Reason 1: John Still          

The Legend

Lets start with the obvious one first, John Still the manager. The mans a legend at Victoria Road and rightly so. He has taken Dagenham up into the league and survived that all important first season. He then led Dagenham to 8th last season, just missing out on the play-offs on the last day of the season, and this season after losing key players in  the summer he got Dagenham into the play-off final for the first time in our history and won. The club is in his blood, he was a player for Dagenham, he is in his second spell as the manager, he is a fan of the club and knows how to make it tick, but more importantly he has an eye for talent along with his staff that is unmatched at this level. He takes non-league players and turns them into stars. This season alone we have Danny Green, Josh Scott, and Damien McGrory all who are now regular first team players. As big a loss as some of the players were we lost in the summer, as well as Scott Griffiths at Christmas, John Still knows what he’s doing ,so for that reason he is Number 1.

Reason 2: Experience

 Experience is the second reason I believe we will stay up. Not experience of playing in League 1 as we don’t have that yet but the spine of the team is very experienced. In goal we have the ever young Tony Roberts, 40 years young and been there and done it with QPR and Wales, vastly experienced who is always communicating with those around him like all good keepers do. In front of him we have Mark Arber our captain surrounded by youth in the defence he is our rock. Talking,encouraging those around him and leading by example as all good leaders do. Next we have in midfield Peter Gain a battling midfielder who never gives up, also has that silky touch to add to his steel, he encourages the younger players to express themselves. Up front we have Paul Benson, top scorer this season and been at the Daggers for 5 years now an ex non-league player himself and another John Still gem. So when you look at the spine of the team at the moment, you’ve got to think that there’s a few league 1 teams that would want what we’ve got.

Reason 3: Youth

Danny Green

Youth is on our side here, we have a large amount of players under 24. The beauty of youth, joined with a level head, is that they have no fear on a football field, they see everything as a new experience and attack it with that pure joy. If we start at the back we have Chris Lewington as cover for Tony Roberts in goal, Ive seen Chris play a few times and he has impressed me so definitely one for the future. In defence we have Scott Doe, started the season as a full back but switched to centre half alongside Mark Arber and grew and grew as the season went on. The full backs are Damien McGrory and Abu Ogogo, McGrory had big shoes to fill in replacing Scott Griffiths but has done an excellent job in doing so. Ogogo had a few issues at the start of the season but has turned into a very good player. In midfield we have on the right Danny Green, another non-league gem, has had an excellent season and not afraid to attack the full back and get his crosses in. He has also become a free kick specialist as well, his goal at Chesterfield was superb, and a worthy man of the match at Wembley. Up front we have Josh Scott not every-one’s cup of tea, as some say he misses more than he scores, but has grown in confidence over the season and has worked very well with Paul Benson in the latter stages of the season. So if you add the experience to the youth, you have a team I believe that is capable of keeping us up next year.

Reason 4: The Club

Steve Thompson

The way the club is run is a credit and model that other clubs should be following. Steve Thompson works miracles behind the scenes and makes sure we have the finances in place. We don’t spend money we don’t have, we don’t pay wages we cant afford, like some clubs continue to do. The club is always thinking up ways of attracting new fans to the club, kids for a quid was one such scheme this year, a huge increase in our regular attendance for that game. The club understand the area they are from, they respect the history of the club as well. The volunteers that work the club shop, to the volunteers that work in the bar, and the supporters club all deserve real credit for what they do. They work long hours because they love the club and want to do it, that makes a huge difference. Special mention must go to Dave Andrews the Chairman, in an age when owners of football clubs are sometimes better known than the manger he quietly goes about his business, he has shown support to the manager as well and I’m sure he could walk around the club mixing with many fans and a few wouldn’t know who he was. That’s a credit to him and the way he continues to run the club.

Reason 5: The Ground

Lets be honest it isn’t the prettiest, or the smartest ground in League 1 but we can use that to our advantage next year. When we play the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Charlton, they wont be used to the fans being so close to the edge of the pitch. They will be able to see the whites of the eyes of the supporters cheering on the team. It will be a huge shock to a few of them and it may put them off their stride a little bit. We need to use this to our advantage next year as I think this will play a key part. We need to turn the ground into a fortress and hopefully pick up a few away wins to add to the points total. By doing this we could surprise a few teams and what could be better than that.

