Dag & Red Tony Roberts Steve Heffer Ashley Vickers Mark Rooney Mark Smith Mark Brennan Mark Janney Paul Terry Danny Shipp Tony Lock Danny Hayzelden Substitutes Steve McGavin Danny Hill Mark Stein Steve Forbes Paul Gothard

Goals Heffer Midgley Stats 10 Goal Attempts 10 6 On Target 3 4 Off Target 7 0 Hit Woodwork 0 8 Corners 3 Cards Yellow Rooney M. Williams   T. James Red None None

Hereford Matt Baker Matt Clarke Mark Williams Ian Wright Tony James Christian James John Snape Paul Webb Rob Elmes Gavin Williams Paul Parry Substitutes Scott Goodwin Lee Evans Danny Davidson Steve Piearce Jake Sedgemore

The two teams records in recent weeks pointed to a close game and this was exactly what the fans got. Hereford were mostly a long-ball side, and although the Daggers tried to play some football, they were often forced into long-ball by Hereford.

Hereford were very strong defensively and had a decent keeper. Their midfield was active and although the forwards didn't offer too much, it was always going to be a test of the Daggers' title credentials.

Paul Terry created an opening early on with his inswinging free kick that skidded across the box between keeper and defence but nobody attacked the ball and it went out for a goal kick.

The Daggers did create some good openings despite Hereford's strength at the back. Brennan tried a quick free kick whilst the keeper was lining up his wall but he unfortunately put it just over the bar.

Brennan had another good chance when Janney put in a low cross and Brennan ran onto it, but he had to stretch and lifted it just over the bar. Hayzelden also had a good effort when he hit a drive from 25 yards that was well held by the Bulls' keeper.

Janney often found himself with two man markers, a sign that Hereford had watched the Dagegrs in preparation for the game. However, they could not stop him as he cut inside, beating several men with his pace before bursting into the box and blasting just over with his left foot.

At the other end, Roberts did not have a shot to save. Hereford created some chances, but three times in a row, they blasted the ball miles over the bar when in good positions on the edge of the box.

Hereford had a decent chance when their right winger burst past Heffer, who played centre back, and cut inside but Roberts was off his line to throw himself at his feet and claim the ball.

The Daggers took the lead early in the second half though. Mark Janney, bursting through the middle, got through on goal but as the keeper came out, he trod on the ball, but it fell kindly for Lock who chipped the ball over the keeper.

Despite his man markers, Janney was in the thick of it and was at the centre of much of the Daggers best work. He found the space to cross to the far post and Shipp steamed in but couldn't quite make contact and the ball flashed past the post.

As the Daggers pushed on in search of the killer goal, it seemed they were tring to emulate Hereford's shooting of the first half. Tony Lock smashed the ball high and wide from 15 yards as he found the ball at his feet.

Steve Heffer had the best chance though when he met a ball across the box from the left and somehow managed to shoot over the bar from 12 yards as he tried to hit it first time. It was at the other end Heffer was at his best, playing an unfamiliar central defensive role but mashalling the defence superbly.

Mark Janney went through on goal again as the Daggers pushed on, and although he managed to beat all the defenders between him and the goal, he tried to place the ball home from an acute angle and the keeper managed to hold the ball.

Towards the end though, the Daggers found themselves holding on. Hereford began to come forward with more purpose and created several chances. The first was a header from a corner from 5 yards and Roberts did superbly to react and hold the ball.

In the final minutes though, Roberts showed his full worth to the team with an outstanding stop. The ball was headed down to a forward 18 yards out and he hammered a volley goalwards that looked a certain goal, but Roberts threw himself across goal and stopped the ball with a save more associated with the Premiership.