By JOHN CHUBB
@JohnCphoenixfm
Dagenham & Redbridge travelled to Eastleigh and found themselves in front after 15 minutes, when Joan Luque found the net after being set up by Angelo Balanta.
But the Hampshire hosts earned a share of the spoils when Tyrone Barnett equalised a couple of minutes into the second half.
The 1-1 draw left the Daggers in 16th position in the National League table.
Of the four Essex sides in the National League South Billericay Town enjoyed the most successful afternoon, with a 3-2 home victory over St. Albans City which lifted them to third spot.
Jake Robinson opened the scoring for the Blues after seven minutes before Rhys Murrell-Williamson tapped the ball home to level the scores at the half-hour mark.
It only took four minutes for the hosts’ lead to be restored, when a Ben Nunn cross was accidentally turned into his own net by Dave Diedhiou to make it 2-1.
But St. Albans replied almost straight away when striker Joe Iaciofano took full advantage of a deflection that fell into his path, and volleyed past Alan Julian in the Billericay goal to score his side’s second equaliser with 36 minutes on the clock.
That was the way things remained until three minutes from full-time when up popped Robinson again, chipping the ball over visiting keeper Dean Snedker to give Harry Wheeler’s side a 3-2 win.
Our full report on the match from @beakster99 can be seen here.
Meanwhile Concord Rangers slipped out of the play-off spots and into 8th position after they were beaten 1-0 by Maidstone United at the Aspect Arena, ex-Dagenham & Redbridge striker Matt McClure’s 26th minute goal giving the Kent side all three points.
Chelmsford City took on Welling United at Melbourne Park, with both sides occupying mid-table positions after a mixed start to the 2019/20 campaign.
Despite both sides having chances, the match remained goalless until the 84th minute when Bradley Goldberg put the away team in front.
But the Clarets bounced back to claim a point a minute from time, when substitute Shaun Jeffers replied to make the final score 1-1. City are currently in 11th place.
Braintree Town were no doubt hoping to continue their recent revival as they travelled to Dartford, who had made a struggling start to the season but who got the better of Glen Driver’s men with a 2-1 victory.
The Iron got off to the best possible start when Femi Akinwande fired them into the lead with only three minutes played, but Luke Allen equalised for the home side three minutes before half-time.
Braintree suffered a blow in the 70th minute, as they were reduced to 10 men when Adam Mills was shown a red card for an elbow on Lee Noble.
Then former Southend United forward and ex-Braintree loanee Norman Wabo headed home three minutes from the end, to give the Darts their first win of the current campaign and leave their visitors in 14th spot.