Reason 6: Being a Dagger

John Still speaks aboutthis a lot and type of player this is. I think hes right, we need to use this like the old Crazy Gang did in the 80’s to make people respect us and perhaps fear us a little. Being a Dagger is about team spirit, putting the needs of the team before your own needs, wanting to improve and be part of the club. As a supporter this is what makes me proud to say I’m a Dagger. I know when those players cross that white line for the next 90 minutes they will give everything for the cause, there’s no ‘ I don’t fancy it today’ play like you get in the Premiership. These players leave everything behind on the pitch. There aren’t any spoilt, I’m in this for me so let me kiss the badge then leave a few months later, at Dagenham that doesn’t happen. I haven’t never seen players that are happy to talk and sign autographs, say hello to fans like they do at Dagenham. That’s what being a Dagger is about and we are lucky to have a manager that instills that into the players, and players that follow that through to the end. Long my that continue as its what makes this club so special.

Reason 7: Play-off win

The win at Wembley has I believeinstilled belief into the players that they can handle the pressure of a big occasion. The win would have boosted confidence, and sent the players onto their holidays believing that as a group they can achieve so much more. Momentum gets spoken about a lot and we certainly built towards the seasons end culminating in the win. It will also have raised the clubs profile hugely and may attract new fans to the club next season. More fans means more money through the gate, which means we can attract some new players and keep the club on its excellent financial position. The play-off win could be the difference between us coming back down as to staying up it could have that big an effect on us, the calibre of player to the amount of fans that we attract, plus lets be honest here us as fans who where there will never forget it will we?

Reason 8: Derbies

We have a few this season, Leyton Orient, Charlton, Colchester, Brentford to name but 4. A mixture of London/Essex games that will be huge for us and the players. Form to be honest does go out of  the window for most of these games,  as ts about passion most of the time. I must admit I am looking forward to these greatly. The atmosphere will be electric at home and the players have shown they can handle the pressure of a big game. Who wouldn’t want to be involved in  these games?. To win a few of these will be a huge confidence boost to the team and I believe some of these clubs will be over confident of beating us and we could pick up points here. We need to use the Dagger factor and make it work for us which I’m sure they will. Something to really look forward to I feel with these games next season.

Reason 9: Fixtures

The 17th June at 10am will play a big part I believe in how our season is going to pan out. Why? well that’s when the fixture list is out. Never underestimate the power of a good fixture list. Get some of the big games early and you can pick up points as they wont know what to expect. Avoid teams stuck in the relegation places or going for promotion at the end of the season and you can pick up some wins to help yourself. So a good fixture list is important for building momentum at the start and end of the season. However we have no control over this so we will take what we are given and go from there, but picking up points early is going to be the key, get that first win under your belt and who knows where you’ll end up come May. Survival is going to be the key but it wont be easy!

Reason 10: Expectations

Be honest we don’t have any do we? Survival of course, ut anything else is a bonus isn’t it. We know we aren’t going for promotion so lets go out there and enjoy it.  If we had been told at Christmas we would win the play-off final we would have laughed as we didn’t see it happening. We aren’t going to be expected to win at the big clubs so we will have the element of surprise wont we! If some of the older supporters would have been told 10 years ago where we would find ourselves on August 7th this year they would have looked at you as if you were mad! Us in League 1 who would have thought it?. We are there though because we deserve to be, we have won  the right to play these teams, so why cant we beat them. There’s no law that says we cant is there? So low expectations means less pressure on the players, which could mean more wins. What a way to start the season.

So there are the reasons I think we can survive in League 1 next year. Have I missed any? Do you think I’m right? If not say so that’s the beauty of this blog. Its my opinion but it doesn’t make me right does it.

As I arrived at Wembley Park Station yesterday I was nervous about the game. Nervous we wouldn’t score, nervous we would get beaten, nervous that our players would freeze on the day. It was the biggest game in Dagenham and Redbridges history, I was as nervous as hell! 

