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Ryman Premier League
Saturday January 29th 2000
Carshalton 1 Daggers 1
Pictures
A bit of a lack lustre performance from a team that is capable of much more. Two or three players missing from the normal starting line up but this isn't an excuse, especially with the depth of squad that is at the club. Fortunately St. Albans' also dropped two points.
Fourteen points is not an unassailable lead and as it is only just over half way through the season this needs to be just a hiccup and not the shape of things to come.
I am not being over dramatic; next Friday...Purfleet....well I can almost predict that result, Then we play Heybridge who are another side that are improving by the week and are fighting against relegation. Both these games are going to be hard to predict but it doesn't end there, Dulwich followed by St. Albans make the next four games the most important so far in our quest in joining the non-league elite.
The simple fact was that Carshalton wanted a result more than Dagenham & Redbridge and even though they went 1-0 down after a deflection from Nabil's shot they kept plugging away until they got the goal they deserved.
There was a very physical aspect to their game but this is something that the Daggers have to rise above and not get involved in. Matt Jones did just that and in the end was lucky not to have been sent off, he was substituted, but, I felt it was probably about 15 minutes too late as he had already lost his effectiveness.
All in all it wasn't a great performance, it was Carshalton's cup final and they were able to lift their game for it but I don't believe that they will survive in this division.
We are still fourteen points clear and I have no doubt about where we will be playing next season.
This was a warning, let's take heed.
Newell, Cole, Naylor, Bodley, Kean, Terry, Janney (Nabil1), Cobb, Shipp (McDougald), Jones (Payne), Broom
Ryman Premier League
Monday 24th January 2000
St. Albans 1 Dagger 3
A match eagerly anticipated by both sets of supporters since it's postponement last month. Indeed some of us still had our party poppers but standing alone and letting it off probably didn't have the desired effect and I did feel a little silly.
It was a good turn out and both sets of supporters did try to out sing each other whcih helped create a good atmosphere. I must say that although 'Does your Sharon know your here' may be original...it wasn't funny.......My girlfriend knew exactly where I were.
Dagenham, once again, could have been one down within the opening couple of minutes as St. Albans made, what turned out to be, one of very few ventures into the visitors half during the first period. After this the Daggers took control and it was no surprise when they went into the lead when Paul Terry poked home a fine low cross from Danny Shipp from close range.
The visitors were to extend their lead with a difficult to describe second goal. Some would say an 'overhead shot' but I would say it was more like 'an over the shoulder flick with the outside of the boot, with back to goal, from an acute angle, ten yards out, where the ball lobbed into the far corner of the net' either way it made the score 2-0
St. Albans pulled one back with a couple of minutes left on the clock in the first half via a free kick that found it's way into the back of the net with a little help along the way. This obviously cheered the home contingent and set the game up for a thrilling second half encounter.
The second half didn't live entirely up to expectations and Dagenham did take their foot off the throttle. Whether this was deliberate I have my doubts. As St. Albans started to play the better football, pushing the ball around as the the opposition had done in the first half. They were unfortunate not to get an equaliser as, on too many occasions, they caught the defence out.
Dagenham did regain their composure in time and when, the slightly late, appearance of substitute McDougald came the game was all but over. He is such a good team player to have on the bench and although he wasn't directly involved with Mick Bodley's goal, his work at confusing defences beforehand is invaluable.
A great result against one of the better teams in the league and unless the team gets a bit over confident and therefore complacent, and I don't believe Garry Hill will let them, I really think the title is sewn up.
Last year our season was all but over by February, This year, for most of the teams in this league, their season is over by the end of January. It's time for the league to rethink the set-up.
Do they really care? I think not!
Ryman
Premier League
Saturday 22nd January 2000
Daggers 4 Harrow Borough 1
Pictures
Pictures from Harrow Borough FC
Website
With Heybridge beating St. Albans earlier in the week a lot of the recent pressure was reduced and we as supporters were able to enjoy a reasonable game of football.
That's not to say it was easy, far from it, Harrow came into this match with a fully fit squad and with attitude. The home side started as they have for most game recently, that is, trying to make things difficult. Once again they were asleep in the defensive area and in reality could have been 2-0 down within 3 minutes against a team that not only needed a win but obviously wanted it too. The home side had to beaver away throughout the first half but too many balls were going astray and Harrow had opportunities to catch them on the break.
It was Mark Janney who broke the deadlock with a good combination of passes culminating with a swerve past the keeper and a simple tap in. Paul Cobb relieved the tension by scoring the second with a cross from the bye-line that managed to find it's way into the back of the net.
