DAGENHAM and Redbridge hearts were broken as Shrewsbury Town stole the final League Two play-off place with a thrilling 2-1 victory at Victoria Road.

First half goals from Chris Humphrey and Grant Holt proved to be enough, and despite Paul Benson's early header after the interval, Town held on to deny the Daggers a chance to compete for a place in the third tier of English football.

The Daggers' form player, Sam Saunders had an early chance to take his tally for the season to 15,. but he nodded Matt Ritchie's deep cross narrowly over the bar.

The home side had begun well, and if pace was amongst Benson's cabinet of attributes, they surely would have taken the lead, as he looked to race onto Scott Griffiths ball over the top. But the striker was forced to check his run, and the chance had gone, as his marker got back at him.

Shrewsbury should have taken the lead on 17 minutes, after the impressive Humphrey weaved this way and that to earn himself half a yard against Griffith. His fizzing low cross left Nick Chadwick with the simplest task of tapping in from two yards, but his tame effort was brilliantly saved by the sprawling Tony Roberts.

They were ahead just a minute later, however, as Humphrey got the better of Griffiths again, and his whipped ball in was headed in by the unmarked Holt.

Dagenham were enjoying more of the ball, but the visitors were proving masters of efficiency, as their next chance yielded another goal.

Holt's ball over the defence caught Griffiths napping, as the right back found himself the wrong side of Humphrey, and the lively winger was able to dink the ball over the advancing Roberts for a commanding lead.

It was all Daggers after that, as they surged forward in droves in search of a goal to reignite their fading play-off chances.

Saunders' clever movement inside the box following a Ritchie corner saw him gain some extra space, but he couldn't adjust himself in time and he could only nudge the ball wide.

While the two goal lead certainly favoured the away side at the halfway mark, their approach to the game after the break mirrored a team lacking severely in confidence.

John Still had clearly instructed his troops to go for the jugular, and they were rewarded with their attacking intent when Benson hauled them back into the game.

Peter Gain, a calming influence, yet a colossal presence in the heart of midfield, drew several challenges, creating space for on-loan winger Ritchie to deliver a devilish ball to the back post, and Benson rose highest to nod his side within one.

The equation was simple: One goal in 37 minutes.

Benson saw a snap shot slam against the upright, while Ben Strevens saw his follow-up shot excellently saved by Luke Daniels.

Dagenham crashed wave after wave down upon Shrewsbury's wall of defence, but they couldn't find the killer blow.

Roberts then kept the home team in with a shout when he pulled off an excellent stop to deny Chadwick.

The tension in the stadium was almost unbearable as the Daggers launched ball after ball into the box, but Town resisted, and booked their place in the end of season play-offs.

Shrewsbury fans flooded the pitch to congratulate their players, a sharp contrast to the dejected bodies of the home players The scene turned sour when a group of supporters congregated on the pitch in front of the dugouts to taunt the Dagenham fans, shouting vile abuse and making obscene gestures.

Despite the disappointment, many fans stayed to applaud their heroes after a season that defied expectations from the start to the bitter end.