BATTLING COASTERS PEG BACK DAGGERS
AFC FYLDE rallied back to earn a point against Dagenham & Redbridge as both sides battled against the elements in an intruguing pre-Christmas affair.
Inih Effiong gave Dagenham the lead going into the break, tapping into an empty net at the back post.
But the Coasters fought back to earn a share of the spoils thanks to a brilliant solo run and cross from Connor Barrett, which forced Harry Phipps into an own goal.
It was a welcome tonic for Coasters caretaker chief Chris
Beech who this week was appointed head coach until the end of the season having taken over from Adam Murray in October.
“When we play with that zest, as we did in that second half, and again towards the end of the game, we look good,” said the boss, whose side climbed off the bottom of the table.
“We probably could have taken all three points.
“Their goal was late in the first half, and when things go against you, there’s no multi-ball or anything like, as an away team, they like that.”
On a windy afternoon on the Fylde Coast, both sides looked to grab a foothold in the game with Dan Adshead firing well over from the edge of the box for Fylde before Dagenham’s Sam Ling sent an effort wide of the mark down the other end.
That was before Luke Charman had a golden opportunity to put the Coasters in front after Kieran Glynn drifted past several Dagenham shirts to clip a through ball to the number nine, but keeper
Elliot Justham was out quick to thwart his shot.
However, it was the visitors who carved out the game’s best chance early on when Conor Lawless squared to Ling inside the six-yard box, he dropped a shoulder, and with only Theo Richardson to beat, somehow scuffed his shot over the bar.
With just five minutes to go until the break, Dagenham made their next chance count. When the Coasters couldn’t clear a set piece fully, and a low cross eventually evaded everyone to work its way to the back post, Effiong was waiting to tap into an empty net.
It wasn’t a thriller, to say the least, but as Fylde searched for an equaliser, they did at least show attacking intent.
Adshead sent a pot-shot wide of the mark before they finally got their reward 14 minutes from time.
Barrett’s fine solo run resulted in a zipped cross into the six-yard box, where centre-half Phipps could only turn the ball into his own net.
But Fylde went mightily close to bagging all three points right at the death when Luke Charman whipped a delicious ball into the danger zone for substitute Taelor O’Kane, whose glancing header looked to have dropped into the bottom corner but just fell the wrong side of the post.