STEVE Butterworth has backed Daniel Akindayini to flourish after bagging his first goal in Great Wakering Rovers colours.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster came off the bench and grabbed an equaliser deep in injury time to ensure Wakering would seal a 1-1 draw at neighbours Basildon United.

And Butterworth is pleased to have someone of Akindayini’s calibre on Wakering’s books.

The Wakering player-manager said: “We signed him after a spell with Hornchurch last week.

“He started the season there but they are doing very well and he has struggled to break through with them.

“Daniel has had a very good career having come through at Tottenham and been professional in the Netherlands and Norway.

“He has the pedigree to be far superior than our level but he has found himself dropping down and I think he just needs a bit of confidence.

“Daniel is only 23 and he played a couple of games on trial for Cheshunt.

“Cheshunt manager Craig Edwards said I could have him for a month and see how he does.

“If he does very well, he will go back. But things change quickly in football.

“I’m very pleased for him and you can tell he is from a higher level because he is technically very good.

“I think he will prove to be a very good signing for us, regardless of how long we have him for.”

Akindayini’s intervention was needed for Wakering to leave the Cousins Car Wash Stadium with a share of the spoils.

Former Wakering striker Adam Vyse saw a fourth minute penalty saved by Bobby Mason before then being sent off for violent conduct.

Danny Norton gave Basildon a second half lead before Wakering skipper Marc Gorbell and the hosts’ Ayo Odukoya were sent for an early bath.

However, Akindayini converted from a narrow angle in the dying moments and Butterworth was content with a point despite having a numerical advantage for more than an hour of the Isthmian North contest.

Butterworth added: “I thought we were the better side but they played with 10 men for 60 minutes, missed a penalty and were clean through once as well so they probably had the better chances.

“I said to the boys at half-time to respect the point and I’ve set the boys a challenge of going undefeated this month.

“The boys think they should have won but when you look at the chances, a point was probably fair.

“I’ll take the point and we will now focus on Witham Town.”