The Daggers maintained their impressive pre-season form with an easy win over a disappointing Shamrock side. Despite a defence missing Tim Cole (broken foot), Lee Matthews (knee) and Ashley Vickers, the Daggers' defence was rarely troubled and stopped any threat on Paul Gothard's goal for most of the 90 minutes.

New boys Stein and McGavin impressed, with Stein making intelligent runs and McGavin showing a wide range of passing, a good eye for goal and some good tackles. With cultured Mark Brennan alongside him, the pair looked like they could play all day.

Shamrock on the other hand had little invention, had no idea where to run up front and the defence was on the small side to say the least. Stein and Shipp got a lot of joy in the air despite their 5ft 7in and 5ft 10in respectively.

The Daggers took the lead when a defender decided to give the ball to Stein. He ran on and despite a closing defender, put the ball across the keeper with huge power and accuracy and it flew into the net.

Shipp had a great chance soon after when McGavin curled the ball in and Shipp pulled away at the back post, controlled, but volleyed over the bar. McGavin also showed his worth in set pieces, a good driven corner almost headed in at the near and then the far post.

Another chance fell to Stein when the keeper fumbled at his feet, and he seemed slightly suprised to receive the ball and weakly shot at the stranded keeper from an acute angle.

McGavin added a second towards the end of the half. He received the ball on the edge of the box, muscled his way out of a challenge and then smashed the ball low past the keeper's right hand.

Stein, ever lively up front, almost scored a great volley soon near half time. The ball bounced and he let fly with his left foot, the ball just dipping over the bar. Shipp also had a good chance when he volleyed just wide after a cross had evaded the defence.

The half time break brought no changes and the Daggers continued to dominate. Lee Goodwin soon made way for Junior McDougald who scored the Daggers' last goal of the game from the penalty spot.

Stein received the ball near the by-line and made sure he was in the way as a Shamrock defender attempted to tackle, Stein falling in a heap and McDougald powered the penalty to the left of the keeper.

Several changes by both sides stopped the flow of the game as it ebbed out its final quarter. Hayzelden, Gallagher and Vaughan were all given time to impress and Dave Bastion came on soon after, a trialist defender looking to impress, especially considering the injuries to key defenders that could jeopardise the start of the Conference campaign.

Shamrock pulled one back from a penalty, an untidy challenge but not clear cut foul resulting in a spot kick that was put to Gothard's right with power and precision.

D & R: Paul Gothard, Steve Heffer (Danny Hayzelden), Mark Rooney, Lee Goodwin (Junior McDougald), Mark Janney (Kieran Gallagher), Tony Lock, Paul Terry, Steve McGavin (Steve Vaughan), Mark Brennan (Dave Bastion), Danny Shipp, Mark Stein.