, English, Wall, Gillespie, Simpson, Streetley, Adcock, Heasman and Fiddes.

Substitutes: Miyoba, Caldon and Bond (not used).

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