Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Dagenham & Redbridge beat Hashtag United 2-1 at Techsoc.com Stadium in the 'YouTube East London derby', with Stan Leach and Kymani Thomas scoring first-half goals.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Dagenham & Redbridge took control from the outset and opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Stan Leach latched onto a through ball, beat the offside trap and fired low inside the far post, giving the Daggers a deserved lead.
Hashtag United responded with two chances to draw level midway through the half — one shot dragged carelessly wide, another bouncing on top of the net — but the equaliser never came.
Deep into first-half stoppage time, Kymani Thomas doubled Dagenham's lead to make it 2-0 at the break. The winger struck to put the Daggers firmly in control.
Hashtag United pulled one back in the 64th minute through an unregistered goalscorer, setting up a tense final half-hour, but Dagenham held firm to secure the win.
The turning point
Thomas's goal on the stroke of half-time was decisive. Had Hashtag United gone into the interval only 1-0 down, the momentum could have shifted. Instead, the Daggers' two-goal cushion meant Hashtag's second-half reply was too little, too late.
Key performers
Stan Leach (Dagenham & Redbridge) — Player of the match. The former Newmarket striker's composed finish in the 14th minute set the tone. His movement off the shoulder of the last defender caused problems throughout.
Kymani Thomas (Dagenham & Redbridge) — Scored the crucial second goal just before half-time, effectively killing the contest before the break.
Hashtag United's caretaker manager — Oversaw a spirited second-half response, but the damage from a slow start was irreparable.
By the numbers — interpreted
Attendance of 703 at the Techsoc.com Stadium reflected strong local interest in this cross-town clash between two clubs with massive social media followings. The 2-0 half-time scoreline tells the story: Dagenham's clinical finishing contrasted with Hashtag's wastefulness in the first period. The hosts' 64th-minute goal gave the scoreline a more respectable look, but the Daggers were value for the win.
What it means
Dagenham & Redbridge continue their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2026/27 National League South campaign. Next up for the Daggers is a home friendly against Crystal Palace U21s on 21 July, followed by Buxton (25 July) and Boreham Wood (28 July) before the season opener against Dorking Wanderers on 8 August.
Hashtag United, preparing for the Isthmian League Premier Division season, play their next friendly at the Techsoc.com Stadium against Newmarket Town on 15 August.
Verdict
A professional pre-season performance from Dagenham & Redbridge, who were sharper in both boxes in the first half. Hashtag United showed glimpses of promise after the break but the two-goal deficit was too steep. The Daggers' ownership duo of KSI and Andy Carroll would have been the happier of the two YouTube-linked camps.
Match Events
Key match events between Hashtag United and Dagenham & Redbridge — 3 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 21 Jul 2026