𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝘽𝙪𝙯𝙯: 𝘞𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘱 𝘖𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘶𝘦!
WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
It sure is a great time to be a Dagger right now, the
best start to a season since it was the best time to be a Dagger (2009/10)
and we all know how that ended!
Before looking ahead to what could happen, let’s enjoy
this moment we find ourselves in and relive that bank holiday weekend which saw
us pick up six points and a clean sheet – to remain at the very top of the
non-league pyramid!
Where
better to begin than the victory that kicked off the weekend and continued the
Daggers’ perfect start! The 4-2 victory saw many star performances and the renewal
of the new-found partnership up front of Walker-McCallum, which was forced at
Edgeley Park a week earlier due to Balanta’s injury.
With the quality Balanta possesses, I was concerned
that his injury could hinder our chances but Josh Walker proved his worth yet
again on Saturday (as he did with his debut goal) and has certainly played his way
into that first team – arguably the first name on the team-sheet.
His pace coupled with that power and presence of Paul
McCallum up top is certainly an exciting formula which will bring guaranteed
success up front this season, they both netted along with Matt Robinson and Myles
Weston to wrap up the three points.
The latter, Weston, scored a fantastic individual solo
goal and him coming off the bench to replace Ling as a more attacking option proved
that we have the depth required to challenge this season. The quality of players
McMahon now has at his disposal allows him to make these tactical decisions
effectively and he certainly did that on Saturday – for which I credit him for.
There was a disappointing goal conceded after a
mistake at the back on Saturday, reminiscent of those conceded last season,
which frustrated and concerned some; despite the game having been wrapped up by
then. We can’t allow those mistakes to creep in as they did last season, else
they will cost us a play-off spot once again.
However we did ultimately win the game and, as
aforementioned, that Cheek goal was nothing but a consolation due to our
clinical finishing up the other end. I feel that our attack will be our best
form of defence this year as shown in that game and the score-line, so long as
we outscore the opposition I’m more than happy with that – it certainly makes
for exciting football!
Below you can find the player rating results from the
Bromley game, as voted for by supporters:
We didn’t have to wait too long before we could enjoy
watching the team once more, just 48 hours later, the 500-strong Daggers
support swarmed the Hive. We weren’t to be left disappointed as our demands of ‘more
of the same’ were more than met as McMahon’s men breezed past the Bees – not being
stung once.
The clean sheet topped off a superb victory at a
disheartened Barnet where we looked comfortable, once again, for a large chunk
of the 90 minutes – this time they were not required to go behind to pull off a
win.
This was partly thanks to a couple of fantastic saves
by Elliot Justham early on, but from 15 minutes onwards, because they worked
well as a team they comfortably saw past Barnet.
The transitions from defence to attack are I think the
most impressive part of the playing style this season. The likes of Sagaf,
Vilhete and Robinson in the middle of the park link up the play brilliantly and
are always providing an outlet to the three centre backs.
Onto the defence then, and they were flawless on Monday,
dominant in the air and strong in the tackle – Elliot Johnson in particular
impressed me at the back. This back three of Wright, Reynolds and Clark is
certainly one that can take us far as they all have the defensive capabilities,
alongside their comfort on the ball and starting attacks from the back.
Finally, to the attack on Monday and the Walker-McCallum
partnership again working wonders as they both got amongst the goals once
again. Walker, along with Myles Weston, got in behind that Bees back line time
and again and looked a constant threat. Paul McCallum was once again superb as
well, holding the ball up for the two players just mentioned and when his opportunity
to strike at goal came – he took it fantastically.
Other notable observations from Monday’s display was
Ling’s performance in the middle of the park, coming on for Joey Jones, he
slotted in really well there and won his battles in the midfield; while also completing
some great balls up to the attackers when he won it higher up the field.
Below are the player ratings for the second game of
the weekend, as voted for by supporters:
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