Digger Dagger Matchday

Saturday 18th November National League - Home V Guiseley Guiseley, the relegation strugglers, clashed with promotion hopefuls Dagenham at Victoria Road on Saturday afternoon. The Lions got proceedings underway in Essex and it was Fondop – Talom who was caught up in the first piece of action; as amid his elbow on the Daggers defender the referee was surrounded. Luckily for him he escaped with a booking within the first 6 seconds, he was on thin ice for the next 90+ minutes now. Two fouls in quick succession conceded by the visitors followed however nothing came of them; as Whitely’s delivery from the edge was too close to the keeper. The Daggers were the quickest out the blocks in this match however, the conditions already looked like they would have an impact on the game. As Ferrier looked to get the better of Palmer and through on goal he was pulled up for a grappling with the Guiseley defender. Ferrier was involved again as he won a corner, but the defender did enough o

Lee Matthews played for Dagenham & Redbridge from 1997-2003 where he was bought for £8,500 and made 198 appearances. He was part of the side that entered the Guiness world records as they went 12 games (19 hours) without conceding a goal; he won player of the year in the same season 1998-99. In 2001-02  he reached the third round of the FA Cup the next season he got to the fourth round. For Grays Athletic later on in his career he won the FA Trophy and got Grays to the 2nd Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. During his career he captained every side he played for and had 11 operations!   Who was your favourite player when you were younger and why? "Stuart Pearce, Cos of his passion he could defend he was a great defender as well and his passion when he played for England was great. And he played for West Ham which is great for me." Why did you choose Dagenham, and did you have any other offers? "I knew Ted hardy, but I also knew

Tuesday 24th October Home V Macclesfield - National League The table-toppers Macclesfield took a trip to Victoria Road in a National league clash   which saw two title contenders battle it out on a cold Tuesday night in Essex. It was the visitors who got proceedings underway but instantly gave away possession; nothing to regret however as the Daggers lumped it up field for a throw. The Silkmen had the first glimpse at goal as Durrell won a corner which he whipped in, only to be cleared at the near post. Up the other end the hosts nearly found a way through the Macclesfield defence as Whitely’s ball to Cheek was just cut out. It was Whitely again who was causing problems hence why he was fouled by Whitehead. He won a corner from the free kick as he practically passed the ball into the wall where it was deflected wide; however that is where the pressure ended as the corner was cleared. Cheek looked to add an assist to his name but as he set it back, there was no one there

Tuesday 17th October FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round Replay Away V Orient The Daggers got the replay underway as both teams looked to reach the first round of the FA Cup where anything can happen. However, it was Orient who looked very much at home in the early stages at the Matchroom as they looked liveliest. After a good spell of defending from the daggers, with Scott Doe clearing any aerial threat into the box, they began to find a way to break through the hosts’ defence. Starting with a corner won and consequently taken by Whitely however in the end it came to nothing. A series of attacks followed including a Romain free kick in a promising position, but it didn’t cause any threat to Grainger. Also, Boucad’s delivery troubled the Orient back line but had no challenge in the box; after a promising spell from the visitors Orient began to fight back. Robson conceded a corner leading to a game of head tennis which in the end was comfortably collected by Cousins. After Cor

Saturday 14th October Home V Orient - FA Cup Qualifying 4th round It was a Saturday afternoon like no other as the Daggers entertained local rivals Leyton Orient in the FA Cup. 911 Orient fans packed, the newly renamed A13 steel stand, to the rafters as they witnessed an evenly contested match. Dagenham & Redbridge got the game underway and started liveliest as they began to spray it out wide well. However, the first threat was from Bonne, but his shot was well blocked by the Daggers skipper Scott Doe. Ferrier’s long-range effort was the home side’s first glimpse of an early lead as he nearly caught Grainger off guard and forced a save. After three consecutive corners conceded by Orient, one of them conceded by former Daggers man Widdowson, there was still no early lead. Dagenham were dominating and bombarding the visitors in the early stages but not taking their chances. Ferrier was carelessly fouled on the halfway line; the Orient player was consequently booked for

Cast your vote for who will be the Daggers Top Goal scorer this season?                                          Click the icon in the top left corner to vote for the following: Corey Whitely Morgan Ferrier Fejiri Okenabirhie Michael Cheek

