Amongst the most enthralling games of an action-packed opening day in the Vanarama National League saw goal specialists from last term, Dagenham and Gateshead, pick up where they left off in that regard with a 2-2 draw that denied the latter a perfect return to the division following promotion from the one beneath.
The Heed had stunned their hosts with two goals inside barely ten minutes courtesy of Paul Blackett then Adam Campbell, but their resistance gradually eroded thereafter until collapsing entirely in the dying seconds, at which point substitute Junior Morias struck an immaculately-taken leveller to salvage a scarcely-deserved draw in East London.
His strike-partner Paul McCallum had initially halved the deficit to not only hand his side a much-needed lifeline but also signify some personal retribution from an earlier missed penalty, which furthered the belief at the time that it simply wasn't going to be Daggers' day.
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Story of the game
Dagenham & Redbridge had conceded the first goal across the entire division in two of the past three seasons, as well as quickly going one down on an astoundingly frequent basis under Daryl McMahon, but their supporters were still somewhat taken aback by how poorly the side began here.
Gateshead manager Mike Williamson had clearly done his homework diligently because his side exploited their opponents' weaknesses with ruthless efficiency to explode into a two goal lead after just a dozen minutes, the vociferous boos inside Victoria Road an apt soundtrack to the Heed's excellent start.
Paul Blackett got the party started for them to compound a catalogue of errors from the home side, whereby Manny Onariase lost track of his man Dan Ward, who then rounded Elliot Justham before squaring for the aforementioned striker to tap home on the line. A well-worked goal from their perspective albeit far too easy.
Barely had that bitter first blow been digested when another arrived courtesy of primary dangerman Adam Campbell. Benefiting from Onariase's hesitance to intervene with a throughball coupled with the motionlessness of Elliott Johnson and Dean Rance, all in anticipation of an ultimately non-existent offside flag, he calmly threaded into the net to deservedly double his team's advantage.
The road to recovery was long for the home side, but they were soon handed a potential lifeline after Josh Walker was sent sprawling upon latching onto McCallum's intelligent cutback, prompting referee Paul Johnson to award a penalty kick.
McCallum stepped up but was far too nonchalant in doing so and adversary James Montgomery read the telegraphed effort down to his left - amazingly the fourth time in five meetings that the Daggers have missed a spot-kick against the North-East outfit.
Insult was nearly added to extensive injury, and Dagenham's misery compounded, when Campbell sent Greg Olley through on goal in the very next attack. Fortunately for them, Justham superbly saved the resulting effort.
It was the beginning of their afternoon changing. From almost being three down, it was instead game on as a wonderful one-two between Mauro Vilhete and Matt Robinson preceded the latter whipping a cross for McCallum to cannon home at the far post.
Paul McCallum spurns the chance to halve the deficit from the spot. (Image: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo)
That proved a big confidence boost ahead of the break, after which they were completely dominant. However, they struggled to convert this into opportunities, mostly keeping the ball in non-dangerous territory unable to penetrate Gateshead's robust deep block.
David Longe-King started the second half in place of Onariase and was soon joined on the pitch by fellow substitutes Mo Sagaf and Junior Morias, all of whom gave the side more energy and composure in possession.
The Heed consequently retreated further back, their counter-attacks becoming more infrequent as they focused more on preserving what they already had, including by halting the contest's trajectory with constant ceases for treatment.
It took until around 75 minutes for a significant moment to occur, a cross finding both McCallum and Sagaf unmarked from point-blank range, but neither took authority of the situation and the end result was Sagaf sidefooting right at Montgomery when the slightest direction either side would have sent it in.
That immediately seemed a source of huge regret, especially as the remainder of normal time and the stoppages afterwards whittled away without much incident. When Walker fired wide while off-balance, it seemed like their final chance had gone.
However, with the whistle beyond imminent, there was still time for one more. A final punt upfield turned dangerous as McCallum won the flick-on for Walker, who demonstrated immense composure to find Morias.
He followed suit, sending blue shirts flying to ground in desperation with a double body feint, before devastatingly firing past a helpless Montgomery to equalise in a game they had trailed for almost the entirety, cruelly shattering Gateshead's resolve after an immensely encouraging display from Williamson's men.
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Where this leaves the sides
For what it's worth, both sides occupy the mid-table region of the league table at the end of the first matchday. The Daggers' focus turns to the upcoming away fixtures against Woking and Eastleigh, while Gateshead will welcome Barnet then Notts County on the corresponding days.
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Star Man
Adam Campbell (Gateshead) | An energetic display from the sprightly attacker, capped with a deserved goal, in which he constantly scampered into pockets of space and caused several problems for the home defenders. Exploited their shape expertly, single-handedly leading the counter-attack at times.
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Starting lineups
DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE: Elliot Justham, Mauro Vilhete, Elliott Johnson, Manny Onariase 🟨 (David Longe-King 46'), Josh Hare, Myles Weston, Dean Rance (Junior Morias ⚽ 66'), Omar Mussa (Mo Sagaf 56'), Matt Robinson, Josh Walker, Paul McCallum ⚽
GATESHEAD: James Montgomery, Ethan Pye (Kenton Richardson 38'), Louis Storey, Carl Magnay 🟨, Owen Bailey, Robbie Tinkler, Dan Ward, Greg Olley 🟨, Adam Campbell ⚽, Aaron Martin 🟨 (Will Harris 60'), Paul Blackett ⚽ (Lirak Hasani 66')