Midfielder Keenan Appiah-Forson was the only West Ham United loanee on the end of a winning result throughout a busy Easter weekend of football, as Dagenham & Redbridge continued their impressive run of form with a 4-1 win over relegation threatened Boreham Wood in the National League.
Appiah-Forson, who played 90 minutes, saw his side race into a four-goal lead inside 45 minutes. Josh Rees netted a quick-fire double before Ryan Hill added a third with a well-taken finish.
Inih Effiong sealed the points for the Daggers on the stroke of half-time with a stunning free-kick, while Kabongo Tshimanga’s instant reply for the hosts proved to be a mere consolation.
On Easter Monday it was frustration for Appiah-Forson and his teammates as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ebbsfleet United at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Rees struck his 16th goal of the season on 78 minutes which appeared to have sealed victory for Dagenham, though Billy Clifford’s header in the fifth minute of stoppage time rescued a point for Ebbsfleet.
Into the EFL, and League One, it was a winless weekend for Freddie Potts and Gideon Kodua at Wycombe Wanderers.
Potts featured for 90 minutes as the Chairboys fell to defeat at the hands of third-tier leaders Portsmouth, who won 3-1 to edge closer to Championship promotion.
Colby Bishop put the visitors ahead after just three minutes when his deflected shot looped over goalkeeper Franco Ravizzoli.
Pompey’s lead was short-lived, however, as the hosts drew level on seven minutes through Matt Butcher.
Bishop restored Portsmouth’s lead when he steered home from close range before Christian Saydee lashed home a third.
And just a couple of days later, Matt Bloomfield’s side earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw on the road at Blackpool.
Both Potts and Kodua featured from the bench for Wycombe, who had goalkeeper Ravizzoli to thank for an array of top saves.
Flynn Downes featured for 90 minutes on both Friday and Monday as Southampton’s EFL Championship automatic promotion hopes suffered a massive blow, as the Saints dropped points in stoppage time against Middlesbrough and Ipswich respectively.
Adam Armstrong’s first-half strike was cancelled out by a 90th-minute equaliser from Emmanuel Latte Lath on Friday, as Michael Carrick’s men grabbed a point at St Mary's.
And on Monday it was yet more disappointment for Downes and his teammates. After Leif Davis’ powerful strike gave the Tractor Boys an early lead, goals from Che Adams and Adam Armstrong completed the turnaround after 23 minutes.
Nathan Broadhead restored parity on 68 minutes and, after James Bree was sent off with five minutes left, Jeremy Sarmiento’s goal at the death sealed an important 3-2 win for promotion-chasing Ipswich.
Dan Chesters was involved for 18 minutes from the bench on Friday as Salford City fell to a disappointing home defeat to relegation-threatened Sutton United in EFL League Two.
Sutton took the lead through Olly Sanderson in first-half stoppage time, though it was cancelled out on 50 minutes through Ryan Watson’s strike.
However, Sanderson drilled home his second after 63 minutes and, after Chesters’ introduction, the Ammies were unable to capitalise on their late onslaught and find an equaliser.
Chester was an unused substitute as Salford were defeated 2-1 at Walsall on Monday.
It’s been a busy week for West Ham United loanee Mason Terry, who has played three games inside the last seven days for Isthmian League Premier Division side Concord Rangers, though they have all ended in defeat.
Terry was outstanding as his side fell to a late defeat to high-flying Hornchurch last week, making a whole host of outrageous saves.
And it was yet more late heartbreak on Friday as they suffered another stoppage-time defeat at home to Carshalton, while on Monday it was a 2-0 defeat to Billericay.
Concord remain bottom of the standings by a wide margin and appear to need a miracle to avoid relegation.
There was one game for our international loanees over the weekend as Krisztian Hegyi and FC Den Bosch were on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline against fourth-placed Eerste Division side Dordrecht.
