Game 9 – Daggers 1-1 Rotherham

Well away games may be a problem for me this season so I will probably be sticking to a majority of home game reports.

The Daggers went into this game with their opponents needing only one more victory to take them to 0 points after a -15 deduction. The Daggers had just come off the back of their 2nd successive away league defeat and needing a positive result to consolidate their good start to the season.

The game began with Dagenham struggling to cope with Rotherham’s 4-3-3 formation. The visitors had several early opportunities to score but mixture of bad finishing and goal disallowed for offside meant the Daggers were still level. The home side had a few chances of their own but none of which really troubled veteran keeper Andy Warrington.

The Millers best chance of the first half arrived when Danny Harrison run through on goal only to hit his shot past the post. Dagenham nearly took an undeserved lead just before half time as a cross shot from Sam Saunders nearly found the bottom corner only for Warrington to superbly tip wide.

The Daggers came out fighting in the second period and punished Rotherham for their woeful first half finishing. In the 49th minute Paul Benson run through wide but hit a tremoundous right footed volley past the outstretched keeper into the far corner. At this point the home side has the momentum and Solomon Taiwo nearly doubled the lead with another volley which Warrington managed to tip away.

As the match progressed it didn’t seem as if Rotherham were going to find their way through. However, a harmless bouncing ball between defender and goalkeeper saw a mix up in communications between Magnus Okunghae and Tony Roberts allowing Marc Burchill to nip in a prod home for the equaliser.

The goal sealed a point for Rotherham who, after having the better of the first half, probably just about deserved a point. Before the game, The Daggers would definitely have taken a point but the manner in which it came about will be desperately disappointing.

Anyway, onwards and upwards and let’s hope the boys can make up for it away to Rochdale on Saturday!