INIH JUST A STAR! SPOT ON SAM IS THE SAVIOUR

A LAST-GASP penalty save from Sam Johnson allowed FC Halifax Town to walk away from Dagenham & Redbridge with a share of the spoils.

The Daggers were handed a golden opportunity to climb into the top 10 when referee Elliot Swallow pointed to the spot after Festus Arthur handled, but Inih Effiong was denied from 12 yards.

Halifax boss Chris Millington, who was booked with less than 10 minutes to play after protestations from the touchline, felt defeat would have been unjust.

“I think a draw was the fair result, but Dagenham deserve some credit because they created the two clear-cut chances in the game,” He told The NLP.

“We’ve come on a long away trip with a threadbare squad, rejigged the shape to try and manage the minutes in players, so to come away with a draw and a clean sheet is pleasing.

“Sam was great and you feel confident on penalties. If he reads it and goes the right way, he generally gets something on it and it stays out.”

The opening exchanges of the encounter were bereft of chances, but Dagenham gradually grew in confidence and created some presentable openings.

After Effiong’s tame volley was comfortably gathered by Johnson, George Saunders fired high and wide from long range.

Jay Bird should have broken the deadlock five minutes before the break, only for his close range header to be well saved.

David Longe-King was inches away from opening the scoring moments later, but he was left with his head in his hands after failing to divert Saunders’ teasing corner home.

Halifax looked to become more of a threat in the second period and Jamie Cooke tested Elliot Justham with a 25-yard strike.

But they were indebted to Johnson soon after as, following a free-flowing move involving Effiong and Bird, the shot-stopper made a stunning save to deny Sam Ling.

While Justham did well to tip a ferocious Cooke strike over the crossbar late on, there was drama in the dying moments as Arthur handled a Dagenham corner.

Effiong stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Johnson dived to his left and comfortably held on to the effort.

Having also missed from 12 yards at Boreham Wood earlier this month, Daggers boss Ben Strevens hinted Effiong may not remain on penalty duties.

“I have always been of the opinion that if you miss one, you get the next one, but when it goes to two misses, I think that’s when there will be a conversation between players and I will speak to him about it as well,” Strevens said.

“I’ll have to look at the group and see who has a good penalty record.”