Morecambe 2 Dagenham and Redbridge 0

A SPECTACULAR own goal got Morecambe off to the perfect start against promotion hopefuls Dagenham and Redbridge at Christie Park.

After two defeats on the spin away from home it was just the tonic the Shrimps needed.

And they accepted the gift with some relish to grind out a deserved, rather than scintillating, 2-0 victory.

Morecambe started on the back foot as John Still's Daggers looked to get themselves into the promotion chasing pack at the top of the Conference.

But they were undone on six minutes as Michael Twiss slotted a through ball into the path of Sean O'Connor on the edge of the box.

Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Dagenham midfielder Chris Moore slid in to divert the ball away for a corner - but lofted it into the top corner of his own net beyond the despairing dive of keeper Tony Roberts.

It was the signal for a wave of Morecambe attacks as a new confidence oozed through Jim Harvey's team - but a series of chances came and went with no further reward.

O'Connor was twice judged offside as he tried to get on the end of through passes from Twiss and Wayne Curtis, Keiran Walmsley fired one superb cross in from the right which no-one could convert and then O'Connor placed his header narrowly wide when he should have profited from more good work by Curtis down the left.

The best chance fell to Twiss on 22 minutes after Dave Perkins put Michael Howard free down the left. O'Connor could not reach his initial cross but when Curtis put the ball into the goalmouth for a second time Twiss was slow to react and defender Anwar Uddin smuggled the ball away.

But that was the signal for Dagenham to up their game and start to feature as an attacking force for the first time - with Paul Benson guilty of perhaps the miss of the season on 28 minutes.

Daggers won a free kick wide on the left and the whole Morecambe defence ran out to looking for an offside decision as the ball was flighted in. But the assistant referee's flag stayed down and no fewer than four attackers were left six yards out with just keeper Ryan Robinson to beat. Benson, though, missed the target.

Morecambe gave away a series of free kicks around the penalty area as Dagenham took control for the next 15 minutes, driven forward by skipper Lee Goodwin.

But they created just two half chances - the first when Benson broke free but did not quite have the pace to beat Darren Kempson and the second in first half stoppage time when Goodwin headed just over the bar following a corner kick.

The second half started in similar fashion, with Morecambe soaking up pressure and looking for a break on the counter attack.

The hard-working Perkins and Jimmy Kelly were effective in halting most of Dagenham's efforts in midfield but, when Morecambe did break free, Twiss was far from at his best and front man O'Connor - despite a bustling show - lacked the pace to take advantage.

Harvey responded to the pressure by sending on fresh legs in the shape of Michael Stringfellow and Garry Hunter for Howard and O'Connor and the payback was almost immediate as Stringfellow had two good efforts.

Robinson had to be at his best at the other end to keep out a snap shot from Glen Southam on 73 minutes but everyone breathed easier a minute later as man-of-the-match Perkins broke down the left and placed a perfect cross into the path of Curtis to bundle into the net at the far post.

Dagenham weren't ready to lie down just yet, though, and Robinson twice had to be at his very best to deny them in a late rally.

On 78 minutes he somehow got behind a blockbuster volley from 20 yards by Randir Marwa. And having pushed away the initial shot he recovered in time to catch the follow-up header from Tresor Kandol.

But even better was a superb flying save from Benson on 86 minutes following a miscued clearance from home skipper Jim Bentley.

Benson was gifted the ball just 12 yards out and controlled it with his first touch before hitting a left foot shot. He was already starting his goal celebration as Robinson leapt to his right and pushed the ball away for a corner. Brilliant!

MORECAMBE: Robinson 8, Blackburn 7, Kempson 7, Bentley 6, Howard 6 Stringfellow 70), Walmlsey 6, Kelly 8, Perkins 9, Curtis 8, Twiss 5 (Carlton 84), O'Connor 7 (Hunter 70). Subs not used: Dodgson, Davies.