SKY TV viewers will hardly have gone away with a very high impression of Nationwide Conference football after Hereford United's lack-lustre 1-1 draw with Dagenhan and Redbridge last night.

Unfortunately the TV spectators, and the 4,325 who turned up at Edgar Street, were presented with a disappointing match in which Hereford only produced quality football in flashes.

But much of the credit for that must go to apowerful Dagenham outfit who closed down United's flair players at the earliest opportunity and gave them no space to produce any moments of magic.

Goal chances at either end were a rare commodity in the first period with both defences in command.

Dagenham's tall three-man central defence gave Steve Guinan and David Brown little space to operate, although Brown might have done better with a 28th minute near-post header.

At the other end, Tony James and Tamika Mkandawire kept Danny Shipp and Alex Meechan on a tight rein.

As half-time approached, United found some fluency and a move involving several players ended with Michael Rose shooting just wide from 25 yards.

It was the Daggers who made a more promising opening to the second period with Meechan twice going close before the Bulls took the lead on 54 minutes.

Brown received a free-kick from Rose and neatly switched the ball inside to Ben Smith who advanced into the penalty area and fired a crisp drive past James Pullen in the visitors' goal.

But on 65 minutes Dagenham were level when a corner sailed over 'keeper Matt Baker to reach Tony Scully. He worked the ball to Lenny Piper whose 25-yarder was cleared off the line by Smith, but only as far as Dean Beckwith who hammered in from close range.

United: Baker 6, Green 7 , Rose 6, Pitman 7, *Mkandawire 8, James 7, Williams 6, Smith 7, Guinan 6, Brown 6 (Carey-Bertram, 68 min, 6) Parry 6. Subs not used: Scott, King, Teesdale, Craven.