The Daggers maintained their 10 point lead at the top of the table with a professional performance at Southport. With the 3 previous excellent victories anything other than a victory would have been a big let down but the players did not disappoint.
In the first few minutes Dagenham started slightly slowly with Southport having most of the ball but not doing anything with it. When Dagenham did get hold of the ball they looked dangerous, two early corners came to nothing but a third corner whipped in by Sam Saunders bounced around in the box and fell to Stan Boardman whose effort trickled over the line for a third goal in two games. The early goal also meant that Southport would have to press that bit more leaving them more open at the back. Southport controlled the ball for a lot of the first half from there on in and tried to play some decent football a 10 pass move looked to have the Daggers in trouble before the ball sailed out of the ground onto someone's roof and this was the story for Southport who pressed hard but didn't make Robbo make a save.
Benno meanwhile stormed through after good play from Southam and looked odds on to score having got past the keeper before a last ditch tackle saved the day. Just before half time they went two up through a excellent goal from Southam who got into the box faked to shoot and cut back inside and hit the ball past the keeper taking Dagenham in at half time two up.
The 2nd half started with Southport again pressing hard and indeed Robbo made his first save through a fairly tame effort scuffed along the floor at him. Dagenham bodies were being thrown in front of the ball to protect his goal as always did a excellent job and with Southport so high up the pitch the break was always on and Sloma looked to be through on goal having run past the defender before the female (nothing sexist!) linesperson raised her flag.
Concerted Dagenham pressure bought a 3rd goal when Southam was bought down just in the box just as he had broke through and looked ready to stick the ball in. After a debate who was going to take the penalty Strevs stepped up but had his penalty saved, Saunders following up stuck the rebound away well (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrRbgTewjcw).
3 up Dagenham looked like they could score from every attack a overhead kick from Southam was arrowing in to the corner before Harrison puled off a excellent save.
Southport though got the next goal with their second shot on target through a fine strike by Powell whose shot to the top right and corner beat a outstretched Robbo and all of a sudden people were worried about the last few minutes. They needn't have worried as a hopeful ball forward was left by the defender and Moore nipped in to head the ball past the keeper for 4-1 and his first goal since resigning.
3 more points and now Stafford on Tuesday for more of the same....
