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Dagenham vs Lincoln City (H) |
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Written by Administrator
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Saturday, 01 September 2007 |
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| Dagenham & Redbridge
1
Benson 87
| Football League 2
Victoria Road Saturday 1st September 2007 | | Report Following the Daggers heavy defeat at Chester it was vital they regained some confidence for the visit of Lincoln and secure a first win of the season.
The game began in much the same vein as the previous home game against Wycombe with a lot of Daggers pressure being soaked up well by the Lincoln defense and the Daggers looking in danger of being caught on the counter-attack. A good looking move between Foss and Strevens (including a showboating backheel from Strevs) saw Glenda shoot from the edge of the box with only a deflection taking the ball wide of the mark. Glenda again had a dig from outside the box shortly afterwards - this time though he couldn't keep his volley down and it sailed over the bar.
Lincoln were restricted by the Daggers defence in the first half and had to rely mainly on attempts from distance, although N'Guessan impressed with his pace down the left and did manage to beat Foss on a couple of occasions where he then had a free run.
The Daggers had a spate of corners late on in the first half and despite impressing in open play Sammy Saunders set pieces were still not making their targets as we continuously picked out the front defender. The only exception to this being a cross that was met by Strevens which failed to trouble the keeper - again the goal needing to be another foot taller!
Lincoln came back into the game in the latter stages of the 1st half - N'Guessan had two chances that he wasted when well placed before Robbo made a great one handed save from Stallard to keep the Daggers level at half time. The Lincoln players were becoming more confident at this point and another effort from Lee Beevers was fortunately sent over the bar. Poor marking was allowing Brown too much space to create for Lincoln and half time was a welcome respite for the Daggers to reorganise and come back out on top of the game.
The second half began and was to prove even more open than the first half had been. Again the Daggers were securing a lot of corners and it was a cross from the right that was met by the increasingly frustrating Rainford that gave Daggers an early attempt on target. Despite being a free header there was no power on it and the Lincoln keeper saved well, with Strevens attacking the rebound and striking over the bar.
At the other end some fantastic keeping from Robbo was now starting to keep the Daggers in the game. Most notably a fine block from the powerful N'Guessan who had managed to get through to be 1 on 1 with the Daggers stopper on the counter attack, shortly after Anwar had a header blocked on the line
Then the introduction of Benson seemed to click the Daggers into gear and a fine pass through the centre from Strevens found Benno running the usual channel and he was straight in on goal - perhaps in a couple of games time this will be a gilt edged chance but the sharpness will have to return to Benno first.
There was a flurry of activity around 75 minutes where both sides could have taken the lead. Firstly, Strevens cleared the ball off the Daggers goal-line after Hand had struck a fine volley which had Robbo beaten for the first time. A goal area scramble with the ball breaking loose at the other end led to a fine chip from Glenda beating the keeper all ends up but unfortunately finding the tallest man on the park marshalling the goal line and heading over.
Lincoln had another good opportunity shortly afterwards, again Lincoln got through 1 on 1 with Robbo - this time Frecklington but once again Robbo was quickly out to block.
Then on 87 minutes (just when we were predicting a heatbreaking late Lincoln goal) Sammy Sloma broke free and powered a good cross along the six yard box, and Benno was there to make contact and head the Daggers into a late lead - cue pandemonium. Only 3 minutes of injury time which turned into 4 and a bit could dampen the spirits a little but the Daggers played out the game and now have their historic first league win!
Upminster Daggers Man of the Match - Ben Strevens
| Dag & Red: Roberts, Foster , Okuonghae, Uddin, Griffiths, Saunders, Southam, Rainford, Sloma (Huke 90), Strevens (Taylor 83), Moore (Benson 66).
Subs Not Used: Thompson, Patterson.
Lincoln City: Marriott, Amoo, Moses, Brown, Beevers, Dodds (Ryan 78), Frecklington, Hand, N'Guessan (Warlow 89), Forrester (Torpey 89), Stallard.
Subs Not Used: Croft, Kerr.
Att: 2,060
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