As I left the station with my Dad and Daughter I was met with an amazing sight that took my breath away for a moment. A sea of red and white moving as one up Wembley way, great you may think, well not really you see I was dressed in a bright yellow curly wig, bright yellow t-shirt with Dagenham and Redbridge all over it and a daughter in a blue and yellow jesters hat with bells on it. We were surrounded by Rotherham supporters and no Daggers fans in sight! Where the hell were they all, they couldn’t have been in the ground it was 2pm an hour before kick-off.

My mobile ringing woke me from this thought, it was my father-in-law who I had arranged to meet outside the station. “Where are you?” he asked and before I could answer he said “Oh I see you the idiot in the bright yellow wig standing amongst all the Rotherham fans!” yeah thanks for that. 

We started to walk nervously up Wembley Way and all I could see was Rotherham fans. There was a huge electronic board directing us to the right side of the ramp and another directing the Rotherham fans to the left. I looked ahead and their side was rammed, ours was empty, I was beginning to think I had the wrong day….and then I heard it quietly at first then getting louder and louder.

“Digger, Dagger, Digger, Dagger Oi! Oi! Oi! Digger..Dagger..Digger..Dagger..Oi!Oi!Oi” a sea of yellow was coming up behind me. Here they came the mighty daggers….they had been in the bloody pub! Swarms of them now in good voice mixing and joking with the Rotherham fans, handshakes, photo’s being taken of both sets of fans, and well wishes from both supporters for the game ahead.

We entered Wembley and made our way to our block. We were in 131, as we went up the stairs towards our seats the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, as I left the damp, darkness of the inner building and burst out into the bright sunshine. I was surrounded by yellow daggers supporters all singing and laughing as we awaited the start of the biggest game in our history. Huge flags of both clubs crests hung over the pitch attached to giant inflatable balloons, the noise was a mixture of hope and anticipation at what may lay ahead. Songs about both clubs could be heard swirling around the ground. Would we win, more importantly would we score, we hadn’t beaten or scored against Rotherham in our two previous meetings this season so the omens weren’t good.

The stadium announcer then spoke and drew my attention to the left hand side of the pitch ” Please welcome the teams onto the pitch”. Fire blazed from black cylinders by the side of the pitch, fireworks went off, tik-a-tape blew around the ground as John Still and Ronnie Moore led Dagenham and Redbridge and Rotherham respectively onto the pitch.

Guess what I did? I blubbed like a baby. Yes that’s right I cried, the emotion of the moment got the better of me as I swelled with pride as the Pub Team from Essex entered the arena. They lined up along the red carpet as the national anthem was played, each captain then led the dignitary of the day along the line of players, introducing each player and shaking hands as they went along, as is the tradition on these occasions. All to soon it was time for kick-off and the anticipation grew as we awaited the shrill blast of the referee’s whistle to start the game.

The first ten minutes we attacked the Rotherham goal with our direct way of playing, get the ball down fast and quickly to the wingers and get those crosses in. To no avail unfortunately as Rotherham stood strong. The game then began to turn Rotherhams way and they created a few chances, the best of these being a glancing header by Ryan Taylor that crept goal wards. From where I was behind the goal it looked like it was going in and I held my breath expecting the net to burst into life as the ball hit the back of it, yet somehow it just missed the bottom hand corner. It seemed to happen in slow motion. I began to breathe again. The game began to ebb and flow, us having chances then Rotherham attacking our goal but neither team would bow to the pressure.

Until, what could only be described as a flash of brilliance. The ball came in from the right and Romain Vincelot launched himself into the air, his back towards goal he performed a scissors kick, I leapt up ready to shout goal…..but alas Andy Warrington produced a fine save in the Rotherham goal and pushed the ball out….but only as far as Paul Benson who stretched out a leg and made contact only for the ball to be diverted away for a corner from the challenging Rotherham defender.

