Whitehawk vs Dagenham & Redbridge match report: Ayo Obileye decides thriller to deprive hosts of Goodison trip

Whitehawk 2 Dagenham & Redbridge 3: The National League South side had dramatically taken the tie into extra time

Defender Ayo Obileye, left, heads Dagenham into the next round (Reuters)

A powerful extra-time header from Dagenham &Redbridge defender Ayo Obileye ended non-league Whitehawk’s dreams of a lucrative FA Cup third-round trip to Everton.

The National League South side had dramatically taken the tie into extra time when Juan Cruz Gotta headed home a late equaliser after Josh Passley looked to have won the game for the visitors after being set up by veteran striker Jamie Cureton.

Yet on a rainy night at the Enclosed Ground when a swirling wind and sloping pitch made for a classic Cup encounter, Cruz Gotta lost Obileye at a corner and the 21-year-old on loan from Charlton scored at the far post to take the struggling League Two team to Goodison.

It capped a frustrating evening for Whitehawk, who were the better side in the first half and deservedly led through a Danny Mills header before a row between defender Dean Leacock and manager Steve King seemed to throw them out of their stride.

Early on, Mills had a shot charged down, then Dagenham defender Joe Widdowson nearly headed into his own goal, hitting a post. Though Cureton threatened with a turn and shot, there was little surprise when Whitehawk took the lead in the 32nd minute.

Sam Deering’s cute through ball set Jake Robinson free down the right and his looping cross from the byline was headed home from close range by Mills.

Yet just when it looked as though they would go in at half time in front they shot themselves in the foot. Leacock, the former Derby and Notts County defender, looked to have picked up a leg injury but became involved in a prolonged discussion with King over whether he was fit enough to continue. Eventually the centre-half went off but with the home side distracted, Kyle Vassell spun Cruz Gotta, who had only just come on for Leacock, far too easily and scored with a 15-yard drive.

Whitehawk: Ross; Arnold, Leacock (Cruz Gotta, 43), Mendy, Braham-Barrett, Deering, Torres, Lorraine (Rose, 48), Martin (Neilson, 56), Robinson, Mills. Substitutes not used Stevens, Sessegnon, Van Den Bogaert, Ijaha.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Cousins, Passley (Chambers, 84), Nosworthy, Obileye, Widdowson, Hoyte, Dunne, Labadie, Hemmings, Cureton (Doidge, 88), Vassell. Substitutes not used O’Brien, Connors, Dikamona, Boucaud, Jones.

Referee: K Stroud (Hampshire).