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Dagenham vs Aldershot Town (H) |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 07 April 2007 |
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| Dagenham & Redbridge
2
Benson 12 Rainford 60 pen | Nationwide Conference
Victoria Road Saturday 7th April 2007 |
Aldershot Town
1 Dixon 66 | Daggers, finally after 2 near misses, reached the promised land of FL2 as they eventually held of an Aldershot side who came to spoil the party.
The Reds of Dagenham went into the game knowing that just 3 points separated them from the title and to their credit, started the game as they have so many this season, taking the game to their opposition. Aldershot, never easy opponents couldnt be treated lightly. A bumper crowd (please some of you come again) almost saw the Daggers take the lead inside the first ten minutes, Benno lofting the ball over the crossbar after latching onto some slack play in the shots backline. The goal did come on 12 minutes and it came from the head of the Conference top scorer. Sloma's cross from the left was not dealt with and Benno stole in to head home his 26th of the season. The goal definately settled the boys, and Aldershot began to look like a side looking forward to the end of the season. However, Dagenham were not making any real clear cut opportunities, but were restricting the Shots to long range efforts and the occassional half chance. The Reds really shoud have doubled their lead on 37 minutes, Benno breaking down the right and instead of shooting laid the ball into the path of Saunders to slot home. However he choose power, and the ball came down someone near Dagenham Heathway!! Their was still time for Robbo to get his picture in the paper, diving full length to keep out a Soares shot. His parry almost presented Aldershot with an opening but the boys at the back snuffed it out.
So far so good then but Jonny Still would be unlikely to let his charges take it easy with the football league within touching distance. Daggers came out searching for that vital second goal and should have got it just 5 minuted into the half, Strevens cross to the unmarked Benno should have been dispatched but a poor first touch allowed Bull to block. An even better chance arrives just before the hour as Strevs is hacked down inside the area to give Dave Tombone a chance to double the lead from the spot. He duly buries the pressurised spot kick to cue huge celebrations in the home ranks. However with this being Dagenham, we were never going to make it easy and straight away got the cigars out thinking we had done enough. A few of the Shots lads realised they were playing for their future and started to have a go. Aldershot came close from Hudson and Grant as the Shots started to exploit the slackness in our play. The crowd could sense the goal was coming and it arrived on 66 minutes, Dixon given the freedom of the Dagenham 6 yard box to head home from a right wing corner. Daggers were playing nervously and Robbo had to be at his best to thwart a Grant shot, Sammy Saunders on hand to hook away. Barnard then had free kick headed away by Mark Arber as Daggers lived dangerously.
However the last 10 minutes became uneventful as Aldershot realised that they didnt really want to spoil the party. Dagenham players and fans alike were willing the referee to blow his whistle and end the torture and when it came it brought wild scenes of joy as the realisation that the club will be embarking on new journeys next year began to sink in.
Well done all the boys on the pitch and the backroom staff on a truely momentous achievement. All your hard work has been rewarded in the ultimate way and i for one have loved every minute of it!! Thank you. Now, how do you get to Grimsby on a Tuesday in November....
Upminster Daggers MOTM: Mark Arber
| Dag & Red: Roberts, Foster , Uddin, Arber, Griffiths, Saunders (Vernazza 88), Rainford, Southam (Moore 81), Sloma (Leberl 70), Benson, Strevens.
Subs Not Used: Eyre, Jamie Taylor.
Booked: Leberl.
Aldershot: Bull, Smith, Day, Charles, Barnard, Soares (Hudson 61), Newman, Molesley (Beckford 88), Williams, Dixon (Winfield 74), John Grant.
Subs Not Used: Wells, Pritchard.
Att: 4,044.
Ref: P Gibbs (West Midlands).
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