VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE

DAGENHAM AND REDBRIDGE 2 (Whitely 18pen, Cheek 21) BARROW AFC 1 (Jones 86)

DAN Jones scored late on for Barrow AFC, but it was not enough to save them from a 2-1 opening-day defeat at Dagenham.

The first chance went the way of the hosts as a slip in the AFC defence allowed Michael Cheek through, but he fired into the side netting.

Morgan Ferrier flicked an effort over the bar and Fejiri Okenabirhie shot straight at Stuart Moore as the home side dominated the opening stages.

They took a deserved lead when Thierry Audel was penalised for putting an arm round Ferrier in the area and bringing him to ground, with Corey Whitely firing home the resultant penalty.

The advantage was quickly doubled as Cheek used his physical power to create space 20 yards out before lashing in a thunderbolt past Moore.

Barrow created very little, with Jordan White heading wide and Adi Yussuf miscontrolling when played into the hosts’ area, with Dagenham continuing to look the more likely.

AFC started better after the break, with Mark Cousins having to punch clear a looping Moussa Diarra header, but the hosts counter-attacked and Moore had to save low at his near post from Ferrier.

Asa Hall fired over from 20 yards after a lay-off from Yussuf, and Yussuf himself shot wide after a hard-hit cross from Gomis to the near-post.

Yussuf had the best chance to pull a goal back and he turned and shot from the edge of the area, with Cousins getting down to make the save.

A reflex effort from Yussuf was heading for the top of the net before a superb tip-over by Cousins, who got down well to stop a header from a Jones throw soon after and then watched Gomis shoot well off-target.

Barrow pulled a goal back when Alex-Ray Harvey found Jones with a great ball and he lifted it over Cousins and into the net to give the visitors hope.

They kept piling forward, forcing a number of corners and seeing an Audel effort blocked and Yussuf fire just off target, but could not find a second.

Hall captained AFC on his full debut as they started with a 3-5-2 formation, with Audel, Diarra and Jimmy Dunne at the back, and Dan Jones and Jack Barthram employed as wing-backs.

Alex-Ray Harvey, Hall and Bedsente Gomis made up the heart of the midfield, with White and Yussuf up front.

The bench saw Bradley Bauress, Dan Cockerline and Dave Nieskens all feature, with the potential to make their debuts.

Ahead of the game, Barrow confirmed they had brought in goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom on a one-month contract as back-up to Moore, with Joel Dixon still three weeks away from fitness after a knee issue.

Dagenham and Redbridge: Mark Cousins, Luke Pennell, Craig Robson, Morgan Ferrier (Oliver Hawkins 64), Fejiri Okenabirhie (Jake Howells 82), Bondz N’Gala, Andre Bouchard, Kevin Lokko, Sam Ling, Michael Cheek, Corey Whitely (Matt Robinson 88).

Substitutes Not Used: Elliot Justham, Nick Wheeler.

Barrow AFC: Stuart Moore, Thierry Audel, Jimmy Dunne, Moussa Diarra, Dan Jones, Jack Barthram, Alex-Ray Harvey, Asa Hall (Harry Panayiotou 71), Bedsente Gomis, Jordan White (Dan Cockerline 78), Adi Yussuf.

Substitutes Not Used: Bradley Bauress, Liam Hughes, Dave Nieskens.

Yellow Cards: Audel (67), Yussuf (68), Barthram (71), Gomis (90).

Referee: C Brook.