Dagenham & Redbridge boss Strevens denied debut win by late Oldham goal

Jay Bird had given the hosts the lead in the first half, but Mike Fondop’s 83rd-minute header ensured the visitors did not go away empty-handed.

Young goalkeeper Josh Strizovic came into the side for his debut, with stalwart Elliot Justham injured in one of four changes from the previous game against Wrexham 11 days earlier.

Dean Rance and Angelo Balanta missed out, while Myles Weston dropped to the bench as Strevens also named George Saunders, Elliott Johnson and Harry Phipps in his first starting XI.

And after a fairly quiet opening, Daggers had their first sight of goal when Bird headed wide from a Saunders free-kick on five minutes.

Manny Onariase sent the ball just beyond the far post from a Saunders corner, with Bird then rifling a rising 20-yard drive just over the crossbar on 20 minutes.

Oldham looked tidy in possession, but Daggers were setting themselves up well in a disciplined 4-4-2 formation.

And Strizovic remained relatively unemployed as Sam Ling blocked a shot from John Rooney midway through the first half.

The visitors were gaining momentum, though, and a neat flick from Roooney, after Devam Green cut the ball back on the right, almost found Bassala Sambou on the edge of the six-yard box, before Onariase cleared the danger.

Oldham continued to dominate possession, but Inih Effiong produced a surging run from halfway to play in Bird, who dragged a shot well wide before an offside flag went up.

And the home side broke the deadlock on 37 minutes when Mo Sagaf played a return pass to Bird just outside the box and his shot on the turn went inside Matthew Hudson’s right-hand post.

Oldham had a glimpse of goal before the break when the ball dropped for Joe Nuttall, but he scuffed his volley and Daggers were able to head back to the dressing room in the ascendancy.

And the second half was barely a minute old when Bird sent a glacing header beyond the far post from Josh Hare’s right-wing centre.

Oldham’s Mark Shelton shot wide of the far post from the edge of the box when a corner was rolled out to him on 50 minutes, but Effiong was then brought down just outside the box after a strong run by Joe Yarney, who was booked.

And Effiong’s low free-kick was comfortably saved by Hudson, before Oldham countered and Nuttall’s effort was deflected beyond the far post.

Liam Hogan’s firm header from the corner was headed away by a red-shirted defender in front of Strizovic, who got a strong hand on another corner to punch clear.

And Strevens made his first change of the day on 64 minutes, replacing Saunders with Myles Weston in a like-for-like swap.

Oldham saw a low free-kick deflected behind at the near post midway through the second half, with Ling putting his body in the way of a shot from Rooney in the 72nd minute.

And Ben Tollitt dragged another low shot wide of the target as the visitors continued to search for a leveller.

Effiong saw a shot held by Hudson, after Johnson’s cross from the left byline hit a defender – but not on the arm according to the officials, despite home claims for handball – and Hudson also saved from Sagaf on 78 minutes, as Daggers looked for a second goal to make sure of the points.

Strevens made his second change on 80 minutes as goalscorer Bird made way for Mauro Vilhete, who was returning from a long injury absence.

But Oldham were back on level terms soon after as Ellis Chapman’s header was deflected behind by Johnson and Rooney’s inswinging corner from the left found Fondop, who nodded into the top corner.

And the visitors then almost took the lead a minute later when a long ball found Nuttall goal side of Onariase and he steered his shot just past the far post, before earning a yellow card for dissent.

Daggers regrouped after the setback, though, and saw Matt Robinson fire just over in the fifth minute of stoppage time as it ended all square.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Strizovic, Hare, Johnson, Onariase, Effiong (Ibie 86), Sagaf, Robinson, Saunders (Weston 64), Phipps, Ling, Bird (Vilhete 80).

Unused subs: Mussa, Longe-King.

Attendance: 1,659 (including 212 Oldham fans).