DAGENHAM & Redbridge striker Matt McClure bagged another brace against Southend United to condemn the Shrimpers to a 2-1 defeat at Victoria Road this afternoon.

McClure also netted twice against Blues for Wycombe Wanderers in League Two last December.

And he was again in fine form against Phil Brown’s side as Daggers recorded a morale boosting triumph.

The home-side had earlier come close to taking the lead inside the first minute when an error from Luke Prosser let the experienced Jamie Cureton clean through on goal but his low shot was smothered by Shrimpers goalkeeper Ted Smith.

Blues soon hit back with Anthony Wordsworth firing just past the left post from 18 yards and Jack Payne just failing to reach a fantastic right wing cross from Kevan Hurst.

But the Shrimpers did open the scoring in the 35th minute when Michael Timlin rose well to head home a right wing corner from Hurst.

Dagenham, who included former Southend midfielder Kane Ferdinand in their starting line-up, came close to equalising when a diving header from Cureton was superbly tipped wide of the right post by Smith.

However, Southend’s let off was only temporary as, from the resulting Ashley Hemmings corner right on the stroke of half-time, McClure headed home from 12 yards.

Ten minutes after the break, McClure was at it again as he met a left wing cross from Hemmings with a flicked volley at the near post which skimmed into the back of the net.

Blues, who again gave ran outs to trialists Danny Galbraith and Yago Fernandez, almost bagged an immediate equaliser when Payne darted through only to see his shot well saved down to his left hand side by Dagenham goalkeeper Liam O’Brien.

Moments later, Hurst fired inches over the crossbar from 20 yards before Timlin was forced to come off in the 75th minute following a clash of heads which led to him suffering a cut just above his left eye.

Shrimpers centre back Adam Barrett had previously also suffered a clash of heads which required four stitches after the game.

But Blues were unable to get back into the game with substitute Ryan Leonard wasting the best chance to score an equaliser two minutes from time when he dragged a 12 yard shot wide of the left post.

Southend United: T Smith, White, Prosser (Fernandez 46), Barrett (Bolger 60), Coker, Hurst (Worrall 73), Timlin (Deegan 75), Wordsworth (Leonard 80), Payne (Atkinson 85), Galbraith (Weston 60), Mooney

Attendance: 696 (278 from Southend)