3rd March 1998 Ryman Prem.
Gravesend
& Northfleet 2 Daggers 2
A wet windy night should
have made this game a lottery. A penalty that never was, 'won' and
converted by Paul Cobb and a stab from six yards by Matty Bird after a
shot from Danny Shipp couldn't be held by Elvis impersonator Ron Fearon
separated the two sides at the break. Gravesend came out the better
side after half time where as the Daggers looked complacent, the home side
capitalised on the this when after numerous attacks they were rewarded
with a goal. The Daggers made one or two forward movements but, it
really was one-way traffic. Gravesend equalised in the 92nd minute
as both sets of supporters were congregating around the exit, after the
restart they once again went forward and could have clinch the result that
they deserved.
Saturday
7th March 1998 Ryman Prem.
Daggers
2 Aylesbury 3
Daggers playing against
a very strong wind in the first half contributed to Aylesbury's first goal
but before this in the 3rd minute Tim Cole fell over on the edge of the
area which let Dean Williams in, he missed a golden opportunity to put the
visitors ahead, they didn't have to wait long though, a minute later after
a mix up in the home defence a low cross came in for Aylesbury's Jason
Court to prod into the back of the net. After a lot Daggers pressure
a Matty Bird cross was headed narrowly over the bar by Danny Shipp.
Then on 40 minutes John Nicholson collected the ball just behind the
half-way line, moved out to the wing and curl the ball around the
Aylesbury defence and into Cobb's path, he pushed the ball forward a
little too hard to set up for the shot but recovered well to slide the
ball into the back of the net. For the next 5 minutes or so both
teams produced some good football before Cobb picked up a high ball from
the middle of defence, controlling it on his chest with his back to the
ball and lobbed the advancing keeper from 25 yards. During time added on,
some good work between Cole and Janney culminated in an inch perfect far
post cross which was converted by Shipp only to be ruled off-side.
In the first fifteen minutes after the break both teams had even
exchanges. Dagenham started to exert a fair amount of pressure and
from a corner Lee Matthews headed well from 8 yards only to hit the bar,
the rebound forced another corner, this was half cleared but only as far
as Howard who struck the ball well from 30 yards, unfortunately the shot
was saved by Andy Lomas. From this point Aylesbury began to take
control of the game and played very well against a wind that appeared to
getting stronger. Gothard made a superb save from a hard and low
shot to his right. The visitors equaliser came from another mix-up
and although Gothard appeared to be well placed for the shot the ball was
hit downwards and bounced into the back of the net. In the 71st
minute another long ball was launched towards Cobb who watched it come
over his shoulder and volleyed it from 15 yards only to see it crash
against the post. The second time this season that a Cobb hat-trick
has been thwarted this way. Aylesbury took the lead for the first
time in the match with 5 minutes to go, a brilliant run by Kieran
Gallagher from inside his own half down the right beating Lee Matthews on
the way through to the six yard box where he put a cross in to be poked
home.
An exciting game but the Daggers are having lapses of concentration and
this is when they are being punished.
Gothard, Cole, Pratt, Howard, Creaser, Matthews,
Nicholson, Cobb2, Shipp, Bird, Janney.
Monday
9th March 1998 Essex Senior Cup Semi-Final
Daggers
6 Southend United 2
At last a fine
performance by a team that looked hungry for a good result especially in
the first half, it started with the fastest goal I've ever seen, Danny
Shipp picked up on a backpass and calmly slotted past Steve Spittle, this
was after 10 seconds. On 17 minutes, Shipp once again in the action
collected a ball and put a cross in un-selfishly, the ball rebounded back
to him but his shot went wide.The Daggers second goal was a fine 20
yard shot from Matty Bird after Shipp had collected
a long ball from
defence, held it up well and passed back. Southend pulled one back
on the 26th minute when Thompson collected the ball in the area and shot
well to the far corner of the net. Janney's confidence was growing
by the minute and made a couple of good runs down the right, one of which
he finished off with a perfect far post cross, Shipp struck it with style
the ball going in off the underside of the bar. Janney was again
involved in the 4th, although this time he was deep in defence, the ball
cleared to Lee Double who pushed it over the centre of the Southend
defence. Shipp won the ball and he took it around the 'keeper for his
hat-trick. A good half time score line of 4-1.
