AFC Fylde were held to a 1-1 draw against Dagenham & Redbridge in the Vanarama National League at Mill Farm on Saturday, in Chris Beech’s first game since his appointment as permanent Head Coach.
Inih Effiong’s opener late in the first-half put Dagenham into a half-time advantage.
But an own goal from Tom Eastman after Connor Barrett’s cross drew the Coasters back on level terms and earned a point.
Beech made one change to the starting line-up from last weekend’s game at Altrincham, with Dan Adshead, who makes his full debut, replacing Taelor O’Kane who dropped to the bench.
Prior to kick-off, an impeccably held one minute silence was held to remember supporter Jim Britton.
The first chance of the game went to the visitors, when Sam Ling was played through on goal by Effiong, however he struck his low effort wide of Theo Richardson’s bottom left-post.
With the contest still in its early stages, Kieran Glynn weaved up field with possession to slide a pass to Luke Charman into the box, but the Coasters forward, one-on-one with goalkeeper Elliott Justham, was thwarted by the Daggers captain, who kept out the shot across goal.
Midfielder Ryan Hill sent a 25-yard effort towards Richardson’s goal, which the Coasters stopper was able to comfortably gather.
Harry Davis then did well to defend a dangerous cross from Ling, as Fylde had to deal with Dagenham’s attacking threats.
Midway through the half, Nick Haughton tried his luck from distance, with his attempt going over Justham’s crossbar.
The Daggers led on 39 minutes, after Fylde failed to clear a corner, Hill pounced to drive into the right side of the box before crossing across goal for Effiong to convert from close-range past Richardson.
Searching for an immediate response, good work from Haughton and Josh Kay teed up Charman, who lifted a shot off target.
Half-Time: AFC Fylde 0-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Following on from the restart, the Coasters started positively, with Barrett’s pinpoint cross and an overlap hurriedly cleared by defender Eastman.
Fylde then had a penalty shout waved away by referee after Jon Ustabasi was brought down under a challenge.
Just after the hour, a well-worked Dagenham free-kick saw Hill clip a lofted diagonal pass which Ling headed into a crowded six-yard box, but Richardson claimed the loose ball.
Dagenham had two opportunities in quick succession. Firstly, Effiong surged into the Coasters box, as Josh Rees met his pass to shoot narrowly wide, and Keenan Appiah-Forson bent a dipping drive just past Richardson’s near post.
Fylde equalised with 12 minutes left after Barrett’s excellent run and cross was turned in by Eastman, with the ball squirming past Justham.
Buoyed by going level, Charman’s shot was spilled by Justham, who redeemed himself by superbly his body in the way of Kay’s goal-bound follow-up attempt.
Pushing for a late winner, Max Conway’s free-kick aimed towards the back post was knocked down by Sam Graham, only to be cleared to safety.
Ustabasi’s cross into the box was put behind for a corner, as Fylde took the game to Dagenham.
In the six minutes of added time, good build-up play from Danny Whitehead enabled Charman to whip a cross into the box, which was headed agonizingly past the post by an unmarked Taelor O’Kane.
Up the other end, Fylde had Richardson to thank after a long ball into the box caused the Coasters’ problems, with our keeper able to deny Ling from close-range.
Fylde had a great chance to win it, as a swift breakaway up the pitch found O’Kane, who rounded Justham, though Ling tracked back to put in a goal-saving challenge, and the Coasters were forced to settle for a point.
AFC Fylde: Richardson, Davis, Graham, Barrett, Conway, Adshead (Rowley 90+6), Glynn, Kay (Whitehead 84), Ustabasi, Haughton (O’Kane 68), Charman
Subs not used: Gordon, Obi
Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Eastman, Rees, Ling, Hessenthaler, Phipps, Hill, Appiah-Forson (Ibie 84), Vincent, Lawless (Sears 77), Effiong
Subs not used: Strizovic, Francis-Clarke, Kendall
