Notts County grabbed their first victory of the season against League Two newcomers Dagenham & Redbridge, thanks to a late strike from substitute Neil Mackenzie.
The Magpies went in to the game knowing that anything other than a win would mount even more pressure on manager, Steve Thompson, whose
side have endured a terrible start to the campaign.
The first half produced little to excite The Magpies' faithful, despite a promising first twenty minutes, that saw both Lawrie Dudfield and Jason Lee come close. However, there appeared to be too much reliance on the one dimensional long ball game - limiting goal-scoring opportunities.
Dudfield's chance came after he was fed in to the right-channel, where he cleverly jinked inside, leaving the full-back standing, before executing a low cross in to the area. The delivery cannoned back invitingly in to the path of the tricky striker, who then struck harmlessly over from inside the box.
Lee's effort came after he brought down a long ball halfway inside Dagenham half, before spreading the ball on to the left-wing to the in-form Paul Mayo, who whipped in a promising cross that saw the onrushing Lee direct a powerful downward header towards the bottom right corner, forcing The Daggers' goalkeeper, Tony Roberts to parry the ball round his post.
The Magpies' defence looked shaky at times - notably when high balls were being pumped in to the penalty area. Luckily Steve Thompson's men were not punished.
The visitors could have taken the lead, following an in-swinging corner that left the ball bouncing around waiting to be prodded home. Fortunately for the home side, a free-kick was awarded after a foul on Kevin Pilkington.
As the first half progressed, Notts placed a greater emphasis on the long ball tactic, which saw little created, despite Lee's aerial dominance. With this, Dagenham began to gain control of the game - pinning Steve Thompson's side back in to their own half of the pitch for lengthy spells.
Despite this, very few chances were created by the away side. Their best attempt came after a mazy run by their danger man, Sam Saunders, who shot high of Pilkington's left-hand post from just inside the penalty area, after being given too much space by the Magpies' defence.
HT 0-0
After the break, Notts started with a greater attacking mentality. A flick on from Lee saw Weir-Daley gather the ball, turn sharply, and strike a potent effort straight at the goalkeeper from twenty-yards out.
The speedy front-man again found himself in the thick of the action, with a glorious chance shortly after, which saw him hit the near-post with a stinging effort from close range, after Lee had held up play and slotted an accurate through ball in to the path of the front-man.
Dagenham rarely attacked with conviction in the second-half, although they did come close from a corner, which saw an overhead-kick float just over the cross-bar, following a poor clearance.
Notts thought that they had taken the lead mid-way through the second half, after a deep in-swinging corner by Mayo was hacked off the line by Daggers' defender, Ross Smith. Claims that the ball had crossed the line were subsequently dismissed by the referee.
Eventually, The Magpies went in front, after Lee Canoville's looping cross was not cleared by the Dagenham defence. The ball broke free in the area and the newly introduced Mackenzie smashed a low drive in to the bottom right corner from 12-yards out - giving the goalkeeper no chance.
The Daggers started to come at Notts after the goal. In the eighty-seventh minute they found themselves with a free-kick thirty yards out. Kevin Pilkington, however, confidently rose above everyone and claimed the ball with ease - relieving the pressure.
Deep in to stoppage time, Dagenham came close to levelling the tie, when they were awarded a corner following a great block by the energetic Matthew Somner. The ball was whipped in to the back post where Danny Foster was left unmarked - luckily his volley crashed in to the side netting.
This victory will relieve the pressure on Steve Thompson for the time-being, but against better opposition Notts would have been punished. Much needs to be improved in all areas to ensure that The Magpies fare at the upper end of the League Two table, rather than the bottom.
FT 1-0