It’s a Rom do
Reporter: CHRIS LYNHAM
Date published: 07 February 2011
Athletic 1, Dagenham 1
Lapse allows Daggers to strike back
ATHLETIC stuttered to a draw with Dagenham and Redbridge at Boundary Park as their play-off push suffered a surprise setback.
There was a touch of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ about this display following the 4-0 demolition of Hartlepool four days earlier as the visitors, who came into the game seven points adrift of safety in npower League One, stifled Paul Dickov’s side for long periods.
John Still’s men, known for their direct approach, stuck five across midfield to keep Athletic’s free-flowing football down to a minimum, and the natives were edgy until the 51st minute, when Dale Stephens rifled home from 14 yards.
But a sucker-punch 17 minutes from the end earned the Daggers a point as Athletic switched off from a throw-in and top scorer Romain Vincelot converted from close range.
Dickov, whose side slipped a place to sixth in the table, kept faith with the side which saw off Hartlepool.
It wasn’t hard to see the contrast in the two teams when they strode out for the start of proceedings.
Athletic, not the tallest of sides but snappy passers of the ball, were to face at least eight players well over six feet tall, who were obviously not selected for their nimble footwork.
But the fact is, for the first 45 minutes and for extended spells in the second half, the tactic worked, as the hosts hit numerous brick walls in their attempts to unlock a defence well marshalled by centre-backs Mark Arber and Scott Doe.
Damian Scannell’s high cross from the left after two minutes was a statement of intent. The ball was sent right down the throat of Ben Amos, but the on-loan Manchester United goalkeeper punched it away convincingly.
Dean Furman looked lively from the outset despite being surrounded in a crammed midfield. His long-range drive early on could have tested visiting stopper Tony Roberts, only for the ball to spin off Vincelot and out for a corner.
The away side were almost given a taste of their own medicine after a quarter-of-an-hour.
Stephens’ free-kick from 50 yards landed perfectly on the head of Neal Trotman on the edge of
the six-yard box, but no one was close enough to capitalise on the defender’s well-placed knockdown.
Chris Taylor, so often the heartbeat of the team this term, tried to get things ticking after 20 testing minutes.
Picking the ball up on the left, he carried it 20 yards before feeding Filipe Morais. The Portuguese pulled the trigger, but Doe took the sting out of the strike. The moment at least got the crowd going.
Fast forward two minutes and Morais was in the thick of it again, this time heading Aidan White’s right-wing delivery inches wide of the post.
Taylor failed to make the most of a similar chance. Oumare Tounkara burst down the left channel and picked out the wide man, whose header spun over the bar.
Daggers forward Marvin Morgan was the man Dickov identified as their dangerman and it is easy to understand why.
Despite filling the unenviable role of lone striker, the 6ft 4in powerhouse was a constant thorn in the side of Trotman and skipper Reuben Hazell.
A minute before the break he threatened to break the deadlock. He cut inside and prepared to unleash his shot when Hazell nipped in with an impeccable challenge.
And just before the whistle Scannell released Morgan, only for the Aldershot loanee to miss the target.
There were no changes at the interval as Still stuck to his five-man midfield.
Cedric Evina, more subdued in this encounter after his fine display in the previous match, whipped in a cross for Taylor at the near post, but Doe headed away with Tounkara also breathing down his neck.
But 60 seconds later Stephens got the coveted opener. Tireless Taylor cut inside and rolled the ball nicely into the path of the midfield maestro, who struck his ninth goal of the season with a first-time fizzer.
Had Athletic converted any of the opportunities which came their way in the 15 minutes that followed, three points would have been safely in the bag.
Tounkara and Morais swapped passes before teeing up Taylor, whose 10-yard effort was stopped with the outstretched foot of Roberts.
Kieran Lee’s sublime floater fell to White, who checked back and fed Morais. On another day the roaming forward’s powerful volley would have flown into the net, but Roberts proved his worth once more by beating it away.
And Doe headed Tounkara’s cross into the path of Stephens, an expectant home contingent prepared for another scorching strike — but this time it missed by some margin.
If ever the next goal was crucial this was it, and as the hour mark came and went, the jitters were palpable, such is Athletic’s knack to surrender a lead.
Reuben Reid replaced White and a matter of seconds later, Amos was picking the ball out of the net.
Abu Ogogo’s right-wing throw bounced past a handful of flat-footed defenders and Vincelot nodded home the easiest chance he will get all season from close range.
Athletic piled forwards in search of a winner, but the visitors did a good job of shutting up shop.
And the big remaining moment did not go in Athletic’s favour. Oluwafemi Ilesanmi appeared to tug back Reid as the striker tried to get his shot away. When he eventually did, the ball flew past the post. Cue protests from players, management and supporters alike in the direction of referee Steve Rushton.
In a game of no yellow cards it was strange to see a straight red deep into injury time, but Rushton had little choice when Gain thundered in to Tounkara at knee height long after the ball had gone.
Latics’ next game— Saturday (v Huddersfield, away, npower League One)
