Two goals from Mark Stein helped Dagenham & Redbridge beat Leigh RMI 3-1 at home and ensure last season's runners-up made a winning start to the new Nationwide Conference campaign.

The kick-off was delayed by over an hour after Leigh's players were stuck in traffic on their way to the ground.

When play finally got under way the Daggers made a flying start.

Stein snatched his first when he fired the ball home in the fourth minute.

And Steve McGavin doubled the advantage three minutes later with a left-foot volley from Danny Shipp's cross.

Tony Black pulled one back for the visitors but Stein restored Dagenham's two-goal advantage just before the hour-mark with a right-foot volley from Paul Terry's left-wing cross.

Leigh's hopes of a comeback were scuppered when debutant Neil Fitzhenry was sent off following a foul on Junior McDougald.

Dagenham & Redbridge: Roberts, Goodwin, Johnson, Bruce, Perkins, Hill, Terry, McGavin, Shipp, Stein, McDougald. Subs: West, Gothard, Hayzelden, Vaughan.

Leigh RMI: Coburn, Harrison, Durkin, Maden, Fitzhenry, Monk, Maamria, Black, Whitehead, Salt, Williams. Subs: Heald, Spooner, McGill, McCourtney.

Referee: J Singh