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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 22 February 2007 |
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The Daggers face one of their biggest games of the season on Saturday when they take on York City at Victoria Road. While the Daggers top the table, York currently lie in third place, 12 points behind the Daggers. A win is surely a must for York if they are to have any chance of catching the current leaders, while for Dagenham a win will increase the pressure on all the chasing pack.
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| | | Nationwide Conference
Victoria Road Saturday 24th February 2006
3:00pm |
| Preview | | OPPOSITION
York are now in their 3rd season in the Conference and this looks like being their best one so far. After a mixed start they have been one of the best sides in the League over the last two months. Their last two games have bought 6 points, with a thumping win at Altrincham followed by a 1-0 win at home to strugglign Weymouth. They have however had some low points recently, including a home loss to lowly Tamworth 3 weeks ago.
The main scoring threat for York will come from Clayton Donaldson. Donaldson is once again high up in the Conference scoring charts but will be leaving the club at the end of the season to join Scottish side Hibernian. It seems interesting that a club who is apparently in serious financial trouble is allowed not to sell their player for money as they gamble on promotion!!! Donaldson has recently been joined upfront by a young lad named Brodie. He has scored 3 goals in 4 league games but he may be banned for the game. He was sent off in a recent County Cup game, but York's notorious joke of a manager Billy McEwan is trying to cheat his way round the rules so Brodie can play.
PAST MEETINGS
The Daggers have met York once already this season when they won 3-2 at Mars Bar Crescent in late November. The Daggers arrived late for the game due to incidents on the trains and hardly had any time to warm up and prepare before recording a stunning victory. This did not stop McEwan the whinger accusing Dagenham of all sorts of things, including being a pub side!!! Last season York had the better of the games between the sides. The two teams drew 1-1 at York in October with Scott Griffthis grabbing a late late goal for the side from Essex. However, in March York walked away from Victoria Road after a 2-0 win. The Daggers had chances in the 1st half but did not take them and York took control after the break.
CROWD
I would imagine it will be the biggest crowd of the season at Victoria Road. Local interest in the Daggers appears to be increasing with their good form, and a number of other local sides such as West Ham are away or not in action. I also expect York will bring somewhere in the region of 500 fans, maybe more as they are such a massive club. All in all I would expect the total attendance to be around 2,500. The Upminster Daggers will be swelling the ranks of the Sponsored seats as they are Match Sponsors for the day, and may also be reminding Mr McEwan of a few of his comments!!
PREDICTION
It is a tough one to call. York have a very good away record and the Daggers have a decent home record. However, York's form of late has been a little patchy. Before ther win at Altrincham they had gone 4 games without a win. Daggers on the other hand are on a run of only 1 defeat in 10 and will be buoyed by their wins at Burton and Kidderminster. Therefore, I would go for a................1-1 draw as I have called draws all season and we have ended up winning, so hopefully that will continue!!!
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