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Match Reports

Town 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 1

2 March 2019

A very late strike from Conor Wilkinson meant Harrogate Town and Dagenham and Redbridge shared the points at The CNG Stadium.

Callum Howe pulled off an impressive finish in the 55th minute to grab his eighth goal of the season and his first since Boxing Day, but it wasn't enough for Simon Weaver's men to win all three points.

Weaver had named an unchanged XI from the side that travelled to Chesterfield and brought back three points, lifting Town back into the play off places last weekend.

Peter Taylor's side arrived at The CNG Stadium having had an indifferent season, not where they'd currently like to be in table, but had picked up an impressive victory against Sutton United last weekend and were looking to complete the double over Town for the season.

The Daggers produced the first meaningful attack of the game in the 4th minute, Wilkinson and Tomi Adeloye linking up well to allow Wilkinson through, but his effort was blocked by the home defence.

Moments later it was Town's turn to have a go at goal, George Thomson's low cross fell nicely for Mark Beck, but the ball was scrambled away quickly by the Dagenham defence.

Town were looking the more dangerous of the two sides, Jack Emmett letting fly in the 11th minute from just outside the area, which fizzed past the post due to a deflection.

Town weren't ruing their missed opportunities and continued to pressure the Daggers defence, Beck guiding Fallowfield's cross towards goal, but the visiting stopper Elliot Justham managed to gather well; the afternoons first shot on target.

Harrogate were passing the ball around very efficiently in the opening 20 minutes of the game, playing a variety of short and long passes to stretch the visiting defence with Captain Josh Falkingham pulling off several impressive passes.

Dagenham played a patient game and just after the half hour mark, they looked like they were growing into the fixture, the front pairing of McQueen and Wilkinson looking lively.

In the 33rd minute Town very nearly took the lead, Emmett jumped on a loose ball on the by-line and crossed into a busy Dagenham penalty area, but the ball didn't fall favourably for a teammate in yellow and black, allowing the Daggers defence to clear.

Five minutes before the break Jack Muldoon very nearly opened the scoring for the afternoon with an impressive effort.

The Marksmen striked a low effort from outside the box but smashed the post. 

Town were slowly growing in confidence and it showed, in the 42nd Emmett let fly from around 30 yards and just skimmed the crossbar, inches away from being a stunning effort.

Despite a goalless first half, potential for goals in the second half was high, with Town scoring 64% of their goals this season in the second half.

The first big chance of the second half fell to Town, Fallowfield picked out Muldoon in the box but his header was blocked by Manny Onariase.

It would be Town who broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when visiting keeper Justham parried Muldoons effort allowing Howe to jump on the rebound and pull off a striker like finish to find the bottom corner; the centre back's eigthth goal of the season.

In the 62nd minute, Muldoon looked like he wanted to get in on the action, Town's top goal scoring showed great pace and strength to beat his marker before curling his effort just over.

IWith 15 minutes to go there was another chance for Muldoon to double the home sides lead, after a lovely weaving run from Emmett, leaving 3 or 4 players in his wake, he then played through Muldoon who unfortunately couldn't get a clean strike on the ball.

It would be a tense finale at The CNG Stadium and it payed off for the Daggers, substitute Olly Harfield's left wing cross found its way through to Wilkison who slotted home and secured his side a point in the second minute of added time.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Fallowfield, Falkingham, Howe, Burrell, Thomson, Emmett, Beck, Langmead, Kerry (Mottley-Henry '80), Muldoon (Williams '86)

Subs: Cracknell, Kitching, Woods

Booked: Muldoon

Goals: Howe ‘55

Dagenham and Redbridge: Justham, Gordon, Robinson, McQueen, Clark, Goodliffe, Wilkinson, Adeloye (Kandi '70), Loft (Wright '80), Munn (Harfield '70), Onariase

Subs not used: Moore, Smith

Booked: Loft, Clarke

Goals: Wilkinson 90+2

Referee: S Lucas

Attendance: 1262

Report by Isaac Martin


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