We had turned the corner, we now believed that this could be our day, we began to dream a little that perhaps we could beat them after all. A few moments later Josh Scott burst through the middle dancing his way towards the penalty area, only to be fouled on the edge of the area, by Ian Sharps the Rotherham skipper, and a free kick was awarded. Up stepped Danny Green our young number 7, his first season in the football league and having an excellent season so far with 13 goals and as many assists, he placed the ball on its value, stepped back waited for the whistle, then started his run and let fly…..it went under the wall and was going in, we got ready to celebrate, but an outstretched glove appeared from nowhere and that man Warrington saved the day again. We would have to be more patient for the breakthrough too come.

We didn’t have to wait long though, 38 minutes to be precise, Paul Benson (above) received the ball in the penalty area, he took one touch to control it, swiveled and then BAMB!!! the ball hit the back of the net. I leapt with joy hugging anyone who was close enough, complete strangers and friends, yelling YES!YES!YES! over and over again. I couldn’t believe it the Pub Team From Essex had scored at Wembley this was the stuff dreams were made of!

It didn’t last long though as Rotherham worked the ball down the right hand side, the cross came in and oh no………they equalised from a Ryan Taylor header!!! We had, had the lead for less than 1 minute! Disaster! The players looked at each other, some shouted at each for not picking the man up, but the damage was done, it was time to re-group. A few minutes later and the half-time whistle blew. I sat there stunned at what I had seen. Why couldn’t we have hung on till half-time, what did the fickle finger of fate have in store for us now? Only time would tell.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity the players emerged from the tunnel for the start of the second half. We would be attacking the end with us in and the players Rotherham would be attacking the end with their supporters in. The stage was set for a hero to score in front of their own fans. A bright start to the second half by us led to a brilliant piece of individual skill and goal. The ball was cleared from a freekick and fell just inside of the Rotherham half. Danny Green picked the ball up and headed towards the penalty area. We were all awaiting the cross….when all of a sudden he shot from the just outside the edge of the penalty area at an acute angle and the ball nestled into the bottom right hand corner of the net(bellow)…..cue bedlam in the daggers end! Once again I grabbed the bloke next to me….don’t know who he was but he didn’t seem to care though….and then turned and grabbed my daughter shouting YES GET IN THERE! as loud as I possibly could.

We held the lead for a while longer this time and to be honest we rode our luck as well. Rotherham missed a sitter, Danny Harrison with the goal at his mercy managed to hit the top of the bar from six yards, how he missed I don’t even think he knows, but lady luck now seemed to be on our side. Rotherham continued to press looking for the equaliser and we came under a spell of sustained pressure. Then it happened a cross from the left found Ryan Taylor in space in the penalty area and his header hit the back of the net, it was 2-2.

This time however I was more confident, our players seemed to believe that this was going to be their day, and to be honest so did I. It was just a matter of time before we got the all important 3rd goal and secured our promotion to League 1. It wasn’t a classic to be honest, but that didn’t matter though.

The ball came in from a corner and wasn’t cleared properly by the Rotherham defence, it fell to John Nurse just inside the area and…well I would like to say he smashed it into the back of the net but, sorry Nursey, what he did was slice it towards the goal in slow motion, a total mis-hit shot. It drifted towards the goal, a group of Rotherham players waiting to hack it clear, but there was lady luck again, out stretched a Rotherham leg and the ball deflected into the back of the net. (below)

Cue absolute bedlam for the third time that day. I didn’t grab the bloke next to me this time, he had jumped into the row in front, not sure whether he did this to get away from me or to celebrate the goal, the bloke he landed on didn’t seem to mind though as he kissed him on his head. Well football makes men do very strange things sometimes!

I grabbed my daughter and hoisted her onto my shoulder yelling and tears streaming down my face. We had taken the lead for the 3rd time that day but this time could we hang on, we had 20 minutes too find out. The clock seemed to take forever to tick down. we had one more chance but blew it, well it wasn’t really a chance but seeing as it was Paul Benson our leading scorer well call it that. The ball came over and he tried an overhead kick with the goal at his mercy but got his angles wrong and it went wide. Rotherham however never gave up. The clock ticked to 88 then 89 minutes and we waited for the referee to blow his whistle but he didn’t as the assistant had added on 4 minutes, for what I’m not sure but we now had to wait a little longer.

