The Daggers will be mystified as to how they didn't win this game. Telford were camped in their half for at least an hour of this game, the only relief coming when they did their customary hoof upfield. Sadly for them, there was rarely anybody their to collect as they were all back defending. A back five turned into a back seven at times, as the two central midfield players Jobling and Palmer dropping back to help out.
The Daggers reverted to their passing game and looked an infinitely better side, bringing back Danny Hill (left) whose Man of the Match performance will surely have assured his place in the side as a regular now. Perkins was the one to miss out after picking up a knock on Saturday. The main problem, apart from the forest of defenders the home side had to negotiate to even get a shot in, was a lack of penetration on the wings. Missing Janney considerably, the right side was often the territory of Jūniņr as he tried to create things for the Daggers. On the left, Bruce seemed bereft of ideas on how to beat his full-back, but his crossing was superb when he put the early ball in.
The Daggers' first chance was from long range as Shipp hit a low drive with his left foot that the keeper saved fairly easily to his right. The only away shots were one wayward shot that hit the corner flag, and another low drive that was saved by Roberts, but was going wide anyway. Danny Hill's range of passing looked the most likely to create something, and his incisive balls meant that a lot of football was played in the channels around the box. As usual, it was Jūniņr who was making the runs, and is needed in the side whenever Hill is as a target for the pass.
It was indeed Hill who scored the goal for the home side on 35 minutes. After some neat football, he had a go from 25 yards and it whizzed into the bottom corner to beat Paul Edwards. Steve Heffer had a header at the keeper after that, but Telford got the goal they wanted just before half time, in their only real chance of the game. From a corner, a shot from 18 yards deflected off Hill and as Roberts saved it, he smashed his head into the bar, but Foran showed no mercy from close range to score. I always though referee's were supposed to blow for head injuries?
The second half was again all Dagenham as they pushed for the win. Terry was off and Perkins on, with Gothard on for the injured Roberts. Shots were hard to come by as it was difficult to prise open the tightly packed defence, and many runs by Jūniņr and Hill were thwarted by defenders doubling up on them. Steve West had a good chance just after the hour as he had a volley from inside the box following a corner, but he put it over the bar. Due to the lack of Telford attack, West then stayed up front and had two more chance. He headed wide and then over from two corners as the Daggers tried to use his height in set-plays.
Paul Bruce was having no joy in beating the full-back, but did have a shot from 20 yards that whistled over the bar. Jūniņr then skinned his full-back and crossed low only for Edwards to spill it wide of the goal. The Daggers were by now camped in the away final third, and Stein alsoo had a shot blocked after being very quiet all day, as the ball wouldn't come down for him in the box. The referee who was so poor that neither set of players knew what he was giving half the time, then failed to give an absolute cast-iron penalty. As Heffer jumped for the ball in the box, a defender jumped into his back with his knee in between Heffer's shoulder-blades and sent him crashing to the floor. The referee, needless to say, turned it away.
The only other Telford shot on target came quite late on as a powerless shot rolled along the ground to Gothard. Gothard was also fouled by Foran as the big defender headed the ball out of his hands when he caught a cross, but this time the referee gave the correct decision. In the final seconds, the last chance fell to Hill, who deserved his second goal. However, his free-kick after West was pulled back was too high, and the game ended in a draw.
