When Freddie Ladapo was played in, he struggled to really get clear, as Jack Luck was hanging onto him, although he did get a shot away, it was blocked by the defender for a corner.

A lunging challenge by Lee Wootton on Sanderson, saw him airborne and then grounded, but the referee was just happy with a quiet word.

In the first real moment of home concern, the defence failed to deal well with an attack, although keeper Shaun Phillips spread himself, Joe Sheldon got the ball past him.

However, Tom Bender had got back to clear, hitting the ball onto his own post and the ball was scrambled to safety.

As Colchester continued to do well, a great ball by Folan nearly put in Ladapo, but a corner was conceded.

In a swift move from defence, the visitors responded, as Levi Mathurine's cross field ball nearly fed in Theophanous, but Mason Stewart slid in a foot to get it back to keeper Phillips.

He launched it forward again and, when it fell for Arnott, Eubel blocked well, and it was another home corner.

A flowing move across the field saw Arnott feed left for Sanderson, but again the shot was blocked.

As Dagenham responded again, it was good link up play involving, Sheldon, Theophanous and Wootton. The latter then set up Harry Larner, but his shot from the left was diverted behind for a corner.

From a throw in, Sayo Ogundayto's shot was easy for keeper Mick Green and, from a long range free kick in, the ball fell to Wootton, but his deflected effort saw the grounded Phillips stick up a left hand to turn the shot away.

Sanderson found Ladapo down the left, he easily beat his marker Eubel, but his effort at goal was very tame.

As the half came to a close, it was a great run down the right by Olufemi, but his drifted ball in was just off the target.

A very pleasing half for Colchester ended, after they had created all the major chances, and another one came seconds after the restart, but when Arnott got in, he placed his effort wide of the goal.

The visitors responded and won a corner, but the header back across goal was wide of the target.

The home side continued to dominate, a positive run by Sanderson saw him link up with team mates, and when Ladapo shielded it for Mason Stewart, his effort went over the bar.

Then it was Mathurine shrugging off the attentions of Bender, but he curled his left footer over the bar.

Although Stewart was hurt in a challenge, play continued and when Ladapo set up Arnott, a cracking first time effort by him saw the keeper parry it over the bar.

Against the general run of the play, the Daggers then led. 

A long throw by Larner was cleared back to him and when his cross was flicked on, a superb left footed half volley on the back post by Charlie Bland broke the deadlock.

Colchester tried to respond, and Olufemi found Arnott, whose persistence got him through several challenges.

He set Ladapo free, but Luck blocked away for a corner. Arnott then set up Olufemi, but he lashed the chance wide.

Changes saw Michael Rafter replace Ladapo and for Dagenham it was Alfie Wren on for Sheldon.

The U's then levelled it up, as a good pass released Craig Arnott.

He took the ball on and shot left footed, although the keeper got a dive and something on it, it was a home equaliser.

The joy was to be short lived, though, as Folan lost possession and Bland was on the spot to half volley the ball in, possibly with the aid of a slight deflection.

Youngster Augustin Mufuta then was on for Sayo Ogundayo.

A long throw in by Bender then posed problems as Arnott cleverly back heeled it on, but under a challenge, Stewart stabbed it wide.

Gilfedder then replaced Olufemi and Conor Mead was on for Mathurine.

It was almost an instant success for the Daggers' sub as when Larner's cross came in from the left, he was unable to turn it in, however it ran out to Wooton who made no mistake.

A 3-1 deficit soon became a 4-1 arrears, as Bland's left footed corner from the right, saw the unchallenged Wren head in.

A good morning was now turning into a disastrous one.

Colchester still had a bit of life in them as Rafter's free kick over the wall saw keeper Green down to his right, pushing the ball away.

However with the home defence lacking a bit of confidence now, sub Tony Martin was denied as Phillips saved at his near post.

Rafter who had gone close earlier, then threatened again, as the keeper kicked clear.

The Irish striker just inside the visitors' half sized up the situation, and shot from about 35 to 40 yards, and only just missed the target of an empty goal.

The Daggers then got a fifth goal as a cross in from the right saw Martin in the right spot to turn the ball home.

Colchester: Shaun Phillips, Jack Folan, Trevor Ajim, Tom Bender, Bradley Hamilton, Tosin Olufemi, Sayo Ogundayo, Jordan Sanderson, Mason Stewart, Craig Arnott and Freddie Ladapo

Used subs: Michael Rafter, Augustin Mufuta and Ross Gilfedder with unused sub: Shane Cusack