Ball after ball was pumped into the area by the ever desperate Rotherham players who could see their chance of promtion slipping away, however each attempt was met by the legend that is Tony Roberts, 40 years young and playing his first game at Wembley, he punched or caught ball after all….then we heard it….the whistle….we stopped for a second not sure it was the end of the game, surely we hadn’t given a foul away in our area…and then saw the Dagenham players race across to each other, hugging each other in a way that meant mission accomplished….the pub team from Essex was a League 1 team for the first time in its 18 year history!

The players made their way up the steps to collect the play-off trophy(below), and we stood their taking in the moment, trying to get to grips with the facts of what our players had achieved, promotion to League 1. Us a Pub Team From Essex, going to 3 ex Premier League clubs and competing on a level playing field.

We watched the giant screen as Mark Arber our captain was followed by the other players along the balcony, handshakes and slaps on the back by Steve Thompson the chief executive and then Dave Andrews our chairman. Men who live and breathe Dagenham and Redbridge day in day out. As the trophy was lifted high into the air it all became real for us, we were going up!. Finally there he was the man who had made all of this happen, John Still, a smile on his face the size of Blackwall Tunnel, we made sure he got the biggest cheer of the day. The mans a dream maker! He plucks players from non-league and makes them into Daggers, never standing in thier way if a better offer comes in, making them better players when they do finaly do leave.

Roll on August 7th when we start all over again…..this time in League 1.    So what were your memories of that fantastic day? Let me know below.

Saturday 24th April 2010.
Coca-Cola League Two
Morecambe 1 Dagenham and Redbridge 0
Moss 86.

A superb volley from Morecambe defender Darren Moss four minutes from time saw Dagenham and Redbridge suffer yet more away day heartache at a sun-drenched Christie Park last Saturday.

Darren Moss who scored the all important late winner on Saturday.

The Essex club arrived on the Lancashire coast with only one win on their travels in 2010 and only four all season, but two home victories in a row had seen them jump into the final play off place, two points ahead of hosts Morecambe with just three matches to play.

John Still’s side were unchanged from the win over Burton Albion the previous week so Jon Nurse was once again preferred to Graeme Montgomery on the left hand side of midfield while Scott Doe continued to partner captain Mark Arber in the centre of defence. Meanwhile Morecambe boss Sammy McIlroy welcomed back skipper Jim Bentley into his defence.

With so much at stake the tension of the occasion seemed to affect both sides in the early exchanges although it was the visitors who settled quicker. They thought they had been given the boost of an early goal when Paul Benson turned the ball home from close range following a scramble in the Morecambe area after sixteen minutes but the assistant on the far side had already raised his flag for offside against the Daggers front man so his celebrations were cut short.

That merely seemed to fire up McIlroy’s boys and they really should have been out of sight by the break. Stewart Drummond somehow failed to hit the target twice from close range with the goal at his mercy while Paul Mullin and Gary Hunter both hit the woodwork with Daggers keeper Tony Roberts beaten as The Shrimps finished the half on top.

The second period followed a similar pattern with Morecambe always looking far more dangerous. Drummond found his luck was out again when Daggers defender Abu Ogogo cleared his goalbound effort off the line on the hour while Roberts then denied Hunter with a fine save soon after.

Roared on by a loud contingent of travelling fans behind the goal the Essex club looked for a big finish but it was not to be their day and the best they could muster was a couple of weak efforts from Josh Scott which did not really trouble Barry Roche in the home goal.

But just as it was looking like The Daggers would hold on for a very important point Morecambe finally made the breakthrough with less then five minutes remaining.

A corner from the left by substitute Neil Wainwright was only half cleared and the ball fell to Moss on the edge of the area who hit a stunning left foot volley into the top right hand corner of the net. The celebrations that followed showed just how much it meant to the Shrimps and it certainly was a great time for Moss to hit his first goal for the club.

Although the win was not quiet enough to lift McIlroy’s team into the play off places they are now only behind 7th placed Port Vale on goal difference while The Daggers are a further point and three places adrift.

