Report Another big game for the Daggers as they took on one of the old enemy away at the home of roundabouts - Stevenage Borough.
A great travelling support made the relatively short journey up the A1 to see the Daggers continue their fine run of form against an improving Stevenage Borough. With such a large number in the ground there was a great atmosphere as kick off approached and what followed did not disappoint. The game started at a fast pace and it wasn't long before Dagenham were applying great pressure on the Stevenage back line and winning a number of corners and free kicks around the box. Much as in years gone by and not like recent games our set pieces left a lot to be desired early on, although this was not down to the balls being put in by Sloma and Saunders and more to do with the lack of men running the back post line where the crosses were arriving with regularity. It didn't take long however for the pressure to tell and a ball over the top of the defence set CMS on a run to the by-line where he managed to keep the ball in play ?? with a hook back across the area where Sam Sloma struck the ball cleanly from just outside the box to beat the despairing dive of the Stevenage keeper.
The Daggers continued to keep the pressure on for most of the first half and only inches separated them from a second goal when CMS dived at full stretch to head home a good Glen Southam cross.
As the half went into it's final 10 minutes Stevenage began to take control as some fine work from their wingers put the Daggers on the back foot. Tony Roberts was called upon to make some fine saves, most notably from Jon Nurse who looked to be through on goal following some nice work on the edge of the Daggers box.
It was the wing men that then provided the breakthrough for Stevenage with just seconds left on the clock in the first half. A cross from the left found its way to the back post where Steve Morrison headed in for the Borough equaliser, the whistle blowing shortly afterwards for the break.
In the second half the Daggers started nervously with the midfield being sucked back towards the defence with a little too much regularity. Stevenage continued to probe the Daggers defence but were left exposed at the back where on the hour mark when another clearance forward found the excellent CMS who ran powerfully toward the Stevenage area before unleashing a shot on goal that struck the woodwork - the rebound found it's way to Sam Sloma again running in from deep who managed to deceive the defender covering the line to put the Daggers ahead 2-1.
Despite remaining under the cosh for the remainder of the game an awesome performance from Shane Blackett along with the other Daggers defenders meant that there was no further change to the scoreline. Another great win on the road for the Daggers and the fans and the players celebrated accordingly at the final whistle.
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Teams Stevenage: Julian, Fuller (Deen 77), Nutter, Gaia, Henry, Boyd, Lee (Miller 72), Dobson, Beard, Nurse, Morison.
Subs Not Used: Potter, Oliver, Scaley.
Booked: Julian, Morison.
Dag & Red: Roberts, Foster , Griffiths, Blackett, Uddin, Sam Sloma (Leberl 66), Saunders (Bruce 65), Southam, Rainford, Mackail-Smith (Akurang 87), Benson.
Subs Not Used: Batt, Hogan.
Booked: Saunders, Sam Sloma.
Att: 2,362.
Ref: G Ward (Kent).
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