Goals from Ashley Hemmings and Matt McClure see Dagenham progress

Captain Ashley Hemmings gave the Daggers the lead after 20 minutes, firing into the top corner as the ball fell into his path following a pass across the edge of the box.

The lead was doubled seven minutes later when Kane Ferdinand's shot hit team-mate Matt McClure and was diverted home by the striker.

Their advantage could have been more than two at the interval, with Jeff Hughes producing a fine goal-line clearance to deny Clevid Dikamona's header, after Sam Beasant had saved well from Christian Doidge's close-range effort when the score was goalless.

Cambridge's best chance came seven minutes into the second period when Gearoid Morrissey saw his powerful drive tipped over by Liam O'Brien, while Jacob Blyth flicked a header wide from debutant Mickey Demetriou's cross.

McClure thought he had netted a second from Ashley Chambers' pass but it was ruled out for offside, while Beasant's fine stop denied Zavon Hines a late third.