Dagenham boss John Still had to see his side settle for a point from their encounter with Exeter City. Pic: Dave Simspon/TGSPhoto

League Two: Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Exeter City 1

Daggers were made to rue Michael Spillane’s missed penalty on the stroke of half time as they had to settle for a point against Exeter City.

Medy Elito put them in the lead after 37 minutes but they were pegged back in the second half by Jamie Cureton and both teams had chances to win the encounter in an end-to-end second period.

It was a sloppy start from the Daggers when Matt Oakley’s deflected shot crept just wide of the target.

But then the game turned scrappy with little from either side on the attack as the half reached its midway point.

However against the run of play John Still’s side took the lead in bizarre circumstances.

Medy Elito was in down the left and from the tightest of angles his cross-cum-shot deceived Artur Krysiak in the Exeter goal as the fierce attempt found its way through him at the near post.

That gave the hosts the confidence boost they needed and deep into stoppage time had the perfect chance to double their lead.

On the counter attack Michael Spillane produced a pinpoint crossfield ball to Elito who paced clear.

The former Colchester United winger took a heavy touch but the pacey wideman beat Krysiak to the ball in the box and the keeper brought Elito down.

Referee Gavin Ward had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and caution the former Birmingham stopper.

But Spillane fired the effort wide in the last action of the half.

And they were made to rue that error at the start of the second period when a long ball over the top from Scott Bennett pierced a hole in the home defence and Cureton latched on to it.

One-on-one with the goalkeeper Cureton made no mistake with the finish.

Exeter pounced on the hosts frailty and almost scored immediately from the restart when Cureton fed an unmarked Jimmy Keohane but Abu Ogogo got back to block the effort.

Both sides were keen to go for the winner and Cureton fired another chance over when capitalising on a mistake by Ilesanmi.

Up the other end Daggers and Dwight Gayle had another penalty appeal turned down.

He got goalside of Craig Woodman and appeared to be held back, but referee Ward waved the protests away.

And in the closing stages Ilesanmi shot into the side netting to dent Daggers hopes of a win.

Daggers: Lewington, Ilesanmi, Doe, Wilkinson, Ogogo, Spillane, Howell, Saunders (Hoyte 69), Elito (Green 75), Williams (Woodall 79), Gayle.

Substitutes not used: Seabright, Reed, Maher, Currie.

Attendance: 1,487 (217 away fans)