Digger Dagger Matchday

There was an unbeaten run to uphold against some familiar faces when Dagenham faced Barnet who sat 10th in the league. The Bees were also searching for three points to maintain their push for the play-offs and they new they were up against a tough, in - form Dagenham side. Despite having that confidence from their unbeaten the hosts didn't want to become complacent as they looked to continue their surge up the table. Looking at the teams, a notable absence for the home side was midfield maestro Jack Munns who has proved vital in recent weeks, this is evidenced by a string of Man of the Match performances. Peter Taylor was no doubt thinking about New Years Day at Orient as he looked to do the double over them with the team selection. The Daggers got the game underway with Tony Roberts watching on the legendary Daggers keeper but it wasn't them who had the first opportunity of the game as Shaquile Coulthirst dragged his effort wide which didn't trouble Justham. The visitors

A 226 mile round trip awaited Dagenham fans as they headed to The Peninsula Stadium for the first time in their history. This was a place where the home side hadn't lost since April so it was always going to be a tough test against the title challengers. The last game before Christmas for both sides and there was a little bit of Christmas in the air up north with festive songs being played and a few Santa hats in sight. An early Christmas present in the form of a win and all three points was there for the taking but who would be heading home with them was the big question. The visitors got the game underway but had the small share of possession early on with a couple of chances finding the hands of Justham not troubling him though in the slightest. One of these tamed efforts saw Rooney's glancing header gifted, much like a present, to Justham. Salford nearly found themselves in front from a corner as it was played to the edge of the box however the shot was deflected and Pon

Just over a thousand non league fanatics attended Victoria Road and braved the cold to watch an in form Dagenham side go up against FC Halifax Town. There was great expectation on The Daggers' shoulders as they looked to make it seven wins out of eight and continue their four game winning streak but The Shaymen looked to deny them that victory. The visitors who were supported by 47 dedicated fans got the game underway and won four set pieces in the opening few minutes. After instantly winning a free kick Halifax won a corner that lead to another after Kosylo's effort was deflected behind. Eventually after an opening five minutes of pressure Dagenham cleared it into the opposition half, it is safe to say the away side were very quick out of the blocks however they didn't find the net. The pressure was relieved but only for a few minutes as Kosylo Halifax's No.7 again took a shot on goal this time forcing Justham to tip it over. The resulting corner again saw Justham

It was a relatively short trip over the Dartford crossing for The Daggers as they hoped to make it four wins out of five. However, Bromley stood in their way a team who were in search of a win after back to back defeats. Play commenced with the home side but their Essex counterparts were working hard off the ball early on with Wilkinson especially hassling the back line. The hosts won the first set piece of the half as Pennell was put under pressure forcing him to concede the corner kick, but luckily for him it came to nothing. Another Daggers defender sprung into action worrying the keeper early on as Ben Nunn's long range effort hit the top of the net as it just sailed over. The skipper helped his side out in attack again as his cross found Balanta but his attempt didn't trouble Gregory between the sticks. The Ravens proved a threat on the counter as Manny Onariase was involved in an effort that saw him throw himself at the ball to deny the home side's new loan sig

An away trip to Bromley awaits as Dagenham and Redbridge look to make it above the dotted line come Saturday evening, as they watch 'I'm a celeb' resting ready to make it back to back wins on Tuesday. Before they can do that though they will have to beat today's opposition who sit in the bottom half of the table just five points better off than The Daggers. So those thoughts of Harry Redknapp facing the bushtucker trial will be put on hold as a win in Terry Harris' words 'will make things look a lot better' for a Dagenham side where things are just getting better. On the contrary, Neil Smith is hoping to 'turn things around' after a bad run of form has seen them slip down the table just five points clear of the drop zone. He added that he wants to 'put on a show' at Hayes Lane, therefore Dagenham will have to be switched on at the back and work hard in midfield to stop the home side from playing. A danger to the visitors is Frankie