Daggers manager John Still said,

‘It was a tough, tough game on an atrocious pitch but I thought they edged it and deserved to win. But we battled very hard against a team with a very good home record.’

Daggers manager John Still is confident about his sides play offs chances despite defeat at Morecambe.

Dagenham now hosts Hereford United on Saturday before a trip to relegated Darlington where they will be hoping to avoid last day agony for a second season in a row.

 ‘We now need six points from these last two games which I feel we are capable of doing.’ said an upbeat Still.

However the Daggers may have to face these crucial matches without two key players. Defender Doe limped off with a ankle injury midway through the first half while Benson followed him after suffering a broken nose in a clash with Bentley.

It is not yet known how long either will be out for but it was yet more bad news on another away day to forget for the Essex boys.

Morecambe – Roche, Moss, Bentley, Artell, Parrish, Duffy (Wainwright 50), Hunter, Drummond (Panther 89), Stanley, Mullin, Curtis (Haining 89).

Dagenham and Redbridge – Roberts, Ogogo, Doe (Uddin 31), Arber, McCrory, Green (Currie 90), Vincelot, Gain, Nurse, Benson (Walsh 69), Scott.

Attendence -2,100 (157 from Dagenham).

Peter Gain's injury disrupted the Daggers promotion challenge!

Clearly, the absence of these two key players affected the Daggers as they only won three of their 11 matches during February and March. With just seven games remaining, Dagenham arguably needed at least five victories to catch the teams above them. Nevertheless, two away defeats separated by a 3-1 home victory against Aldershot left them several points adrift with only four matches left. Fortunately, the clubs above had also been dropping points which kept the Daggers in touch going into the final three games.

A fantastic 3-0 triumph over play off rivals Bradford was followed by a 3-1 home victory against league leaders Brentford. The penultimate match of the campaign saw the team convincingly beat Notts County by three goals which lifted them into that final play off spot. A last day encounter with Shrewsbury, who was a point below, would decide who made the final play off spot. All Dagenham needed was a home win or a draw to cap off a memorable season. Nevertheless, a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat ensured that the team finished in 8th which guaranteed another season of League Two football.

Ben Strevens, Sam Saunders, Matt Ritchie and Magnus Okuanghae all moved on in the transfer window!

The consequences of failing to progress to League One were significant. Key players Ben Strevens, Sam Saunders and Danny Foster moved to Brentford on free transfers whilst star defender Magnus Okuanghae transferred to Colchester for a five figure fee. A rebuilding job was required and Will Antwi, Danny Green, Josh Scott, Stuart Thurgood, Scott Doe and Abu Ogogo were brought in.

Amazingly, the new combination of experience and youth from the lower leagues gelled immediately as the Daggers won their first three games of season scoring 12 goals in the process. The club were immediately brought back to earth with a 3-0 away defeat to big spending Notts County. Nevertheless, ten points from a possible twelve in their next four league matches preserved the team’s place in the automatic promotion places during mid September. A three game winless run halted the Daggers progress somewhat before they got back on track with home victories against Darlington and fellow promotion chasers Bradford.

Things were looking very bright during mid October for John Still’s men. However, out of the blue, star left back Scott Griffiths was taken to Peterborough on loan with a view to a permenant move in January. The transfer left Dagenham without a specialist left back for their trip to Macclesfield the next day. With 80 minutes gone, the Daggers were losing 2-0 and were down to ten men. A fantastic comeback saw the team eventually draw 2-2 which emphasised that the fighting spirit was still ever present throughout the squad.

Ever since, various loan signings have been purchased to cover for injuries. The Daggers form has dipped slightly with only two victories since the beginning of November. Nevertheless, the club, after much disruption, are lying in 4th place going into Christmas and constantly have to cope with small crowds and a low wage budget. It is therefore impossible to emphasise enough how well John Still has done with the resources at his disposal.

John Still - A Daggers legend!

The result saw John Still’s men fall a place to third in League Two. However, other results were kind to the Daggers after they were comprehensively outplayed in front of a particularly vociferous crowd at Underhill.

