DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE 1

FOREST GREEN 1

FOREST GREEN have a slim play-off advantage after a turgid promotion semi-final first leg ended all-square in Essex.

Mark Cooper’s Forest Green side nosed in front when captain Liam Noble scored a 29th-minute penalty, but Jordan Maguire-Drew levelled things up to leave the tie all to play for in the return leg at The New Lawn on Sunday.

Earlier, Cooper welcomed back top scorer Christian Doidge, Kaiyne Woolery and Charlie Cooper into the starting line-up. Keanu Marsh-Brown dropped to the bench.

Marcus Kelly, Sam Wedgbury and Fabien Robert missed out, but key defender Ethan Pinnock returned from a long-term knee injury to take his place on the subs bench.

In a high-octane opening it was Dagenham, who opened on the front-foot – Brighton loanee Jordan Maguire-Drew forcing Sam Russell into a plunging save after Omar Bugiel sold Dan Whishart short.

Rovers were pinned back. Former Swindon Town striker Paul Benson fizzing a shot into the relieved Russell from an astute Maguire-Drew assist.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Woolery watched his shot ping wide of the post as Rovers looked to break free from Dagenham’s vigorous start.

For all of Dagenham’s dominance, it was Rovers who took the lead against the proverbial run of play. Bugiel’s driving run through the middle was ended in the box by Mark Cousins outstretched arm and Noble kept his cool to send him the wrong way from the spot.

Shell-shocked Dagenham looked wounded – Fejiri Okenabirthie going into the book for a nibble on Cooper.

Rovers would have been delighted to have gone into the break with their noses in front, but they pressed the self-destruct button in first-half stoppage-time. Wishart was caught cold under a high ball and Maguire-Drew nipped in to fizz beyond an exposed Russell from a clever Benson prod.

Dagenham’s tails were up, but it was Rovers who forced the early second-half pressure from two Noble corners.

Dagenham responded, but man mountain Manny Monthe was a solid rock.

TV viewing would have seen armchair fans reach for the remote as both teams struggled to play cohesive on an unforgiving surface.

Cooper made a change on 67 minutes, Shamir Mullings replacing Bugiel. Pinnock followed, Drissa Traore making way.

Chances were scant, but Okenabirhie should have nosed Dagenham ahead with 15 minutes to go, but he contrived to pull his shot wide – his last slice of action as he made his way to the dugout.

An off-colour Noble made way for maverick Marsh-Brown and he was quickly into his stride as he rolled in Doidge, who was blocked by the impressive Andre Boucaud.

As the game moved into the final minute – Dagenham’s Corey Whitely failed to get a clean connection inside the box.

With five minutes of stoppage-time, Mullings, who impressed in his cameo off the bench, picked up a yellow for a kick out at Boucaud .

Rovers left to warm applause from a healthy away contingent. A place at Wembley awaits the winners on Sunday.

Forest Green: ( 4-2-3-1) Russell 7, Bennett 6, Ellis 6, Monthe 7, Wishart 6; Cooper 6, Traroe 6 (Pinnock 71, 7); Noble 6 ( Marsh-Brown 78, 6) , Bugiel 6 (Mullings 67, 7), Woolery 6; Doidge 6.

Attendance: 2,208.

Away fans: 224.

Star Man: Manny Monthe.