Wycombe Wanderers 1, Dagenham and Redbridge 1.

PETER Murphy headed a late equaliser to rescue Wanderers just as they looked to be heading to a second defeat in a row.

Blues had completely dominated the first half but had nothing to show for their endeavours, as a succession of shots flew off target or straight at the keeper.

The visitors improved after the break but on the overall balance of play the opening goal from Jamie Cureton – so often the scourge of Wycombe – was still somewhat against the run of play.

Having seen their ten match unbeaten run come to an end in midweek at Exeter, Wanderers looked set to be heading for a second defeat in a row.

That was until Murphy scored for the second match in a row to rescue a point with his sixth goal of the campaign – although one point wasn’t enough for Wanderers to retain leadership of League Two, as Luton overtook them courtesy of a last-minute win over Northampton.

But this was a game that should have been sewn up by Blues before half time, such was the number of chances they spurned.

A first chance for the hosts came with just 42 seconds played as Murphy spun past a pair of opponents before playing in Paris Cowan-Hall, whose final effort was lacking as his shot was hit weakly straight at visiting keeper Mark Cousins.

Sam Wood sent a dipping volley off target a minute later and Josh Scowen flicked a header over the top after Joe Jacobson and Murphy conspired to open up the visiting defence, as Wanderers put the Daggers on the back foot right from the off.

Scowen then bent a shot from the edge of the box into the keeper’s gloves and Paul Hayes beat Scott Doe all too easily on the left before standing up a cross that the recalled Steven Craig headed disappointingly wide of the upright.

Another chance was pulled wide by Scowen and Murphy – a scorer in the midweek loss at Exeter – was almost able to break the deadlock but his header from a tight angle following Hayes’ cross struck the post.

Such was the rarity with which the visitors got out of their half, let along broke forward, sarcastic chants of “We had a shot on goal” greeted their first meaningful attempt - which in any event was a weakly-struck effort from one-time Blues loanee Ashley Chambers that was easily fielded by Matt Ingram.

It was still all Wanderers as an Aaron Pierre header from fully 18 yards looked to be going nowhere until it dipped right at the last second and needed to be turned over the crossbar by an acrobatic Cousins save.

Once more Murphy shot right down the keeper’s throat and Wood’s fierce volley also flew straight at Cousins as Wanderers failed to make the breakthrough before the interval – and they had to complete the match without the lively wing play of Cowan-Hall, who came off injured shortly before the break.

It was his replacement, Max Kretzschmar, who came agonisingly close to opening the scoring after the restart as Craig showed great strength to bully Nathan Green off the ball. His cross from the right was delicately touched into Kretzschmar’s path by Hayes, but the midfielder sent it curling just the wrong side of the upright.

Dagenham had started to show some attacking intent however and Ingram was at full stretch to claw away an angled shot from advancing full back Damian Batt. The resulting corner wasn’t properly dealt with by Blues and they were relieved when that most ancient of goal grabber Cureton fired over when the ball dropped to him.

A first-time shot from Kretzschmar following a flick from the industrious Craig was cracked just over the crossbar as chances continued to come and go for Wanderers.

Ade Yusuff fired a warning shot at Ingram and the same player was involved again as the Londoners stunned Adams Park by going in front against the run of play. His run wasn’t tracked at a throw-in and although his initial shot was kept out by Ingram, Cureton was on hand to slam home the rebound and put the visitors in front against the run of play.

Kretzschmar had a shot blocked and saw a skilful backheeled flick from a Sido Jombati cross clear the bar, before Gareth Ainsworth responded to falling behind by bringing on Matt McClure in place of Craig.

Dagenham were by now packing their defence, giving up any effort at trying to extend their lead.

It only took one lapse to lead to their downfall, as Wood refused to give up on a lost cause as a ball looked to be heading out of play. The midfielder stole possession back, cut inside and sent over a cross with his weaker right foot that was perfectly positioned and at just the right height for Murphy to crash home an equaliser.

And the former Accrington man almost won it in stoppage time as Hayes nodded the ball into his path, but he slashed it over the top.

Wanderers: Ingram, Jombati, Pierre, Mawson, Jacobson, Cowan-Hall (sub Kretzschmar), Murphy, Scowen, Wood, Hayes, Craig (sub McClure). Substitutes not used: Richardson, Walker, Lewis, Rowe, Bloomfield.

Attendance: 3,316 (127 from Dagenham)