Hall's brilliant brace nets Shrimpers win

 

Ryan Hall fired Southend into the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern quarter-finals with a goal in each half to sink Dagenham 3-1.

 

The visitors took the lead on 30 minutes when Hall ghosted forward unmarked, was picked out by Ryan Leonard's throw and drove low into the bottom corner.

 

Five minutes after the restart Hall was in the thick of the action again, but saw his penalty saved by Daggers keeper Chris Lewington, after defender Damien McCrory had brought down Leonard.

 

The home side levelled on 66 minutes when McCrory's 20-yard free-kick took a huge deflection off the defensive wall and wrong-footed Shrimpers keeper Glen Morris.

 

But Hall made amends for his earlier penalty miss to win the tie on 74 minutes. The midfielder showed great skill to wriggle between defenders Walsh and Mark Arber and blasted past Lewington.

 

Substitute Neil Harris sealed the tie with the final touch of the game. After Lewington kept out his initial shot, Harris was first to the rebound and fired his side into the last eight.