Digger Dagger Matchday

This was an opportunity for The Daggers to get back on track with three new great signings and some special American visitors watching along. After their FA Cup exit it was time for Dagenham to focus on the league and climb up the table, putting recent results behind them. Hosting Harrogate was always going to be a tough test but this game felt different from the rest; with new additions came new hope and a real sense of optimism. The Daggers got the highly anticipated match underway and Balanta on his debut looked to make an instant i mpact just seconds in but his ambitious attempt to beat Belshaw failed - sailing over the bar in fact. Another debutant Emmanuel Onariase looked to make a difference as well early on, winning a free kick on the halfway line, only for it to result in a foul conceded by Dagenham. Jack Munns tried his luck from outside the box (maybe him not being the smallest player on the pitch got him over confident) but his effort dragged miles wide. So Dagenham

So it is that time of year again the FA Cup is here, the holders having just played in the top flight, The Daggers faced Boreham Wood at Meadow Park. The Wood tipped as favourites when the tie was drawn and they were even stronger favourites as it came to kick off with Elliott Romain arguably Dagenham's best player departed on Friday. So everything seemed to be in their favour going into their game at home to fellow National League side Dagenham, 11 places separate them in the league but this is the FA Cup ... anything can happen. The game got underway at Meadow Park with The Wood on the front foot as Ugwu's effort from twenty yards saw the home side get an early sight on goal but that didn't trouble Justham. It was Ugwu again on loan from Chesterfield who got in behind whipping an inviting ball in but that inviting ball had no reply. The visitors finally had their first chance come 13 minutes in but Donovan couldn't quite get his effort on target as it went wide

It's the FA Cup... anything can happen, can't it? Well this is a phrase that every Dagger would have believed in a few years ago especially with their good run in the cup and their away tie at Goodison. But now with the very recent departure of Elliot Romain and his tweet (below) it has left many fans annoyed and confused, with some optimists of hope. So again The Daggers have found themselves again in uncertainty despite now having a strong consortium in ownership. Their form hasn't changed on the pitch adding another negative thought in the minds of a Dagenham fan, now a fans' favourite has gone is there still hope ahead? This fixture has been seen by some as an opportunity, a break away from the league, a chance of some happiness to spread around an otherwise discontent Dagenham & Redbridge. However these thoughts may have changed after their striker Romain's departure now their title of slight underdogs may have changed to big underdogs. On the other

15 games in - Where are the teams at? So after 15 games and two months of National League football we are beginning to find out our title challengers, relegation stragglers and play off hopefuls. Here I will show where each team are in the league and what a few supporters think of their team's performances so far this season. Title challengers: Top of the league a third of the way through the 2018/19 campaign are solid Salford who have won their last seven games. The last team they dropped points to were Dagenham and Redbridge who sit 22nd, The Ammies drew 0-0 at Victoria Road on September 1. Their recent form contrasts their slow start to the season, three games in they were winless and they sat 10th after 7 games. The northern side are unbeaten in 12 and are no doubt thinking of  yet another promotion.  Orient sit second, a point behind leaders Salford, as their hopes of an invincible season came to an end after defeat to Sutton on September 29. So they

Home V Ebbsfleet It was a bit of a cold afternoon in Dagenham as Ebbsfleet came to town but after West Ham had humiliated Man United many were happy. But for The Daggers it was another tough test ahead, as they faced an Ebbsfleet side who sat six points above them prior to play commencing. The Fleet got the game underway but the home side had the brighter start in the early knockings. But that was literally in the first few moments as for the next 10 minutes it was all Ebbsfleet. Rance's glancing header was seen late by Justham but he got down superbly nonetheless, you felt that wasn't the first time he would be called into action. The next chance couldn't be kept out by the amazing Justham as Whitely haunted his former club with a fabulous ball for Bush to head home - it was a bullet of a header! This was by no means unusual to see Dagenham behind as they had gone on to grab points from this position but they would have to play really well to win this one. Justham w