Norwich 1  Rob Green 3  Adam Drury 4  Malky Mackay 5  Craig Fleming 6  David Nielsen 7  Phil Mulryne 8  Gary Holt 9  Iwan Roberts 18  Paul McVeigh 21  Darel Russel 27  Mark Rivers Substitutes 2  Darren Kenton 10  Zema Abbey 11  Chris Llewellyn 22  Ian Henderson 28  Paul Crichton

Goals Abbey   Stats 11 Goal Attempts 7 8 On Target 4 3 Off Target 3 0 Hit Woodwork 0 8 Corners 5 Cards Yellow Abbey None Red None None

Dag & Red Tony Roberts  1 Ashley Vickers  3 Mark Smith  5 Steve Heffer  6 Mark Janney  7 Paul Terry  8 Danny Shipp  9 Junior  13 Steve West  15 Lee Matthews  17 John McGrath  26 Substitutes Tim Cole  2 Mark Stein  10 Danny Hill  14 Paul Gothard  18 Mark Rooney  20

Going into the last minute of this game, the Daggers looked like again overcoming the odds and the massive gap in stature, to take yet another 'big' club back to Victoria Road for a replay. The fact is they still did overcome the odds, with many expecting the Daggers to succumb heavily despite exploits in recent years. So, within a few seconds, and also just minutes before the referee blew time on this clash, the game was turned on its head. Substitute Zema Abbey, who played against the Daggers before in the Ryman League, came off the bench to break hearts of the travelling faithful and the team.

The game started with Norwich looking to avoid an early shock and they had the first chance when a right wing cross was headed goalwards by Nielsen and Roberts made a good stop low to his left. Soon after, the Daggers had their first chance with Shipp's deflected effort being tipped round the post by Green. Both sides were trying for the first goal from the off and Norwich were denied a goal when Vickers was in superbly with a last ditch tackle. They also burst into the box on two more occasions, but both times, Roberts was equal with fine saves from Russel and McVeigh.

Other than this, the Daggers defence coped pretty well with all Norwich had to offer and created some opportunites of their own. First, West's free kick was well held low to his left by Green, and then Shipp's piledriver was unfortunately into the midriff of the keeper. The best they could have had was denied though when West went up for a header on goal and was shoved out of the way, the referee somehow deciding a penalty should not be given. A slightly heavy first touch denied West another great chance from McGrath's ball in.

In the second half, the Daggers continued to match their hosts and although the home side had the ball for long periods, they struggled to create for much of the time against the outstanding back four and keeper of the Daggers. Rivers' only real foray brought a shot at goal which he could have done better with, but Roberts made a superb save low to his left to keep it out. Roberts was also called upon to make two one handed cross catches which defied belief and was also superbly alert as he caught one on the edge of the box but managed to drop it and kick it away before he ran out of the box.

At the other end, Junior tricked past two Norwich defenders and came inside on his left but he didn't connect sweetly enough and the ball went straight at Green. Shipp was being afforded space behind the strikers and he put one just over which scraped the top of the net with Green beaten, the ball fizzing and dipping toward the top corner. West also headed McGrath's cross wide of the post with Janney lurking behind, and couldn't quite connect properly with an overhead from Janney's cross, the ball going well over the bar. By now Norwich's commitment to players going forward without much reward was allowing the Daggers a chance on the break. Mackay headed wide for the home side from a corner.

With the 21,174 biting their nails and expecting the replay, Norwich dealt the killer blow to cruelly end the Daggers' Cup run in the Fourth Round, a new Club record. Drury came forward and got to the line before attempting a cross-shot. It came off the unfortunate Mark Smith, otherwise impeccable, straight to Abbey at the back post, earlier the only booking for an out of context lunge at Matthews, and he broke Daggers hearts to stab the ball in. The players and fans tried to raise it one last time but as they committed forward, Norwich almost distorted the scorline on the break had it not been for a superb Roberts save, Mulryne's fierce volley not only saved, but held too.

As the referee blew full-time on the game, players sunk to their knees as the Daggers fans applauded their heroes, and it was all both could do to hold back the tears. Tony Roberts was one of many who couldn't, and who could blame him after all he had given to keep the Daggers in it. Garry Hill admitted being gutted, but we will bounce back stronger. All that was left was the Daggers walking round the pitch to applaud all the home fans that had stayed to applaud them, and both sets of fans facing each other to show mutual respect.