Margate Charlie Mitten Gary Blackford Paul Lamb Bill Edwards Graham Porter Lee Williams John Keister Simon Beard Mark Munday Jay Saunders Leon Braithwaite Substitutes Dean Yorath Steve Hefner Mo Tako Mike Azzopardi Lee Turner

Goals Keister Jones Stats 5 Goal Attempts 13 2 On Target 6 3 Off Target 5 0 Hit Woodwork 2 2 Corners 6 Cards Yellow None None Red None None

Dag & Red Tony Roberts Mark Rooney Mark Smith Lee Goodwin Danny Hill Paul Terry Mark Janney Steve Heffer Danny Shipp Mark Stein Matt Jones Substitutes Mark Brennan Steve McGavin Tony Lock Danny Hayzelden Paul Gothard

After a poor performance against Southport, Garry Hill immediately rectified the situation. Two of the worst culprits from Saturday, Brennan and McGavin were replaced with Danny Hill and Steve Heffer, giving the midfield a more sturdy look.

Margate started with a 5-4-1 formation. It wasn't even wingbacks wither, it was a flat back five, so the two forwards had three men on them and both Dagenham wingers had a man marker.

The lone forward was Braithwaite and he looked dangerous when Margate continuously played a long ball the length of the pitch and he threatened to latch onto it. However, Roberts was always quick off his line and the defence dealt with everything else, meaning no Margate shots for the whole half.

At the other end, despite the back five, the Daggers could have been three up at half time. The first chance went to Shipp. The ball fell to him 12 yards out and he managed to get his foot around the ball, but it came back off the bar with the keeper stranded.

Mark Stein had the best chance when he was put through but miskicked his shot wide with only the keeper to beat. Steve Heffer had the other Dagenham chance, finding space 15 yards out but he tried a chip when power would have been more suitable.

Danny Hill was impressive with his passing and work rate, and this meant that the Daggers were on top for most of the half. This was nothing compared to the second half though.

The Daggers started slowly in the second half, and Margate were soon in the lead, when Keister went through, and as the defence appealed for offside, he rounded Roberts and slotted home.

Dagenham then started to run the game and created chance after chance that was not put in the net, much in the same way as most of last season. Steve Heffer had a header from a corner that came back off the post.

Danny Hill hit a shot from 20 yards that threatened the top corner but Mitten made a good save to tip it over the bar. Mitten was not so sound later on as the Daggers got in several crosses and he flapped at most of them but the Daggers couldn't get on the end of them.

Corners were a similar scenario, the Daggers not being able to find the net, probably due to the fact that big men Cole and Matthews were on the sidelines. The Daggers were always coming straight back at Margate after they cleared though, as after their goal they changed to an interesting 5-5-0 formation.

The goal that the Daggers deserved came in the end though, Matt Jones connecting with a Janney cross with a superb diving header past Mitten and into the net.

Margate had a few chances at the other end, a few crosses not capitalised on as they attempted to hit Dagenham on the break, but most were cleared and the shots they did have were nowhere near the target.

The Daggers could still have won though, as Shipp hit two long range shots that were both stopped by Mitten, although he did fumble one that almost let the onrushing Janney in.

The best chance though was when ex-Dagger made a customary cock-up. He was pressured by Shipp and tried to pass back to his keeper. However, Stein got their first and he held the ball up whilst under pressure from a defender and squared to Shipp who amazingly missed with the whole goal at his mercy.

A good performance from the Daggers but the goalscroing problem needs to be addressed. With a top striker, the Daggers could have had four or five, but had to settle for one.