MATCH VERDICT: FC Halifax Town 2-0 Dagenham and Redbridge

Town included six new signings in their starting 11, including front-two Gold Omotayo and Gevaro Nepomuceno, whose deals had only been announced an hour before kick-off.

And they were deserved winners, displaying far more adventure, ideas and intent.

If pre-season had been a bit of a damp squib, then the season proper started with a bang; defensively solid, assured in possession and playing as a cohesive unit, with movement and intelligence.

A clearance into touch under no pressure by Dagenham 10 minutes in indicated how dominant Town had been from the start, with the visitors happy for a breather.

The only criticism was Town's dominance hadn't transferred into chances, but The Shaymen were the far brighter, more creative side, looking to play the pacey Nepomuceno in down the left channel and building from the back, with Martin Woods and Summerfield dictating play.

Town's back three spread wide in possession, allowing Jeff King and Danny Williams to push up the pitch, and the width they offered was noticeable, while Halifax were winning the midfield battle completely.

Omotayo and Nepomuceno both got sight of goal around the 15 minute mark, with the former heading a tricky chance from Williams' cross wide, and the latter's cross deflected to the keeper after Summerfield's through ball.

Angelo Balanta squandered the first clear chance of the game, sidefooting weakly at Sam Johnson when well-placed and in space 15 yards out.

Town's first big chance fell for Omotayo from Woods’ cut back but he sidefooted over from near the angle of the six yard box on the stretch

The impressive King then hit the outside of the post with a left-foot curler after an excellent cross-field pass by Woods, who was also catching the eye.

As for Dagenham, a mickick out of his hands by keeper Elliot Justham on the half-hour mark pretty much summed it up; they'd not got going.

While the visitors were slow and disjointed, Town were popping the ball around with confidence and purpose.

Those fans unable to watch due to the streaming service's teething problems were missing out; Town were in HD, Dagenham were buffering.

Nepomuceno's pace was worrying the Dagenham defence down the left, but chances had started to dry up again - unlike the incessant rain - as half-time approached.

The Shaymen ahd started to go long a little more rather than always building from the back, but that was playing into Dagenham's hands, who were starting to get a grip on Town.

There was nearly a sting in the tale at the end of the first-half when Tom Bradbury dealt nervously with Elliott Johnson's deep cross from the left, but thankfully his shanked clearance fell straight to Sam Johnson.

But Town got the lead they deserved when King was clumsily bundled over in the box - seconds after an appeal for handball was turned down - and Summerfield sent Justham the wrong way with the last kick of the half.

Unfortunately, the camera filming the game for the live stream was sent the wrong way too, and missed the goal altogether.

Dagenham came out after the break having seemingly received a rollocking from manager Daryl McMahon, playing with more attacking intent and pressing better, with McMahon darting onto the concourse to retrieve the ball a few minutes after the interval, exemplifying the urgency he wanted from his team.

Omotayo headed just wide from King's cross 10 minutes after the restart, but it was already apparent Town's was a slender lead, with Dagenham enjoying far more possession, and higher up the pitch, than in the first-half.

With Town now increasingly playing on the break, the introduction of the rapid Jamie Allen made sense, with he and debutant Kieran Green coming on just after the hour mark.

Town's attacks didn't quite offer the same fluency as earlier in the game, while Dagenham gradually turning the screw, seeing more of the ball but without creating much.

But Town found the cushion they wanted when, after some patient build-up play around the edge of the Dagenham box, Earing produced a lovely curling finish across goal from the right of the box with his left foot to score on the opening day of the season for the second year in succession.

That gave Halifax some crucial breathing space, although Dagenham should have halved the deficit through Paul McCallum's header eight yards out, but it was straight at Johnson.

Bradbury went close at the other end for Town, heading inches wide from Summerfield's free-kick.

And who would've begrudged Town a third?

Clitheroe, Boston, Curzon and Fleetwood under 23's might not have been beaten, but Dagenham were.

Halifax: Johnson, Byrne, Clarke, Bradbury, King, Williams, Summerfield, Woods (Green 61), Earing (Benn 90), Omotayo, Nepomuceno (Allen 61). Subs not used: Davison-Hale, Tear.

Scorers: Summerfield (45), Earing (68)

Shots on target: 2

Shots off target: 9

Corners: 2

Dagenham: Justham, Reynolds, Rance, Clark, Johnson, Brundle (Clifton 74), Balanta, Robinson (Croll 46), Eleftheriou, McQueen (Deering 68), McCallum. Subs not used: Brown, Wright.

Shots on target: 3

Shots off target: 2

Corners: 1

Referee: Andrew Kitchen

Town man of the match: Luke Summerfield - a few contenders but the debutant held his nerve from the spot and dictated much of the play from midfield. A calm and assured presence.