The Daggers started the game as the better of the two sides in this game, although they were without Mark Janney and Jason Broom. Kieran Gallagher, given his first Conference start, threatened up the right and was a key figure in the Daggers' first half attacking.

It was Gallagher who almost set up a goal early on. He beat his full-back well and sprinted down the line and whipped in a great cross to the near post but nobody attacked the ball.

The Stevenage goalkeeper, Paul Wilkerson, had obviously not improved from his past peformances against the Daggers, his first touch of the ball a kick that he put straight up into air with no distance on it. He was also poor for the Daggers first goal.

A great run and through ball by Gallagher came to Terry on the edge of the box who turned his defender before putting a weak low shot. As the Boro keeper dived, although the ball came to him at chest level, he for some reason decided to push it out and Shipp was on hand to finish it low into the corner.

Stevenage did start to come back into the game at this point though and had some good possession without creating many chances. The one chance they did have was when the ball was deflected onto the bar from a cross, and the follow-up shot was well blocked by Roberts.

Kieran Gallagher almost got one for himself when he cut inside from the right and hit a great left foot drive that was inches over.

Just before half-time, Heffer made it two for the Daggers. He was put through after Terry dribbled through midfield and played the through-ball, and Heffer rounded the keeper and passed the ball in.

The second half was an exhibition of Daggers football that was perhaps the best of the season. The Daggers created chance after chance although failed to put them away. Stevenage weren't helped when Nathan Bunce come on, as he was caught out for pace by Shipp and also didn't mark the forwards at all well.

Shipp could have had a hatful. The first chance he has was when he got the ball in the box and turned the defender but hit a weak left foot shot at Wilkerson.

McDougald almost put Shipp through when he played a good through ball but Wilkerson was out to gather the ball. Shipp had another chance when he chased a through ball, and although the defender and the keeper got in a mix up, Shipp slipped over and the ball was cleared.

McDougald had a great chance for a himself. He went on a run and beat a defender and the keeper before passing his shot wide of the goal with the net gaping.

Shipp almost produced one of his long-range specials. He picked up the ball 25 yards out and used his new-found pace to cut inside and he unleashed a right footer that the keeper did well to tip over.

Wilkerson did not seem to do well for anything else though. He almost scored an own goal when the ball was crossed from a corner and he pushed the ball against the underside of him crossbar, although it rebounded to safety.

He was almost embarrased again when McDougald had a header from a left wing cross that hit him on the foot as he could only stand and watch, and again rebounded to safety.

Stevenage could have got back into the game after the several Daggers missed chances, when Hay was put through but he passed the ball wide with only Roberts to beat.

The Daggers weren't finished though. They scored their third through the form man Danny Shipp, although he was again aided by Wilkerson. Jones hit a weak 20 yards shot and as the ball trickled goalwards, for some reason Wilkerson decided to dive at it, and only succeeded in pushing it sideways to Shipp. From a seemingly impossible angle, Shipp rolled the ball in.

There was still time for some more missed chances though. Paul Terry met a right wing cross at the near post only to head over, and Paul Cobb went through on goal only to hit the keeper with his shot.

D & R: Tony Roberts, Lee Goodwin (Jack Wignall), Tim Cole, Lee Matthews, Ashley Vickers, Kieran Gallagher, Paul Terry, Steve Heffer (Mark Brennan), Matt Jones, Danny Shipp, Junior McDougald (Paul Cobb). Subs not used: Nicky Rust, Mark Keen.

Man of the Match: Danny Shipp was sharp, alert, good in the air, strong, powerful and got two goals.