Dagenham & Redbridge 1, Aldershot Tn 1

BERNARD Mensah snatched a valuable and impressive point on his second debut for The Shots as Aldershot Town belatedly suggested that they may have a stomach for the fight against relegation after all.

Although this draw extended their club record winless run to 15 matches, it was undoubtedly a positive result against an in-form Dagenham & Redbridge team, after Mensah’s return – on loan from Bristol Rovers for the remainder of the season – galvanised the club on and off the pitch.

It may even have lifted the spirits of manager Gary Waddock, whose heavy cold saw him delegate post-match media duties to injured striker Scott Rendell.

“To a man, the boys were outstanding from first whistle to last,” suggested Rendell. “To come back from a goal down was massive for us, when recently going behind has meant the end of the game. We dug in and carried on playing our football, and if we continue to perform like we did today, the wins should be coming a lot sooner rather than later.

“We all need to be pulling in the same direction to get us out of this hole that we’ve put ourselves in. Everything’s starting to look up now,” he admitted, with his own return to fitness on schedule to feature in The Shots’ next game against Eastleigh on February 9.

“The fans were brilliant again, they sang all afternoon, but we need to give them something to sing about,” he admitted.

And, indeed, the visitors did start strongly. Regan Booty’s snapshot brought the game’s first save, from Elliot Justham, and Mensah’s glancing header dropped just wide of the far post as The Shots forced several early corners. John Goddard’s dynamic run and shot provided further evidence of their renewed vigour, but just four minutes after the break, the dangerous Connor Wilkinson put Dagenham in front.

Drifting into space between centre backs Josh Lelan and Alex Finney, he fired a powerful 18-yard shot into the bottom corner of the net, possibly via a slight deflection off Lelan which took the ball past a wrong-footed Will Mannion.

The Shots, though, responded well. Mensah’s improvised, off-balance volley was superbly tipped over by Justham, and on 64 minutes they were level. Lewis Kinsella, playing in a mask to protect his fractured cheekbone, delivered the perfect cross and Mensah, finding far too much space six yards out, scored with a free header.

His exuberant celebrations with the boisterous away fans spoke volumes of the rekindling of a mutual love affair.

“Bernard lifts everyone, he’s a bubbly, upbeat person,” explained Rendell, “and they’re the kind of people you need to surround yourself with, especially with the situation we’re in. He’s been brilliant, and definitely had an effect on the team.”

The visitors almost won the game, too. Another free header was caught by Dagenham keeper Justham, and with the final kick of the game Booty’s cross rolled tantalisingly through the goalmouth, begging for a decisive touch.

A draw, however, was the right result on the day, and still pleasing reward for their resurgent endeavours.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham; Nunn, Onariase, Clark, Smith; Robinson, Munns (Kandi 68), Loft; McQueen, Wilkinson, Reynolds (Gordon 76). Subs (not used): Moore, Goodliffe, Wright.

Alderhot Town: Mannion; Bernard, Lelan, Finney, Kinsella; Booty, Howell; McDonnell, Mensah (Wanadio 72), Goddard (McClure 90); McDonagh. Subs (not used): Gallagher, Bozier, McCoy.

Attendance: 1,652.