Before half time the visitors pulled a deserved goal back after one of many defensive errors and so the score at half time was 2-1, which was not unreasonable
Whether it was the fact that St. Albans lost midweek or not, both the crowd and the players seemed more relaxed and enjoying the game, even the tea tasted better than in recent weeks! Paul Cobb put the game out of Harrow's reach when he collected the ball on the edge of the area, looked up to see the keeper off of his line and deftly lobbed him. A class goal. He completed his first league hat-trick for the club when he converted a penalty which was awarded after substitute and new signing Mark Kean was brought down in the area. Making the final score 4-1
Most clubs that are visiting Victoria Road at the moment are raising their game. Harrow were fourth from bottom at the start of the match but played well above this. Maybe because it was us that they were against, I don't know but if they carry on with this level of commitment then they will have no problem staying in this league
Newell, Goodwin, Naylor, Bodley, Mathews, Terry (Broom), Janney1, Cobb3, Shipp(Kean), Nabil, Heffer
Ryman
Premier League
Saturday 15th January 2000
Aylesbury United 0 Daggers 2
Pictures
A workmanlike performance against a team that showed a lot more heart than Billericay last week, who, perhaps had this weeks FA Trophy match on their minds.
Junior had 3 half chances within the first 5 minutes and this set the pattern for most of the first half. The difference between this match and others that we have played this season was that the players did enough to win and did so with something kept in reserve.
It would be difficult to select a definitive MOTM as there was no-one who looked outstanding. This, I feel, is important, because by the same token it wouldn't be easy to choose a player who didn't contribute in a big way.
Having said that Mark Janney was not at his best but never gave up trying and as we all have off days this 'never say die attitude' is what will help us win the league this year.
The second half was a little different to the first as Aylesbury did start to progress into the visitors half with more regularity but it wasn't until the last quarter that they gave Dagenham anything to worry about. But this only gave Paul Newell a chance to show that he can be called upon to pull off important saves.
By this time McDougald had already, (and I'm going to use the word again) fortuitously, via a deflection, put Dagenham 2-0 up. If anyone had deserved the goal then it was him for his tireless running and superb attitude.
Aylesbury have a nice ground, good support and a team that will not go down. They are just too good.
Newell, Matthews, Naylor, Bodley, Goodwin, Terry(Woolsey), Janney(Cobb), McDougald, Shipp, Nabil(Jones), Heffer
Ryman
Premier League
Saturday 8th January 2000
Billericay Town 0 Daggers 4
Pictures
This really was the Daggers back to the form they were showing in November, working for each other, working for themselves and working for us.
A special mention for Youness Nabil and Junior McDougald, who, after such a short partnership are developing a genuine understanding. This is something that Junior has missed up until now.
Another important point that I noticed today was the ability for most of the players to walk away from provocation which there was plenty of today. The reason that this is so important is that later in the season the suspensions for yellow and red cards that they could have got would make it difficult for us. So full marks there too.
It wasn't only Youness and Junior that I would single out for excellent service but the whole team, there wasn't any player that didn't pull their weight and this along with there being active encouragement between players instead of the recent nigglyness (new word?) made it a pleasure to watch.
The ball was moved around well, from side to side and into space and this created a lot of problems for Billericay's lumbering defence, who weren't getting much support from the midfield. And even though two of our goals were by Danny Shipp from the penalty spot the score would have been more realistic at 7-1.
Yes, the home side had a marvellous opportunity, early in the second half, to make the score 2-1 but the player who had been gifted this took too long in doing so and the ball was cleared. Within a minute there was a penalty and the score was 3-0.
Billericay staged a minor come back in the last 15 minutes but McDougald, albeit fortuitously, had put the game out of their reach.
4-0, I'm happy with that and I'm happy the way it was achieved.
Well done.
Newell, Cole, Naylor, Bodley, Matthews, Terry, Janney, Nabil(1), Shipp(2pens), (McDougald1), Heffer
Ryman
Premier League
Monday 3rd January 2000
Daggers 2 Gravesend & Northfleet 1
The weather was drizzling and Dagenham had to play against the wind in the first half.
An early daggers attack was countered within the first minute, they were caught out and 1-0 down. Lapse of concentration or conditions? I'm not sure.
Gravesend and Northfleet came to this game on the back of some good results which have seen them move into 6th in the league, they played well and kept us at bay for most of the first half. Chances did come and go and from set moves we looked particularly dangerous it was just a shame they weren't converted.
It was Bodley (I think) that put us ahead and it was from a corner. The score was 1-1 at half time and this probably slightly flattering for Dagenham & Redbridge.
Garry Hill made a couple of half time substitutions that were inspired. The slightly shaky defence was shored up with the inclusion of Lee Matthews, who came on for Lee Goodwin and Junior McDougald came on for Cobb. With a following wind Juniors pace was always going to be an asset.
Junior made the second goal as his shot/lob from 28 yards was pushed onto the underside of the bar to bounce out into Danny Shipp's path who made no mistake from 6 yards.
An important result and fair performance. St Alban's lost to Farnborough and this makes it comfortable once again.
With Billericay & Aylesbury away in the next couple of weeks, January is going to be a very important month.
Newell, Cole, Naylor, Bodley, Goodwin (Matthews), Terry, Janney, Cobb (McDougald), Shipp, Nabil, Heffer
At last I have my camera back but, as you can see, there is no improvement in the quality of the pictures....must be me then.
Mark Janney (7) and Paul Terry
Steve Heffer about to receive a very blurred ball.
End of match handshakes