Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Macclesfield Town 1: Late equaliser costs Daggers victory over Silkmen

Fejiri Okenabirhie of Dagenham & Redbridge scores against Macclesfield Town (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

National League: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 (Okenabirhie 18) Macclesfield Town 1 (Holroyd 90)

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Matt Robinson of Dagenham & Redbridge and Jack Sampson of Macclesfield Town (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Matt Robinson of Dagenham & Redbridge and Jack Sampson of Macclesfield Town (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

Dagenham & Redbridge were denied a win over Macclesfield Town after the hosts conceded an equaliser in the final minute of the match.

Fejiri Okenabirhie had fired Daggers ahead in the first half, but was forced off with injury minutes later.

Regardless, the Essex club looked on course for a win until Chris Holroyd levelled things up in the final minute of normal time.

There was just one change to the Daggers squad following last weekend’s FA Cup win over Wealdstone, with Elliot Justham replacing Mark Cousins in goal.

Joe Widdowson of Dagenham & Redbridge and Danny Whittaker of Macclesfield Town (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Joe Widdowson of Dagenham & Redbridge and Danny Whittaker of Macclesfield Town (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

Alongside Cousins on the bench was new signing Shomari Barnwell after the attacker moved to Victoria Road from Ryman North side Bowers & Pitsea.

Both sides were slow to get going in Essex, but a slip from home defender Craig Robson nearly gifted the Silkmen the lead in the ninth minute.

Robson fell in the box, allowing Chris Holroyd to room to fire at goal from 10 yards, but the Macclesfield forward shot wide of the left post.

It Daggers 14 minutes to register their first shot of the match, but Corey Whitely fired high and wide from 25 yards after a mazy solo run.

When the game’s first effort on target from either team came, it resulted in a goal for Daggers four minutes later through Okenabirhie.

A long punt forward from Elliot Justham eventually found its way to Jordan Maguire-Drew on the right, who played it inside to Whitely.

The ex-Enfield Town forward then passed to Okenabirhie on the penalty spot, who calmly slotted home to score for the second game in a row.

Daggers should have doubled their lead in the 25th minute after Maguire-Drew showed good footwork to create room for a shot 10 yards out.

However, the on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion youngster’s low shot was saved by Ross before the Silkmen cleared.

The hosts suffered a blow with 12 minutes left in the half when Okenabirhie was forced off through injury after a nasty challenge from Macclesfield’s Paul Lewis.

Daggers recovered, though, and went close to a second in stoppage time at the end of the first half, but Whitely’s effort from the left corner of the box clipped the bar.

The Essex club took their lead into the break, but were indebted to Justham for maintaining it just seven minutes into the second half.

Justham brilliantly kept out a header from Macclesfield’s John McCombe following a free-kick, which allowed Daggers to counter, but Whitely fluffed his lines.

The Victoria Road outfit continued to press in search of a second, with Maguire-Drew fashioning room for a shot in the 63rd minute, but firing wide.

With nine minutes remaining, Frankie Raymond was next to have a chance to wrap things up, but put his right-footed effort over from close range.

Those misses proved costly as in the final minute of the match, Holroyd nodded in from close range.

Daggers will be hoping to bounce back on Tuesday when they host Aldershot Town.

Daggers: Justham; Widdowson, Doe, Robson (Staunton 67), Raymond; Boucaud, Robinson; Maguire-Drew (Barnewell 90+3), Whitely, Okenabirhie (Howell 33); Hawkins

Subs: Cousins, Hyde

Macclesfield: Ross; Halls, Pilkington, McCoombe, Fitzpatrick; Mackreth, Lewis, James, Whittaker (Sutherland 73); Holroyd, Sampson

Subs: Branagan, Byrne, Hancox, Roberts

Attendance: 1,214 (including 59 Macclesfield fans)