Daggers find grit to match O's

LEYTON Orient were the second League Two team in succession to discover what the Daggers tactics will be for the forthcoming season; play abysmally for the first half to catch the opposition unawares and then slog a hard fought comeback to scrape a draw.

Twice Martin Ling's men took the lead and twice the Daggers' grit saw them back in this East London derby.

The O's took an early advantage when on six minutes Matt Lockwood whipped in a free kick from near the corner flag and Lee Steele headed home his seventh goal of his pre-season campaign.

The visitors could have doubled their lead through either Alan White who nearly forced home a close range effort and Jabo Ibehre, who brought out a good save from Tony Roberts ten minutes before the break.

The half-time team talk worked it's magic as the Daggers came out a different side, just as they had done against Southend a week previously. The introduction of Mark Janney, Glen Southam and John Taylor steadied what had been a shaky side and finally the Daggers were able to play their own football rather than chase shadows.

Credit for the equaliser must go to Craig Mackail-Smith who terrorised the Orient midfield and defence as he burst from the half way line leaving the O's trailing in his wake, to see his effort from the edge of the box ricochet off Morris and trickle towards the goal line before Chris Moore stepped up to tap it over the line.

Two goalmouth scrambles then ensued as Taylor was first denied before Janney saw his goalbound effort cleared off the line.

Orient upped their game and looked to have the match won when, returning from injury Gary Alexander latched on to Billy Jones' long ball and held off Ashley Vickers to rifle the ball into the back of the net.

Two minutes later and the Daggers equalised again as former Orient man Boniek Forbes crossed for John Taylor to tap home from close range to see honours finish even between these two local rivals.