7th
September Ryman Prem.
Final
Score Daggers 1 Boreham Wood 1
Before the game there
was a minute silence for Diana, Princess of Wales that was well supported
and received and a pleasure to be involved in.
Boreham Wood must have left the Victoria Road ground after the game feeling quite satisfied with the point they took with them. For most of the game and nearly all of the second half they were under intense pressure, although at times they looked good on the break helped by Dagenham's 3 man defence, a system they have taken up this season since Craig Davidson left the club after the Trophy Final. Boreham Wood had more play in the first half and in fact scored a good goal half way through it. Cobb equalised from the spot after the Wood conceived a penalty. Danny Hazle involved in a clash of heads was substituted just before half time and I believe taken to hospital.
Dagenham's second half
performance had everything, except a goal, the ball being crossed into the
goal area on well over ten occasions. Jason Brooms running on the
ball was extra-ordinary and he got past the right back on almost every
occasion he tried. Vinnie John also show some class with a clever
lob over the out of position keeper but the shot went just wide. The
only criticism was the forwards were not getting enough support from the
midfield on the break, and this strangely may be because of the 3 man
defence, where the whole midfield is defending when there is no need.
David Pratt worked hard and it was good to see his pace again. Not a
good result but a good performance, with a bit more luck the performance
will turn into points.
Gothard,Cole,Mas,Howard,Conner,Bass,Parratt,Cobb1,Hazle,John,Pratt,Broom
20th
September Ryman Prem.
Final
Score Daggers 2 Bromley 1
A
good dedicated performance with a fair outcome. The Dagger started
at a pace that made me breathless, and had a couple of half chances within
five minutes culminating in a goal for David Pratt, a cross from Jason
Broom from the left by-line to the far post found Pratt with an
interesting looking header that's direction was almost vertical, luckily
enough the well positioned Dave Wietcha in the Bromley goal would probably
had saved the shot if the header had been a bit more decisive. After
this good start, Bromley started to play well and put Dagenham under a
fair amount of pressure. The 32nd minute produced a good bit of work which
finished with goal from Lionel Best. The teams going in at half time
on equal terms.
The second half started well and in fact I was getting a pain in my
neck for a while having to look in the direction of Bromley's goal, once
again Dagenham are making a lot a chances, and at one of many numerous
corners won, Steve Conner rose above the keeper to head home from close
range. The same story as the first half, Bromley started to play well in
the last 15 minutes but for a good defensive display and an important save
from Gothard, they were unable to leave with a share of the points.
Gothard,Cole,Pratt[1],Howard,Conner[1],Creaser,Parratt,Cobb,John,Naylor,Broom
27th
September Ryman Prem.
Final
Score Daggers 1 Hendon 1
A
lot of anticipation before the match from the crowd, knowing that as
Sutton United were not playing today, the Daggers could go top and
stay there for more than 24 hours. This was not to be.
I'm
not sure if my memory is failing me but we seem to be playing better
football than last season, maybe because we got to the Trophy Final, the
teams that are playing us are raising their game. Again it happened
today, with the quality of players we have in our squad, I'm confused
sometimes by our team selection, why is Tolo Mas not starting every
game? There was good work in the first half and Cobb once again in
the thick of the action was used as a climbing frame by one of the 3
defenders that were obviously assigned to him. He struck the
resulting penalty well to make the score 1-0 in the 28th minute. The
lead lasted about as long as we were top of the league on Monday, and due
to really just a bit of bad luck Hendon were on level terms as Creaser
steered the ball with a good back header past Gothard who had decided to
come for the ball. It's unusual to say but no-one was at fault.
The
game was fast and exciting with more chances falling to Dagenham but there
was good team play from Hendon who I'm sure will be happy to go home with
a share of the points.
Gothard,Bass(Mas),Pratt,Howard,Conner,Creaser,Parratt,Cobb[1],Hazle(Wallace)Bird(Naylor)Broom