Dagenham 1 Morecambe 1

Last updated : 12 October 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Dagenham & Redbridge earned themselves a point today through a spirited second half performance, which should leave them feeling more confident than in recent weeks.

Morecambe will be relieved that they escaped with a point after the second half but it was a different story in the first period as they took advantage of a poor Daggers' display.

David McKearney's long free kick caught Daggers cold after 14 minutes as Gary Thompson raced down the right and cut the ball back for Adriano Rigoglioso to score a simple tap in.

It could have been a lot worse for the home side as Thompson had earlier missed a good chance and then missed another five minutes before the break from point blank range, after Wayne Curtis had come close just seconds earlier.

The home side's best moment came when Steve West's header was tipped over by keeper Craig Mawson and then new loan signing Gary Fletcher looked to have tapped home the equaliser but was adjudged off side.

But the second half saw a revitalised Daggers performance as some of their old confidence returned.

Steve West missed a number of chances early in the second half, but he was a prominent, bustling figure who deserved his eventual equalising goal 14 minutes from time, when loan signing Paul Mayo crossed from the left and West thundered home a header.

The home side could have and should have won it with a series of missed opportunities. The impressive Fletcher came close as did late substitute Junior McDougald.

But it was a relieved Dagenham manager Garry Hill at the end as he watched his side put on their most positive display for sometime, but he also admitted that he was frustrated at not taking all three points despite Morecambe's lofty League position