Dagenham & Redbridge 4 Solihull Moors 4: Daggers battle back for a share of the spoils

Harry White of Solihull Moors is congratulated after scoring the opening goal at Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

National League: Dagenham & Redbridge 4 (Doe 34, Hyde 41, Hawkins 83, Whitely 85) Solihull Moors 4 (White 3, Sterling 19, 49, Byrne 25)

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Scott Doe celebrates scoring the first Dagenham & Redbridge goal against Solihull Moors (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Scott Doe celebrates scoring the first Dagenham & Redbridge goal against Solihull Moors (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

Dagenham & Redbridge showed tremendous fighting spirit to battle back and take a point against Solihull Moors after an eight-goal thriller in the National League.

A bonkers first half looked to see Daggers’ hopes of victory all but over inside 25 minutes, but two late goals handed them some optimism heading into the second period.

A goal early in the second half for Moors appeared to be fatal again, but two more late goals from Daggers ensured a share of the spoils

Daggers boss John Still made four changes for the visit of Solihull after last weekend’s shock FA Trophy loss to Worthing.

Tyrique Hyde scores the second Dagenham & Redbridge goal against Solihull Moors (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Tyrique Hyde scores the second Dagenham & Redbridge goal against Solihull Moors (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

As expected, Elliot Justham, Oliver Hawkins and Luke Guttridge all came in at the expense of Mark Cousins, Paul Benson and Chris Assombalonga respectively.

There was one surprise, though, with a first league start for Tyrique Hyde, who came in for Magnus Okuonghae.

It was a change that led to a reshuffle at the back, with Hyde in midfield, Frankie Raymond at left-back, Joe Widdowson on the right and Josh Staunton in the middle.

Daggers, keen to end their poor run of home form, endured the worst possible start as they fell behind in just the third minute.

With no defenders pressing, Solihull striker Harry White was almost invited to strike from the edge of area and his shot found a way past Justham and into the right corner of the net.

Two minutes later, the Essex club came close to equalising when Corey Whitely’s cross from the right found Hawkins in the box, but the striker’s header was poor and well wide of the target.

Daggers fell further behind in the 19th minute as Moors took full advantage of a lack of pressing to score a second long-range goal.

Omari Sterling was this time the beneficiary for Solihull, powerfully netting into the top right corner from 25 yards under very little pressure.

It went from bad to worse just six minutes later as Jack Byrne found the net for Moors.

George Carline’s cross from the right initially found White in the box, but when his shot was parried, Byrne was on hand to slam in the rebound from close range.

With 11 minutes left in the half, though, Daggers were given a lifeline after being awarded a free-kick on a dangerous area after Carline tripped Widdowson.

Jordan Maguire-Drew delivered the free-kick in, which was deep and to the far post.

Hawkins was present to nod the ball back across goal before skipper Scott Doe turned it in on the line for the first goal of his second spell with the club.

With their tails up, the Victoria Road side pressed on in search of another, with Hyde having a shot narrowly deflected over the bar four minutes later.

Hyde did find the net with four minutes remaining in the half to grab his first goal for Daggers.

The ball had made its way to Hawkins in the box, who laid it for the 17-year-old to calmly slot the ball past Solihull stopper Daniel Lewis.

Daggers perhaps could have been level by the break as Hawkins headed at goal in stoppage time, but it was comfortable for Lewis as Solihull led at the break.

Less than four minutes into the second half, Daggers conceded again after White held the ball up just inside the attacking half before laying it off to Sterling.

The pace of the Moors forward took him through one-on-one with Justham, but Sterling showed good composure to round the keeper before slotting home.

With 30 minutes remaining, a quick counter-attacker almost offered Daggers a route back into the match, with Maguire-Drew slipping the ball to Whitely on the edge of the area.

From there, the former Enfield Town forward shot powerfully, drawing a good save from Lewis.

With seven minutes remaining, Hawkins gave the home fans hope once more with Daggers’ third of the afternoon.

A free-kick in from the left by Whitely was dropped by Lewis, and the ex-Hemel Hempstead Town man was all too happy to tap in from close range.

Just two minutes later, Daggers were level for the first time since the third minute after good interplay between Guttridge and Whitely.

The former slipped to ball into the latter with a neat backheel, and Whitely smashed home the equaliser from close range.

There was to be no late winner for Daggers, though, who will hope for a more straightforward match at Braintree Town on Boxing Day.

Daggers (4-2-3-1): Justham; Widdowson, Doe, Staunton, Raymond; Boucaud, Hyde (Heard 74); Whitely, Guttridge, Maguire-Drew (Benson 71); Hawkins

Subs: Cousins, Okuonghae, White

Solihull (3-5-2): Lewis; Nortey, Daly, Kettle; Murombedzi, Carline, Byrne, Maye, Franklin; Sterling (Jones 84), White (Asante 89)

Subs: Acton, Fagbola, Obeng

Attendance: 1,112 (including 69 Solihull fans)

Referee: Neil Hair