Daggers are held to a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town

COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO

Cheltenham Town 1 Daggers 1

by MIKE SIMMONDS

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE survived a second half onslaught from Cheltenham Town to emerge with a point from their clash at Whaddon Road.

Daggers had taken the lead just minutes into the restart, with leading scorer Paul Benson turning on a sixpence to bury the ball into the top corner.

He could have had another, but blasted over from close range, and the hosts then mounted their fightback.

Veteran goalkeeper Tony Roberts made two fine saves from Barry Hayles and Josh Low, while the defence was in outstanding form, but they were finally broken when Michael Townsend rose to nod home with 10 minutes remaining.

The hosts kept attacking, but Daggers almost won it in the closing stages, only for Peter Gain to fire wide from a tight angle.

In the first half, Daggers had their moments, as Benson fired over from close range, while he also had a header just wide.

The Robins had the more clear-cut opportunities though, with Roberts tipping Drissa Diallo’s header round the post and then produced an even better stop to block from Frankie Artus.

Daggers: Tony Roberts, Scott Doe, Scott Griffiths, Mark Arber, Will Antwi, Danny Green (Graeme Montgomery 79), Stuart Thurgood, Peter Gain, Jon Nurse, Paul Benson, Josh Scott.

Subs not used: Chris Lewington, Alex Bentley, Tom Kilbey, Billy Bingham, Abu Ogogo, Wes Thomas.

Cheltenham Town: Scott Brown, David Bird, Lee Ridley, Michael Townsend, Drissa Diallo, Andy Gallinagh (Marley Watkins 63), Justin Richards (David Hutton 60), Kyle Haynes (Josh Low 79), Frankie Artus, Barry Hayles, Julian Alsop.

Subs not used: Jack Durrant, Theo Lewis, Sam Cox, Barry Richardson.

For a full report - see Wednesday's Dagenham Post.