Southend at time were class above the Daggers and their one touch
football along with their vision was good to see, the problem they had
tonight is they didn't want to win and the final ball went astray.
Having said that early in the second half the home side had to keep the
concentration that they have been lacking at times in the league campaign
because Southend seemed to step up a gear. On 51 minutes a clumsy
tackle by Sam Bass gave the visitors a chance to pull one back from the
penalty spot only for the kick to go wide after hitting the outside of the
post, I think Gothard had it covered anyway. 3 minutes later they
got the goal that they had been pushing for and this was the result of the
ball not being cleared decisively enough and the shot taken a deflection
past Gothard into the bottom right of the goal. Mark Janney once
again got involved and hit the bar from 30 yards after twisting and
turning past the midfield. In the 73rd minute Shipp got his 4th and
the Daggers 5th, this was created from a Gothard clearance, the ball
collected and scissor kicked from 10 yards across and past Spittle , who
by this time surely just wanted to go home, in fact he must have
thought his defence had. 2 minutes later Shipp could have got his
5th but chose to pull the ball back to Matty Bird who slotted home
from 6 yards.
A good evening's entertainment it was just a shame that Paul Cobb couldn't
convert the 2 or 3 chances he had but he certainly enjoyed the game, along
with the rest of us.
Gothard, Cole(Mas), Pratt, Howard(Oakley), Bass,
Matthews, Double, Cobb, Shipp4, Bird2, Janney(Naylor)
Saturday
14th March 1998 Ryman Prem.
Boreham
Wood 0 Daggers 0
A game that only came to
life on a few occasions and a result that effectively has ended our
championship dreams. It wasn't until after 30 minutes that Dean
Parratt had the first attempt on goal with a 30 yard shot that beat the
'keeper but not the bar, 3 minutes later he was in a similar position but
his lob was well over the crossbar. Dagenham probably had the better
chances in the first half but Boreham Wood took control in the second.
Around the 13th minute they passed the ball well across the edge of our
area, culminating in a short range shot that was parried by Gothard and
the second follow up shot being cleared off the line, this was probably
the best effort of the day. The game was a bit scrappy with neither
team's passing being decisive enough and I believe it was a fair result.
Saturday
21st March 1998 Ryman Prem.
Daggers
1 St.Albans 1
A bit of a bright start
from an eager St. Albans City, they had 3 chances within the first 3
minutes, the best being the 3rd as it was cleared off the line by Dean
Parratt (who now owes me £50 as I had the golden goal ticket for
that time.) 3 minutes later another attack from the visitors had Lee
Matthews blocking well on the edge of the six yard box, the rebound was
struck well but Gothard was equal to it. On 8 minutes the Daggers
managed to venture into the opposing half Pratt working hard to win the
ball on the left, in went a far post cross for Mark Janney to head back to
Shipp who made a spectacular over head shot only to see it go straight
into Gareth Howells arms. On 14 minutes Gothard once again came to
the rescue and saved a good header from point blank range. Daggers
were to have a couple of chances in the first half, Cobb produced a
wonderful dipping shot when he collected the ball 25 yards out on the
right of the penalty area but the 'keeper watched it all the way and put
the ball over the bar for a corner. Tim Coles vision today was our saving
grace and when he released Pratt after a 45 yard cross field pass I
thought that our time had come , the final shot was not good enough.
Dagenham's second half performance was an improvement as there seemed to
be a little more urgency in their game. Howard took a free kick from
inside our half which looked long but Janney managed to pull it back for
John Nicholson to volley a shot but it deflected off of a defender for a
corner. Parratt took the corner, it was deep and towards Sam Bass
who was adjudged to have been brought down for a penalty. Cobb
calmly slotted home another fine penalty to bring his seasons tally to 27
in all competitions. Cobb had another chance before St. Albans
managed to pull one back after a goal mouth scramble.
After their 1st half performance St Albans did deserve to share the
points.
Gothard, Cole, Pratt, Howard, Bass,
Matthews, Nicholson, Cobb1, Shipp, Parratt, Janney.