It was a special day at Victoria Road as the club paid tribute to Dave Andrews a man who adored Dagenham and Redbridge and was instrumental in the club's merger and success. The Daggers faced AFC Fylde on the special day who were unbeaten on the road this season and stood sixth in the league. The hosts got the game underway but just over thirty seconds later Fylde found themselves in front after a well worked move forced a fabulous save from Justham but it wasn't enough as Andy Bond fired home for the visitors - it was a nightmare start for Dagenham! The very slow start continued for the home side as AFC Fylde were playing them off the park and just a lot sharper all over the pitch. All over the pitch that was apart from when it came to the keepers as Elliot Justham pulled off another great save as Gime Toure's great work saw him cut in and have a shot on goal. The home side were living dangerously as this time Nick Haughton was played through as Dagenham were disposse

It has been two weeks since The Daggers were last in National League action two weeks ago and the last time they hosted a game in the competition was 27th October. Therefore this game is eagerly awaited as National League football returns to Victoria Road after a fairly long while. Fylde were also knocked out of the FA Cup before the first round and are eager to get back to the competition as they push for the play - offs. The visitors relish away days as they are unbeaten so far this season on the road but they will be looking like Dagenham to get back on track after a loss in their last game. Both sides could climb the table with a win as The Daggers could climb out of the bottom four and AFC Fylde could climb into the top four. Peter Taylor spoke earlier in the week saying '' We are slowly but surely improving the team, with more experience and better players, now slowly but surely we have just got to climb the table''. If The Daggers, or shall I say, when The Da

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

Away V Eastleigh It was a cold d ay in Hampshire as it was across the whole of England, it felt like Autumn had come. The BT Sport cameras had come as well, both sides looked to shine on television hoping someone from the football league was watching. The away side got the game underway and started the better of the two sides in the early knockings of the game. But after the first couple of minutes the home side looked to get their noses in front, Yeates put a couple of crosses in without reply. You could see early on that he was going to be a threat with his ability to take people on. Adeloye got his first chance of the half after winning a free kick due to a good move from Dagenham, it was within shooting distance but he couldn't get it to dip soon enough. He one another soon after this time to the right of the box however Hoyte's delivery was easily cleared. They had a good spell but couldn't turn chances into goals as another set piece was cleared without issue. Th

There was a positive and optimistic buzz around Victoria Road after news during the week of an investment. The other positive was the club's recent form, that form meant a win would be a third in three games and a draw would extend their unbeaten run to four games. Dagenham got the game underway but it was the visitors who had the first major chance as 6ft 7in Denton put his first attempt for his new club over the bar. He was second in the air soon after as Reid crossed it in but Robinson beat him to it, much to the frustration of Chesterfield who thought they'd be winning 99% of their aerial duels now - with Denton. Dagenham had an opportunity up the other end when Harfield whipped in and Romain headed it behind. That missed opportunity proved to be costly as below average defending saw Shaw play it across the face of goal to Weston who tapped it home in front of the Bury road end! That goal was undeserved in some respects considering how the two sides started but fro

The Daggers are on the up and they will be looking to keep their recent defensive record in tact. Not forgetting their unbeaten run which they will be looking to extend to four games on the back of two wins. If the hosts were to pick up all three points today they will go above Chesterfield in the table and climb out of the relegation zone. Ollie Harfield praised the Dagenham fans ahead of the game against Chesterfield appreciating their dedication and support. Also saying he feels and hopes that with the home crowd behind them they can get something out of the game today. However, he warned that The Spireites shouldn't be underestimated despite them not picking up many points so far this season. So then onto Chesterfield an established football league side who have only registered three points away from home this season and that was on the first day of the season. They are winless in seven and last time out they just couldn't break down Dover as they drew 0-0 at The

It was always going to be a close match but possession wise that wasn't the case as Dagenham dominated for the majority. However, it got to around the 80th minute 0-0, the hosts were throwing everything at it in order to come away with all three points. It was these sort of moments that decide a season I was thinking to myself and then the whistle blew and he pointed to the spot... The summer was coming to an end and so was hopefully The Daggers' winless run. There was a sense of optimism in the air and a feeling of today had to be the day - if not now, when? The Iron brought 61 supporters hoping that they could give them their first win of the season. The home side got the game underway but had the slowest start after conceding two corners one of which was cleared off the line it didn't bode well for The Daggers. Balls out wide to Harfield were poor as Dagenham looked to spread the play, poor touches leading to throws and overhit balls summed up their start. Howeve