A rather depleted Daggers side took to the field in this match but managed to dominate in terms of possession and territory. Lee Goodwin was not included, presumably with injury, and the hero of last season Mark Keen stepped into the back line, also missing Dominic Naylor who was suspended after his Hampton antics last season. Jason Broom was considered only fit enough for the bench and so Matt Jones took his place up the left. However, despite this, the Daggers carved out the first opening when Steve Forbes put a weak shot at the keeper from a difficult angle. There was a scare at the other end moments later however, when Tony Roberts made a fantastic save down to his right from a header. Moments later he flung himself at the feet of a striker to parry and then got up to tip the follow up over the bar. Apart from this, the Daggers did not look like conceding a goal for the remainder of the half. Danny Shipp had a couple of chances but he dragged one wide with his left and put the other at the keeper. Then Mark Keen rediscovered his hero's touch, bundling in the rebound after a header from a Mark Brennan corner was cleared off the line. Mark Brennan went closest however, when his curling free kick scraped the outside of the keeper's left hand post.

In the second half, the Daggers were on the attack but were caught out on the counter attack. Unfortunately, Tim Cole mistimed his sliding tackle and a penalty was awarded to Leigh, and duly converted, Roberts going the wrong way. The Daggers had many chances to regain the lead but struggled to convert them. A good left wing cross was knocked down by Shipp but Jones somehow managed to put his right foot shot over from 4 yards. Rob Haworth was then introduced to the fray, and his aerial power almost got him on the scoresheet, but his header from a McDougald corner was over the bar. However, Lee Matthews made no mistake when it was his turn minutes later, his header from a corner finding the net. Paul Cobb, on for McDougald almost added a third but he poked his right foot shot just wide of the keepers right hand post. At the other end, Tony Roberts had some attacks to clear up, when he rushed off his line to block at the feet of a Leigh striker and was again alert when he came off his line quickly to punch away a cross.

D & R: Tony Roberts, Tim Cole, Mark Keen, Lee Matthews, Ashley Vickers, Steve Forbes, Mark Brennan, Derek Payne (Paul Terry), Matt Jones, Danny Shipp (Rob Haworth), Junior McDougald (Paul Cobb). Subs not used: Mark Janney, Jason Broom

Man of the Match: Tony Roberts was excellent and alert throughout although his kicking was slightly wayward.