Experienced striker Paul Furlong rolled back the years to help Barnet to victory!

It was Barnet left winger Yannick Bolasie who set the tone for the evening in the very first minute. The loan signing from Plymouth was able to cut inside right back Scott Doe and force a fine save from veteran goalkeeper Tony Roberts.

The Welsh goalkeeper was doing his best to keep the Daggers in the match as prolific forward John O’Flynn raced clear but saw his one on one effort bravely blocked.

Nevertheless, it was another player in the twilight of his career that gave Barnet the lead in the 21st minute. Bolasie again was causing havoc down the left side and it was his low cross that was converted with a clinical strike from six yards by forty-year-old Paul Furlong.

Even so, Dagenham manager John Still had reason for optimism as his team would be kicking down the Underhill slope in the second half and were showing signs of getting back in the game. Danny Green and Paul Benson both had half chances that Barnet goalkeeper Jake Cole did well to keep out.

However, Still, who formerly managed Barnet in two separate spells between 1997-2002, saw his side’s ambitions to win the game take a hefty knock in first half stoppage time as the Bees won a penalty. Bolasie was again terrorizing full back Doe who produced a needless slide tackle just inside the penalty area to hand Barnet a golden opportunity from the spot. O’Flynn stepped up and coolly sent goalkeeper Tony Roberts the wrong way to give his team a 2-0 half time lead.

John Still did not enjoy a happy return to Underhill!

The second half began with the Daggers controlling the majority of the possession without being able to find a way through the Barnet backline. In particular, League Two top goalscorer Paul Benson was struggling to make an impact up against the experienced Gary Breen whilst explosive wingers Danny Green and Jon Nurse were unable to get beyond their full back.

A double substitution that saw winger Graeme Montgomery and striker Wesley Thomas introduced failed to make any sizable impact as the Daggers desperately searched for some of the form that had seen them climb to second place in League Two.

In fact, the away team’s best chance came in the 92nd minute as a Peter Gain curling effort from the edge of the penalty area skimmed the top of the crossbar in a rare moment of uncertainty for the home side.

Nevertheless, neither goalkeeper were particularly troubled in the second half as Ian Hendon’s much improved Barnet outfit cruised to a memorable victory over their Southern counterparts.

Bent struck as a mix up between the previously unbeatable Will Antwi and Dagenham club captain Mark Arber allowed the former Everton and Ipswich striker the opportunity to slot between goalkeeper Tony Roberts legs for a much needed victory.

The Daggers started with a slightly changed line up that saw winger Graeme Montgomery partner Paul Benson meaning that Peter Gain filled in on the left allowing Stuart Thurgood a place in the centre of midfield alongside Solomon Taiwo. The only other change from the 2-0 victory over Southend was the return of Mark Arber to the central defence meaning that Scott Doe replaced Abu Ogogo at right back.

Benson - recently signed a new three year deal!

Despite early fears that Cameron Jerome’s pace would prove hard to contain for the Daggers defence, the home side were more than matching their more illustrious opponents and a fierce Montgomery shot tested Maik Taylor in the Birmingham goal.

Chances were few and far between in the first half and a low Stuart Parnaby shot from distance that rolled narrowly wide was the best Alex McClish’s side could muster.

The second half also began fairly quietly with the Blue’s maintaining possession relatively comfortably but showing little creativity through a strong Daggers defence. In fact, John Still’s men were looking more dangerous on the counter attack as a Danny Green burst from midfield saw the young winger hit a spectacular shot which sailed narrowly over the bar and hit the goal support behind.

This saw the Blue’s respond as Keith Fahey hit a crisply struck shot but Roberts was in the right place to make a save. However, the game changed with the introduction of Marcus Bent for the ineffective Jerome. A long ball from James Mcfadden saw Antwi and Arber leave the ball for eachother allowing Bent to pounce for the opener. Bent had another great chance moments later but the onrushing Roberts this time got his body in the way to deflect it wide.

With the game drifting towards an anticlimatic end, the Daggers had a fantastic chance to equalise. Some great work from Green on the right allowed him to cross to an unmarked Josh Scott who headed narrowly over from close range as the Daggers went down to a narrow and perhaps undeserved defeat.

