Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Stafford Rangers 1
Nationwide Conference
At: Glyn Hopkins Stadium, Victoria Road
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Attendance: 1,710
Weather: -
Stafford Rangers earned a vital point against the runaway leaders with an 89th minute equaliser from David McNiven.
The strike cancelled a goal scored by substitute Chris Moore just after the hour mark which looked like being sufficient for the Daggers.
And Phil Robinson was quick thanks the group of around 50 fans who made the long midweek journey to Essex. “The support was incredible,” said the appreciate manager. “They came down on a Tuesday night having taken an afternoon off work. The fans were a massive help and played a bit part in what we achieved.”
Robinson made three changes and saw his side put in a determined and hardworking performance against a side employing ‘route one’ tactics from start to finish.
Defender Craig McAughtrie went close to breaking the deadlock just after the quarter hour mark when Dave Rainsford fouled Guy Madjo just outside the area. He bent a 25-yard free kick around the wall and saw the ball miss the right-hand post by inches.
Jon Boardman went close for the Daggers on the half hour, firing wide of the right-hand post from 20 yards out. Full back Danny Foster got forward and drove across the face of the Stafford goal.
Rangers stayed on level terms thanks to young keeper Robert Duggan. The 19-year-old pulled off an outstanding save to acrobatically push over a dipping shot from Scott Griffiths.
As the interval approached, Guy Madjo went on a bustling run past a couple of defenders, created space for a shot and fired wide. Keeper Tony Roberts gathered up another effort by McNiven following a poor clearance by Boardman.
Duggan raced off his line at the start of the second half to clear a long ball from Sam Saunders which Paul Benson chased.
Home keeper Roberts held a long-range effort from Ged Murphy as Stafford also looked for a breakthrough.
Dagenham, who went into the game 10 points clear at the top on a run of four straight wins, made a double change on the hour mark and the two fresh faces combined inside the area to give the home side a 63rd minute lead.
From Sam Saunders’ free kick delivered into a populated area, Moore turned in fellow sub Jamie Taylor’s initial shot from a couple of yards out.
Stafford never allowed their heads to drop after going behind and stuck to their task of getting something from this difficult game.
Duggan and McAughtrie both did well to prevent Dagenham extending their lead. The keeper saved at the near post from Moore while McAughtrie bravely got his head in the way of a goalbound effort from Glen Southam.
It wasn’t all one way and Guy Madjo forced a smart save out of Roberts.
With time running out, Neil Grayson knocked down a free kick delivered forward by Richie Sutton into the Daggers area. Craig Lovatt did well to set up McNiven who ended up volleying the ball home to earn a vital point.
Rangers moved up to 18th position in the table while Dagenham’s lead at the top was cut to eight points with Oxford winning at Southport.
Dagenham & Redbridge (red/white/red): Tony Roberts, Danny Foster, Anwar Uddin (capt), Jon Boardman, Scott Griffiths, Sam Saunders, Glen Southam, Dave Rainford, Sam Sloma, Paul Benson, Ben Strevens. Subs: Chris Moore (for Strevens, 61), Jamie Taylor (for Sloma, 61), Nicky Eyre, Jon Wallis, James Lawson.
Stafford Rangers (black and white stripes/black/black): Robert Duggan, Richie Sutton, Wayne Daniel (capt), Craig McAughtrie, Liam Murray, Nathan Talbott, Ged Murphy, Craig Lovatt, Anthony Griffith, Guy Madjo, David McNiven. Subs: Neil Grayson (for Talbott, 74), Levi Reid (for Murphy, 83), Robin Gibson, Danny Edwards, Alex Gibson.
Referee: G. Lewis (Cambridgeshire).
Attendance: 1,710.
