Rochdale 1 - 1 Dagenham & Redbridge

Date published: 20 August 2024

Dale were frustrated but remain unbeaten, as they were held at home to Dagenham & Redbridge at the Crown Oil Arena on Saturday 17 August.

An equaliser from Tarryn Allarakhia with just under 15 minutes to go, earned Dale a point after Dagenham took the lead thanks to Dion Pereira’s goal early in the second half.

Jimmy McNulty made two alterations to last Saturday’s win at Boston. Jake Burger made his first competitive start for Dale as he came in to replace Connor McBride with Harvey Gilmour also making way for Ryan East.

Dale had the better of the opening 45 and had their first chance on 14 minutes when Devante Rodney clipped a ball to the back post finding Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, whose header was cleared away before it could reach the Dagenham goal.

The wing-back was picked out again when Aaron Henry floated a ball over but again his header was cleared, this time from the goal line.

22 minutes on the clock and Dale won a free-kick with Henry stepping over it. The midfielder’s dipping strike looked destined for the top corner before being tipped over by Elliot Justham.

Dale then created the best opportunity when East’s corner found Kairo Mitchell, but the forward’s header was saved from point-blank range by the goalkeeper.

Just after the half-hour mark, Burger and Rodney played a neat one-two. Rodney then had the ball taken off him at the last before Mitchell’s follow-up attempt was well blocked.

Dale remained in the ascendency and should have taken the lead on 39 minutes. Burger slotted in Mitchell who from the angle went for goal which was palmed away into the path of the onrushing Adebayo-Rowling who slammed his effort into the side-netting.

The final chance of the half saw Rodney slide a ball through to Allarakhia to cut it back to East whose curling shot was deflected wide of the far post.

Despite Dale’s best efforts to take the lead it was Dagenham who successfully converted their first opportunity of the game after half-time. A swift counter from the Daggers saw Ryan Hill pick out Pereira with a switch of play and the winger cut onto his left and curled past Luke McNicholas.

Henry dug out an effort on goal three minutes later but the lack of power saw Justham comfortably save.

Dale continued to push forward 71 minutes in. East played a sublime ball through to substitute Connor McBride who struck towards goal, but it was well blocked by a Dagenham defender.

The pressure told five minutes later as Dale got their deserved equaliser. Adebayo-Rowling slotted in McBride whose cut back found its way to Allarakhia who took a touch to set himself and fired into the back of the net for his first Dale goal.

East had an attempt on goal from an angle which was saved at the near post before his corner was met by Ethan Ebanks-Landell who rose highest to divert a header just wide.

Dagenham thought they were in for a late winner when Josh Rees was played in and smashed it home but the linesman’s flag was already up on the far side to deny the away outfit.