Macclesfield Town 0 Dagenham & Redbridge 1

Medy Elito’s close-range second-half strike, was enough to earn 10-man Dagenham & Redbridge a battling three points.

John Still’s patched up side made a positive start to the first half, with debutant Luke Howell the first to test the handling of Jose Veiga on eight minutes.

The central midfielder evaded the challenge of Sam Wedgbury, but his low effort from 18 yards was comfortably gathered by the Silkmen’s stopper.

Macclesfield eventually settled into the game, with new signing Ben Tomlinson firing a series of efforts wide.

But it was skipper Nat Brown that was the first to test Chris Lewington’s reflexes. He met Wedgbury’s corner perfectly from 12 yards, but the captain’s powerful header was tipped over the crossbar by the rookie stopper.

It was Daggers who started the second half the brightest, with West Ham loanee Oliver Lee twice firing wide and also saw a shot blocked by Brown.

And the visitors deservedly took the lead on the hour, when Gavin Tomlin’s free-kick was headed across goal by Mark Arber for Elito to tap in from two yards.

Daggers could have doubled their lead six minutes later when Scott Doe forced a fine fingertip save from Veiga.

At the other end, Macclesfield pushed for a leveller, but were twice thwarted by the impressive Lewington.

But the young keeper turned from hero to villain on 79 minutes, when he was sent of for allegedly handling Ross Draper’s fierce drive outside the box.

However, he was replaced between the sticks by debutant James Shea – who manager Still revealed afterwards was carrying an injury – but the Arsenal loanee stood up to everything the home side threw at him, as Daggers held on to take maximum points.