Three field goals in the first half from Phil Dawson have handed the San Francisco 49ers a narrow half-time lead in their clash against the New York Giants.

The visitors started well on offense and pushed deep into the Giants' half of the field, but Frank Gore fumbled the ball, allowing the home side to gather. Eli Manning punished the running back for his error when he found tight end Larry Donnell in the endzone for 19-yard touchdown.

San Francisco responded with a field goal on their corresponding drive as Colin Kaepernick failed to guide his side into the endzone, but Dawson was on hand to knock his kick through the posts from 31 yards.

The 49ers continued to struggle in the redzone on offense as Kaepernick couldn't find an open receiver close to the goalline, and again Dawson was required to kick a field goal from 37 yards through the posts to bring Jim Harbaugh's side to within a point.

Chris Borland made a huge play for the 49ers' defense when he picked off a pass from Manning, and put his side into Giants territory. However, Kaepernick and his offense couldn't deliver a touchdown as Dawson notched his third field goal of the game to fire his side ahead.