Honours even as Eastleigh play out a 1-1 draw against Dagenham and Redbridge

Despite Eastleigh’s best efforts, the Spitfires were unable to blow Dagenham away as the 1-1 draw continues both sides faultering start to the season.

Prior to kick-off, the Spitfires began the day languishing in the relegation zone, where goals were hard to come by. With the departure of the league’s top scorer last year, Paul McCallum, manager Ben Strevens faced a tough task to replace the 26 goal forward.

Throw into the equation winger Mark Yeates also left after delivering 26 assists for the club last time out, Eastleigh were always going to be battling against the tide the following season.

For Dagenham & Redbridge, they’d hardly fared any better. Losing three out of their last four matches, they were forced to look down rather than up, sat in 15th position.

With both sides making a stuttering start to their National League campaign, the clash at the Silverlake represented a vital fixture to spring their respective seasons into life.

In the 16th minute, the Daggers took the lead through a Joan Luque goal that put them ahead after a good start to the game.

The home side steadily began to grow into the game after the anxious set-back. The flanks were proving fruitful for either side as Spitfire full-back Michael Green whipped in an inch-perfect cross to the on-rushing Ben Williamson. Despite stretching every sinue of his body to latch onto the delivery, the ball went agonisingly wide of Elliott Justham’s goal.

Reece Grant also had a chance at the other end but could not direct his header on target from yet another cross in the first 45 minutes.

Referee Adrian Quelch blew for half-time and the hosts same issues were rearing their heads, much to the supporters frustration. With the London outfit happy to sit-back on their lead, Eastleigh were dominating the possession stats.

The half-time team talk appeared to have done the trick as Eastleigh seemed an entirely different beast compared to the first half. Strevens and his men were starting to suffocate the Daggers defensive resolve with Tyrone Barnett going in the back of the net to make the score level at 1-1.

Rob Atkinson had the notable chance for the Spitfires when a corner found it’s way towards the former Fulham player, who got the run on Dagenham’s man marking policy. Despite guiding his effort downards, it bounced a couple of inches past the post, much to the loud gasps of the 1600 Eastleigh spectators in attendance.i

In the 80th minute, it was a case of deja vu for Atkinson and Eastleigh who saw his strike cannon of the crossbar. Jack McKnight’s initial effort looked to be going wide but Atkinson managed to salvage the loose ball by directing a header goalwards. With the Daggers keeper Justham resigning himself to a by-stander, the shot hit the woodwork.

Moments later Barnett latched onto a ball over the top and attempted to dink Justham. Somehow the shotopper got his fingertips onto the effort, managing to put the ball over the cross bar and out for a corner; more frustration for the home side.

The final whistle blew and the Spitfires will feel they should have come away with more for their efforts. Although they huffed and puffed, they simply could not blow the defensive Dagenham house down.

Team Line-ups

Eastleigh (3-5-2): Stryjek; Partington, Atkinson, Boyce, Green, Smart (Baughan 87′); Payne, Hollands (c), Miley (McKnight 78′); Williamson (Rendell 81′), Barnett.

Substitutes Unused: Flitney, Bearwish.

Dagenham & Redbridge (4-2-3-1): Justham; Wright, Clark, Croll, Gordon (Graham 75′); Brundle, Phipps, McQueen; Balanta (Quigley 68′), Luque (Robinson 81′), Grant.

Substitutes Unused: Onarise, Dobson.

Referee: Adrian Quelch