A Daggers team that was devoid of last season’s stars what with Sam Saunders, Magnus Okuanghae, Ben Strevens and Danny Foster moving up to League 1 saw off their more illustrious opponents with relative ease.

A low key start gave all Daggers supporters the chance to get equipped with several unfamiliar faces. Scott Doe and Will Antwi made up a new centre back pairing whilst former Arsenal youth product Abu Ogogo was the energetic right back. Graeme Montgomery and Danny Green roamed the wings whilst Josh Scott partnered the prolific Paul Benson in attack.

With expectations at a relative low following the summer clear out, it was the Daggers who perhaps surprisingly were knocking the ball around comfortably and confidently. A succession of corners saw the best opening opportunities as Will Antwi looked particularly threatening in the air and Scott Griffiths headed narrowly over under pressure. However, a knock down to Graeme Montgomery saw the tall winger’s rasping shot cleared off the goalline from a Southend defender. Nevertheless, the first half saw few other chances despite some good build up play from the home side.

The second half began with the Daggers in the ascendency and a goal a minute after the restart. A cross from the left saw Paul Benson showing his predator instincts to slot home from close range. The striker, who has been linked with Shrewsbury, notched his 2nd of the afternoon in the 66th minute as a Danny Green free kick found Benson in the right place to give John Still’s men a deserved 2-0 lead. In fact, Benson could have had a hat-trick moments later as a frantic goalmouth scramble saw the ball somehow roll wide.

Further chances came for Dagenham but they were thwarted by the Southend goalkeeper who seemed a lot more intent on keeping the score down than his defence did. All in all, a good workout for the Daggers who will face much tougher opposition when Premier League new boys Birmingham City visit on Wednesday evening.

Benson, who scored 28 goals in the Daggers Conference winning season, was linked with Gillingham earlier in the summer but manager John Still and the striker himself laughed off their undervalued approach. It will be interesting to see if the Daggers can reject a six figure bid for a 29 year old who has a history of injury problems, despite the amount of times he has ended up as the match winner for the club.

Benson - will he be lured away from the Daggers?

In other news, supporters are still waiting to see if manager John Still offers former Grays and Brentford winger Glen Poole a permenant contract after training with the club throughout pre season. The signing would certainly be a popular one with supporters who see Poole as an experienced option to help bolster the wings after losing Matt Ritchie and Sam Saunders this summer.

If Poole was to sign he would follow Will Antwi into the club who recently signed a two year deal with the club following his summer release from Wycombe. With Abu Ogogo replacing Danny Foster, Danny Green looking to fill the boots of Sam Saunders on the right wing and Josh Scott to hopefully become an adequate replacement for Ben Strevens, it will be interesting to see if Dagenham and Redbridge can live up to last season’s performance.

The striker fired Hayes and Yeading to an unlikely promotion from the Blue Square South with 25 goals in just 34 appearances and will probably be a direct replacement for Ben Strevens rather than one for the future.

Will Josh Scott start the new season alongside Paul Benson?

Scott joins Danny Green and Stuart Thurgood as the new Daggers signings so far. It seems that the club will have a fairly different starting line up come the new season. With Player of the Season Magnus Okuanghae set to leave, the Daggers could very well have six of their regular 2008/09 line up replaced.

Potential line up

                  Roberts

Right back, Doe, Arber, Griffiths

Green, Taiwo, Gain, Montgomery

                Scott, Benson

&border=0&rel=0&egm=0&color1=0x666666&color2=0xefefef' /> ]]> http://daggers.footballblog.co.uk/striker-scott-in-as-daggers-look-to-rebuild.html/feed 0 http://daggers.footballblog.co.uk/saunders-strevens-foster-depart.html http://daggers.footballblog.co.uk/saunders-strevens-foster-depart.html#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:10:02 +0000 leewilson http://daggers.footballblog.co.uk/?p=122 Ever since the final whistle blew on Dagenham and Redbridge’s brave promotion push in May, the speculation regarding several of the club’s top players has been intense.