Dagenham & Redbridge 1

Boreham Wood 1

Ryman League Premier Division

Substitute Mark Xavier salvaged a point for Wood at Dagenham on the opening day of the season with a strike nine minutes from time.

But manager Bob Makin insisted his side should have made a winning start to the campaign.

Wood totally dominated the match and spurned a number of chances before a late equaliser from Xavier, who was making his first-team debut.

"We got less than we deserved," moaned Makin.

"I would have settled for a point before the match but on reflection we should have won."

Wood, who also gave midfielder Adam French his first start, began in positive fashion against a team being touted as possible championship contenders.

Striker Kerry Dixon, who started the match alongside Shaun Marshall, flicked the ball on for Rob Hollingdale but his shot was well saved on 20 minutes.

Wood almost opened the scoring seven minutes later when Marshall just failed to force the ball over the line after a dangerous low cross from Hollingdale.

The referee checked with his assistant before ruling the ball had not crossed the line.

Wood began the second half with Xavier, a summer signing from Harrow Borough, on for Dixon, who started the game with a sore neck.

Dagenham forced their first corner of the match in the 47th minute but Wood easily dealt with danger.

Then skipper Garry Nisbet rose at the far post to head the ball into the path of livewire Xavier, who forced the ball wide of the post when perhaps he should have scored.

Wood were made to pay the penalty for those misses when the hosts broke the deadlock on 62 minutes.

A long punt forward reached Danny Shipp, who turned past Steve Daly before unleashing a low drive past Martin Taylor.

But Wood were not to be denied and Marshall saw an effort cleared off the line by a defender.

They finally made the breakthrough with a neat goal from a set play.

A Jason Shaw free kick was knocked down by Nisbet and Adam French fired in a shot that brought a blinding save from Paul Gothard but the impressive Xavier was on hand to slam the rebound home.

There was still time for Daly to miss an easier chance with a header from a corner that flew past the post.

The equaliser was nothing less than Wood deserved, insisted Makin.

"It shows the resilience of the team that we managed to pick things up after going behind.

"However, that's still two points dropped as far as I am concerned."

Another unhappy spectator at the match was one half of Wood's prolific 67-goal strike partnership last season.

Tony Samuels had to be content with a place on the bench after Makin chose to start with Marshall and veteran Dixon.

"I'm in an envious position when I've got so much talent up front in my squad," said boss Bob.

"Dixon did enough in pre-season games to warrant his place in the starting XI. We had to pick the two forwards who we felt had done the most in those matches."

Added Makin: "I'd be a happy man if every substitute I picked came on and scored a goal!"

WOOD: Taylor, Daly, Sewell, J.Shaw, Nisbet, Hollingdale (Grime), Ireland, Marshall, Dixon (Xavier), French, Heffer. Sub (not used): Samuels.

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