Dagenham edge closer to League
Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Boston United
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Your support makes all the difference.Dagenham and Redbridge took a huge step towards reaching the Football League next season with a tense victory over their nearest promotion rivals at Victoria Road last night. It sent them seven points clear of Boston United, having played one game more, and they are clear favourites now to step up only two years after winning promotion back to the Nationwide Conference. Although Yeovil, last year's runners' up, split the two main contenders by moving into second place on Saturday, they have played more games than either.
The match was billed by the home club as the biggest in their history – never mind the FA Cup ties against Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town of the Premiership over the past two seasons in front of crowds approaching 6,000. Last night 3,805 turned up, some of them regrettably bringing Football League manners with them: an object was thrown at a referee's assistant during the second half and there was a brief skirmish between rival supporters after the final whistle. The handshake between the two managers was also perfunctory, for there is history between them. Dagenham's Garry Hill sensibly declined to gloat or count chickens, however, when he said afterwards: "We're in the driving seat, but we've still got a lot of work to do and 13 games to go."
Not surprisingly, the occasion affected both teams, with the ball mostly in the air and often disappearing over the two low stands. A set-piece seemed the most likely way either side would break through, which was what transpired seven minutes before the interval. Having troubled the visiting goalkeeper, Paul Bastock, from a free-kick and then a corner, Dagenham's Matt Jones launched another free-kick high into the penalty area: it bounced off a defender for the left-back, Ashley Vickers, to drive in.
Boston's manager, Steve Evans, a voluble presence on the touchline, responded by making two substitutions at half-time and moving his leading goalscorer, Daryl Clare, further forward. There was an immediate improvement and the home supporters endured an uncomfortable spell in which Boston's centre-half, Mark Monington, headed against the bar, but Dagenham held out for a win of enormous significance.
Dagenham (4-4-2): Roberts; Hooper (West, 79), Goodwin, Smith (McDougald, 72), Vickers; McGavin (Broom, 63), Heffer, Terry, Jones; Charlery, Stein. Substitutes not used: Hill, Goddard (gk).
Boston United (3-5-2): Bastock; Thompson, Monington, Rodwell; Clifford, Rusk, Weatherstone (Beesley, h-t), Clare, Lodge (McGarry, 84); Tarrant (Angel, h-t), Elding. Substitutes not used: Brown, Conroy (gk).
Referee: A Marriner (Birmingham).
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