Saturday 7th October Away V Woking - National League It was Non- league day and the Daggers took a trip over the crossing to Kent where they faced Woking at the Laithwaite community stadium. It was the visitors whom got proceedings underway however in an early attack Okenabirhie ran the ball out of play. Early pressure from the hosts then followed as Stojsavljevic took a free kick from halfway however nothing came of it. Soon after there was a Woking attack, but it led to a goal kick taken by Cousins. Dagenham began to show their presence as they won a corner and it was headed back in eventually coming out to Robson who hit it out the ground. The visitors continued to attack as a great run from Okenabirhie led to another corner; direct from the corner Scott Doe, the Daggers skipper, headed just wide. Another well worked move from the dominant Dagenham had no reward at the end of it. Loanee Regan Charles-Cook posed a threat as it was he who looked to get his side in front

Saturday 16th September Home V Halifax - National League After consecutive narrow defeats against Hartlepool and Sutton, Dagenham & Redbridge were eager to bounce back against high – flying Halifax at Victoria Road. Halifax got proceedings underway at the home of the Daggers; however it was the home side who started the liveliest on a bright Saturday afternoon in Essex. With a string of attacks from Dagenham including a Whitely corner that worried the Halifax defence but was cleared to safety. The Shaymen began to get into the game with a great strike from Kosylo being kept out well by Cousins. Their brief spell continued as Mcdonald’s cross was caught by Cousins who was called into action again. That brief spell from the visitors was soon over as a great run from Ferrier was set back to Ling who in the end saw his shot pea – roll wide. However, the Daggers continued to pile on the pressure as a great delivery from Whitely was met by Howells, but not very well as it posed

Tuesday 12th September Home V Sutton - National League It was a cold and drizzly night at Victoria Road where Dagenham hosted Sutton in a close encounter on Tuesday night. The visitors got proceedings underway and had an imminent attack which resulted in a Dundas shot that was held by Cousins. Both teams had a lively start, both evidently determined to win this evenly matched fixture. Dagenham were getting a string of attacks together and were threatening an early lead however their final product left them nothing to celebrate; the offside trap is frustrating the home side’s attack. As Sutton began to get more of the ball they didn’t pose a threat to goal however the Daggers did at the other end. When Whitely took a free kick that panicked the Sutton defence despite it being cleared well, it took a long time to clear. So he began to run at them. They then won a corner due to a promising attack, this corner again led to poor defending as the visitors yet again struggled

Saturday 2nd September Home V Gateshead - National League After a hell of a journey the travelling Gateshead supporters saw their side get the game underway, however it wasn’t them who had the liveliest of starts as Dagenham had a couple of attacks within the first five minutes. As they started to gain possession the visitors posed no threat going forward and became a danger to themselves; as a man in the Gateshead defence, in an attempt to pass it back to Hanford, he ends up putting it past him resulting in Hanford scrambling it off the line. Approaching the ten-minute mark, Okenabirhie won a free – kick on the edge of the box; Howells floated it in and Ferrier headed goalward however it was  academy product Joe White poked it home for his first goal for the Daggers on his full debut. Youngster Mellish was surprised to be substituted sixteen minutes into the match and replaced by loanee from Boro Robbie Tinkler. The visitors, finally pushing further upfield, won a free

Saturday 26th August Home V Bromley - National League Bromley got their sixth game of the season underway which saw a quick start from both sides. There was an early penalty appeal at Victoria Road however Cheek was told to play on; despite the quick start from both sides the hosts seemed to be settling into the match the quickest. Daggers continued to attack and mount the pressure with minimal breaks from Bromley. Until the 15 th minute where Michael Cheek’s endeavour to win the ball was rewarded by a stunning goal, one on one with the keeper Cheek comfortably hit it into the roof of the net; 1-0 Daggers! Still no real threat from the visitors and that was beginning to show through frustration as Chorley was persistently fouling Ferrier to break down the Daggers attack escaping a yellow card however. Midway through the half, due to a lack of urgency from the home side’s defence, Wanadio’s bullet of an effort nestled into the bottom corner; Bromley equalise! But the might

 Saturday 5th August- National League Home V Barrow                                 Daggers got their 2 nd bid for league football underway with a win against Barrow. However, it was a slow start from both teams until Dagenham found some momentum and won a penalty in the 18 th minute; Ferrier was fouled by Audel. It was Corey Whitely who converted it from the spot as he smashed it in the top left corner past Moore. The Daggers continued to mount the pressure and this resulted in a 21 st minute screamer from Michael Cheek from 20 yards out as his strike sailed past Moore again into the top left corner. After that second goal Paul Cox’s side began to get into the match with a few attacks however these were comfortably dealt with by the Daggers defence; Barrow’s performance in the final third didn’t help them in their pursuit of a comeback. Dagenham went in at Half-Time 2-0 up much to their fans delight. However, what those fans didn’t know was that it was goin