Dagenham & Redbridge were forced to share the spoils at the Chigwell Construction Stadium after Conor Wilkinson had given the Daggers the lead, but a powerful Bernard Mensah header for the Shots meant the points were shared in a 1-1 draw.
Daggers manager Peter Taylor was left a disappointed, but rational figure after seeing his side pick up another point towards National League safety:
“There were good bits and some frustrating bits. It’s not a terrible thing to draw at home against them (Aldershot), but I think we can do better. I still thought in the second half that it was only us who was going to win the match.”
A Half Of Few Chances
After a slow start the Daggers created the first meaningful opportunity of the match in the 7th minute when Alexander McQueen was put through on goal by Jack Munns after a slick counter-attack, but some good last ditch defending saw the winger’s shot blocked.
Dagenham thought they found the opening goal in the 21st minute following a delightful team move.
Munns was played through by a brilliant ball from Nunn and the midfielder’s cross ricocheted dangerously towards goal off a Shots player, but it was adjudged to not have crossed the goal-line.
Aldershot hit back after the Daggers chance with Booty stinging the palms of Justham.
Chances were at a premium in the opening half an hour as the Daggers struggled to break through Aldershot’s stubborn midfield despite new signing Doug Loft’s constant presence on the ball.
However, the match remained level at the interval with the Daggers creating the game’s best chances.
Point Apiece
The Daggers finally broke the deadlock in the 49th minute, despite Aldershot’s strong start, as Wilkinson latched onto a long ball, flicked it past his marker and found the back of the net with a deflected strike from the edge of the box.
Wilkinson, who just last week signed an 18-month contract with the Daggers, has become the focal point and top scorer of Taylor’s side and the manager acknowledged the efforts of his star striker after the match: “He’s a handful when he gets it right and he’s done fantastically for us.”
The Wilkinson goal seemed to spark both teams into life as Elliot Justham was then called into action in the 51st minute, sensationally tipping over a Mensah volley.
Aldershot grew into the game after Wilkinson’s goal and were level in the 64th minute, when returning Lewis Kinsella was given time on the left wing and swung in a pin-point cross for Mensah, who made no mistake with his free header six yards out.
In the closing moments of the game Wilkinson tested Mannion after he powered a shot at goal from 30 yards, but he was well placed to catch his effort.
Wilkinson again went close in stoppage time, but his long-range effort looped over the bar as time ran out for the Daggers.
Despite a late barrage of attacks, the Daggers could not find the winner as second half goals from either side saw the points shared.
The draw means that the Daggers have now lost just three of their last 15 league matches, but Taylor is not getting ahead of himself as he continues to target National League safety:
“We haven’t got enough points yet to make sure that we are a National League team next year, so that’s the priority.
“People talk about 50 points, well if 50 points guarantees us safety then that’s the target I’m looking for.” Taylor added.
Line-Ups
Daggers: Justham, Nunn, Clark, Onariase, Smith, Loft, Robinson, Munns (Kandi 69’), McQeen, Reynolds (Gordon 77’), Wilkinson
Unused Subs: Moore, Goodliffe, Wright.
Aldershot: Mannion, Kinsella, McDonnell, Howell, Bernard, Lelan, Booty, Mensah (Wanadio 72’), McDonagh, Finney, Goddard (McClure 90)
Unused Subs: Gallagher, Bozier, McCoy.
Attendance: 1652 (332 away)
