Dagenham and Redbridge 1-2 Leigh RMI by Martyn Hindley

DAVE McNiven's second bizarre goal in less than three weeks settled this North-South divide in favour of the Railwaymen and finally offered the Phil Starbuck renaissance the three points it craved and deserved.

Having embarrassed Burton goalkeeper Matt Duke at Eton Park last month, McNiven netted his 14th of the season when Daggers' goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt fired a clearance against the back of his own defender, Tarkan Mustafa.

The former Oldham striker followed up the rebound to score the most pivotal, if not elegant, goal for the club to date.

Had Leigh been held to a point by Tim Cole's rebound on 83 minutes then RMI heads may well have dropped with results and performances heading up drastically different paths.

But although McNiven's effort couldn't lift Starbuck's side out of the relegation zone, the subsequent self belief could be a critical factor in an interesting Christmas calendar of games.

Should referee's continue to dish cautions out in the same vein as Mr McDermidd though, some players will spend the festive period sidelined by suspension. Five Leigh players saw their names scribed in the notebook along with six from their Essex opposition, and Wayne Maden's yellow takes him one away from a second one-match ban of the campaign.

Excitement in footballing terms was provided by Ian Fitzpatrick - the RMI debutant recruited from a spell in the cold at Shrewsbury. He almost broke the deadlock in the first half when he whipped a dangerous ball across the face of the area that skimmed agonisingly past the far post.

Instead, the hosts took up the mantle and through Paul Bruce and Chris Piper, should have taken charge of the game. Instead, Bruce hit the bar and Piper's shot was too tame, allowing the visitors to seize the advantage instead.

Two of the clubs most under-rated players, Andy Roscoe and Paul Shepherd, combined for the opener three minutes shy of the interval - the full-back providing a cross from the left for Shepherd to leave the 'keeper flat-footed with his header. It was his first goal for RMI.

Cole levelled matters when Gary Kelly found Ashley Vicker's shot too hot to handle, leaving it to McNiven to seal a second 'double' over the Daggers in three years.