Dagenham & Redbridge draw blank as Effiong pays penalty

Ben Strevens side were given the chance to sign off with a win in front of their own fans at Victoria Road when Festus Arthur was adjudged to have handled in the box, but Effiong saw his effort saved by Sam Johnson.

Matt Robinson was included among the Daggers substitutes, having recovered from the injury picked up in the win at Boreham Wood on Good Friday.

And the home side controlled possession in the opening stages, before losing Josh Hare to injury midway through the first half.

George Saunders was sent on as his replacement, having netted the equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Altrincham in midweek, with Effiong sending the first attempt on goal straight at Johnson soon after.

Saunders was next to get a sight of goal, but sliced his effort over the crossbar, before digging out a cross for Jay Bird, who was denied by a good Johnson save.

Jack Hunter was booked for a clumsy tackle on Mo Sagaf late in the half as the scoreline remained blank at the break.

Sam Ling needed treatment after a brave header early in the second half, while Elliot Justham allowed Rob Harker’s curling effort to run behind.

And Daggers went close to breaking the deadlock just before the hour when a flowing five-man move ended with Ling nearly poking the ball past Johnson.

Jack Senior was booked for a bad tackle on Elliott Johnson, before Sagaf had his name taken soon after.

Effiong’s shot on the turn from range could not threaten the visiting goal midway through the half, though, and Daggers made a second change with 18 minutes to go as Angelo Balanta replaced Myles Weston.

Johnson picked up the next yellow card, with Halifax boss Chris Millington also cautioned, and Bird fired over after finding space in the box at the end of normal time, before six minutes of stoppage time.

Bird made way for Sydney Ibie in the third and final change for Daggers and the hosts were awarded a penalty in injury time, only for Johnson to deny them.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare (Saunders 25), Johnson, Onariase, Effiong, Sagaf, Weston (Balanta 72), Phipps, Ling, Longe-King, Bird (Ibie 90). Unused subs: Strizovic, Robinson.