Crewe Alexandra certainly didn't make the start to the season they would have wanted with Dagenham and Redbridge's strikers Jon Nurse and Paul Benson securing the points for John Still's side. They scored a goal in each half to seal all three points for The Daggers and over the balance of play deservedly too as well. Substitute Byron Moore scored for the Railwaymen with a wonderful strike after 72 minutes only for Benson to pounce just two minutes later to leave Crewe with nothing to show for their opening day efforts.

As expected, Gudjon Thordarson named the eleven players that had featured in the majority of the pre-season matches. On loan goalkeeper David Button was named as the club's number one ahead of Adam Legzdins and Steve Collis. Forward Clayton Donaldson overcome his slight thigh strain to retain his place on the right wing and captain Billy Jones started at left-back despite being withdrawn at half-time on Tuesday evening as a precaution because of a tightening hamstring.

After a fantastic ovation from both sets of supporters for the late Sir Bobby Robson it was the visitors' who created the first real chance of the afternoon after six minutes. Dagenham midfelder Stuart Thurgood delivered a superb cross and Jon Nurse applied a firm touch but sent it over David Button's crossbar from no more than six yards out. His reaction suggested he should have at least turned it on target.

Crewe's first half chance of the match fell to Anthony Elding on 8 minutes - but he couldn't get his volley on target after a clever lay off from Calvin Zola. It wasn't the easiest of chances for Elding.

After a slow start the game did spring into life with decent chances at both ends. After Danny O'Donnell was penalised for raising his studs above his head, the impressive Solomon Taiwo curled the free-kick into Button's side netting. Much to the amusement of the home supporters, the travelling supporters who had made the trip north thought it had gone in.

Almost immediately, Crewe's best effort of the first half saw Clayton Donaldson head a Billy Jones free-kick against the crossbar. The vastly experienced Tony Roberts, in goal for Dagenham had got his fingers tip to it to keep it out.

Crewe began to create the better of the chances. Elding headed another Jones free-kick looping over the bar. Moments later, Schumacher volleyed a yard or so wide after a loose punch from Roberts had only reached  the edge of the penalty area. Mat Mitchel-King had applied the pressure on Roberts as Donaldson launched one of his trademark throw-ins.

At the other end, Dagenham's tricky winger Danny Green ghosted in at the far post from another long throw-in but he couldn't get his header on target to trouble Button. Mitchel-King was also called into action to deny Will Antwi a clean header at our goal after a free-kick from Green. Crewe were conceding far too many free-kicks around our penalty area.

Grant was foiled by a scrambling Roberts as he tried to adjust his feet and clip it over the former Welsh International. Roberts stood his ground to catch the wingers' low cross.

Patrick Ada was immaculate in the first period and had to be up against the robust Nurse and clever Benson.

There was a defensive mix-up after 41 minutes with O'Donnell heading back past the onrushing Button. Benson got in behind but from an acute angle couldn't turn the shot home. It was certainly a let-off. Moments later, Crewe conceded a really cheap corner as they began to get jittery at the back towards the end of the first half.

The hard working Zola shot wide from 25 yards after pulling possession from the sky but it was Dagenham who would be going into the half-time interval in the lead following a wonderful strike from Nurse. The striker caught his 30-yard shot perfectly to give Button no chance.

Crewe started the second half on the front foot with Brayford shooting just wide from 30 yards out and Joel Grant also looking dangerous after drifting past Will Antwi. Grant was moved into a more central role with Elding moving wider, as Gudjon tried to get the winger more involved in the play.

Grant did have the ball in the net early on in the first half but Elding had only slightly strayed into an offside position in the build-up. Benson, so prolific for Dagenham last season had a sight of Button's goal on 53 minutes but the on-loan keeper from Spurs got his angles spot on.

Crewe forced a number of corners but the deliveries into the penalty were not as good as they have been during the pre-season with far too many over hit. With Crewe not creating as many clear cut chances as we would have liked, Gudjon made his first switch of the afternoon with James Bailey coming on for Steven Schumacher. The second switch saw Moore replace a tiring Donaldson.

Moore's impact was instant. He headed straight at Roberts after a flick on from Mitchel-King before producing a moment of pure quality to draw Crewe level on 74 minutes. Grant was the instigator of the move and found Moore with enough time and space to shift the ball onto his right foot before smashing it beyond Roberts and into the top corner of the Dagenham net.

Crewe should have kicked on from there but almost instantly fell behind again when Benson was granted far too much room and he made Crewe pay. He glided past Jones and O'Donnell before rounding Button and slotting home from within the six-yard box. Benson had punished Crewe for a lack of concentration and now the players had to raise themselves again.

Benson nearly killed the game off just minutes later though only for Button to tip his effort around the post.

Crewe continued to press forward looking for a second equaliser and could well have had a penalty after Grant appeared to have been clumsily tripped by Antwi just inside the penalty area.

The last throw of the dice saw Ada make way for the more attack minded Shaun Miller. Crewe huffed and puffed with Moore shooting waywardly from the edge of the box and Joel Grant wasting the best chance of the closing stages after being picked out superbly by John Brayford. Grant was on his own after collecting the accurate cross but he couldn't control his volley and it sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Crewe: Button, Brayford, Jones, O'Donnell, Ada (Miller), Schumacher (Bailey), Mat-Mitchel-King, Donaldson (Moore), Elding, Zola, Grant

Dagenham: Roberts, Doe, Taiwo, Arber, Green (Thomas), Thurgood, Nurse (Agogo), Griffiths, Benson, Antwi, Gain