Upminster Daggers - Dagenham and Redbridge FC Fan Site

York City

 
2

Woolford 10

Donaldson 47 

Nationwide Conference
Kit -Kat Crescent

Saturday 25th November 2006

Report

Dagenham came away from the Wonka Bar Stadium with all 3 points, after one of their best performances in recent times.  The win keeps them within two points of leaders Oxford, and opens up a 10 gap to the sides in 3rd place.

Bearing in mind the difficulties with the journey up to York, John Still will be delighted with the character shown by his side throughout the game.

It was York, not surprisingly, who started the game well, playing with a high tempo and pushing the visitors back towards their own area.  It was therefore not a shock, when after 10 minutes, Woolford was given time to steady himself before striking a crisp shot past a stunned Tony Roberts.  York continued to press and needed a combination of Shane Blackett and Roberts to keep out York's next attack as the Daggers struggled to adapt to the sodden conditions.  However, they gradually started getting into the game and one fine move ended with York keeper Evans doing well to hold on to a Paul Benson header.  But the travelling fans did not have to wait much longer for a Daggers goal.  31 minutes in, Craig-Mackail Smith turned on the edge of the box and fired home a stunning strike, into the top corner of the York goal.  Both teams continued to play the game at a high pace, but went in at half time level at 1-1.

Dagenham seemed to have stayed in the dressing rooms after the break and failed to clear their lines several times as the game restarted.  One such time saw the ball squirm through to Clayton Donaldson and the big striker poked the ball home from 8 yards.  At this stage the Daggers were wobbling, but gradually they worked their way back into the game.  Paul Benson won a corner just after the hour mark and from this Sam Saunders played the ball out to Glen Southam.  The midfielder, with two recent penalty misses to his name, took aim from around 25 yards and smashed the ball into the top corner to put John Still's men back on level terms.  After that both teams looked determined to gain all 3 points and the game could have gone either way.  However, with the home side pushing forward gaps were opening up for the visitors.  With 13 minutes remaining Paul Benson played the ball through to Mackail-Smith.  The surface water held the ball up perfectly for the Daggers man and with keeper Evans going to ground early, Mackail-Smith was able to steer the ball home to put the 2nd place side in front for the first time.  From then on York threw everything at the visitors.  Tony Roberts made two crucial saves and Blackett, Uddin and Foster all threw themselves in to make crucial blocks.  York were given over 4 minutes of injury time to find the equaliser, but the Daggers held on for one of their most impressive results of recent times.

Upminster Daggers Man of the Match - Craig Mackail-Smith and Danny Foster

Teams:

York: Evans, Craddock (Greenwood 62), McGurk, Goodliffe, Lloyd (McMahon 82), Bowey, Bishop (Stamp 79), Panther, Woolford, Donaldson, Farrell.
Subs Not Used: Reid, Foster.

Booked: Stamp.

Dag & Red: Roberts, Foster , Blackett, Uddin, Griffiths, Saunders (Akurang 90), Leberl, Southam, Sloma (Bruce 67), Mackail-Smith, Benson, Akurang (Lettejallow 90).
Subs Not Used: Hogan, Batt.

Booked: Saunders, Griffiths.

Att: 3,050.

Ref: S Cummins (Runcorn).