DAGGERS’ RECORD IS FINISHED BY STONES
DARYL McMahon praised the character of his table-topping Dagenham & Redbridge side as they came from behind twice to claim a share of the spoils against Wealdstone.
Josh Umerah and Dennon Lewis netted either side of a Paul McCallum leveller before George Saunders’ strike denied the Stones their first win of the campaign.
McMahon was pleased to see the Daggers maintain their unbeaten start to the season having taken maximum points before this stalemate at the Chigwell Construction Stadium, but he was disappointed with the goals conceded.
He told The NLP: “We made a few errors which hadn’t previously happened because we’ve been strong and resolute defensively so far this season.
“We conceded two poor goals and, if I’m being honest, their goalkeeper was a little bit more busy than ours.
“There were too many transitions and we have been a team that has controlled games so far this season. I thought we lost a bit of our quality in the last 20 minutes and made it a bit too open.
“We have character in abundance and a lot of belief, though.”
The Daggers would have taken the lead inside six minutes were it not for a stunning save from George Wickens. McCallum found Myles Weston galloping down the right-hand side and he looked to catch Wickens off his line, but the goalkeeper brilliantly clawed the effort away.
That save proved crucial as the Stones took the lead moments later, with Umerah getting in behind the hosts’ backline and stabbing the ball beyond Elliot Justham.
Dagenham went in search of a response and Matt Robinson stung the palms of Wickens from long range.
However, the Daggers deservedly drew level ten minutes before the break. Wealdstone failed to clear a Weston cross and, although Robinson saw a goalbound effort blocked, McCallum was on hand to fire home his third goal of the campaign.
The in-form hosts continued to create the better chances and Wickens made a diving save to deny Robinson.
But an inspired substitution from Wealdstone boss Stuart Maynard resulted in the visitors restoring their lead as, just two minutes after coming off the bench, Lewis found the back of the net from close range.
However, the Daggers hit back quickly a substitute of their own, Saunders, ghosted into the penalty area and calmly slotted a dangerous Weston cross home.
“I think it was a fair point in the end,” Wealdstone boss Stuart Maynard said. “Both teams probably could have gone and won it because it was a bit of a basketball game in the end but we gave a good account of ourselves.”