Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Macclesfield Town 1

Last updated : 28 March 2009 By Footymad Previewer
Brave Dagenham & Redbridge battled back from a goal behind to put disappointing Macclesfield Town to the sword at Victoria Road.

John Rooney put Town ahead with his first ever league goal in the 38th minute before the home side hit back through Paul Benson and Matt Ritchie to claim the points.

Macclesfield were lively early on with midfielder Jordan Hadfield finding space on the edge of the box in the 11th minute before pulling a weak shot well wide from 20 yards.

Daggers striker Jamie Guy thought he had given his side the lead when he tapped a Sam Saunders cross in from close range in the 22nd minute - but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Macclesfield keeper Jonny Brain excelled himself in the 30th minute when he dived low to his right to claw a powerful Magnus Okuonghae header off the line.

It was the visitors turn to have a 'goal' ruled out in the 32nd minute when 18 year-old Rooney strayed offside before firing past Tony Roberts from six yards.

Rooney - younger brother of Manchester United striker Wayne - made no mistake in the 38th minute when he ran onto a loose ball from Mark Arber on the edge of the Daggers area before thundering past Roberts and giving his side the lead.

Dagenham full-back Danny Foster presented the visitors with another gift in the 50th minute when his slip allowed Colin Daniels to race through on Roberts' goal - only to blast his 25-yard shot high and wide.

Daggers threw on striker Benson in search of an equaliser in the 66th minute, and the club's top scorer took just four minutes to find the net - lobbing cleverly over Brain from six yards to bring the sides level.

The home team piled on the pressure in search of a winner - and their hard work finally paid off in the 83rd minute, when Brain parried a fierce Sam Saunders strike into the path of Ritchie who finished coolly from 18 yards.