DAGGERS MARCH ON
STILL’S MEN STAY TOP - REPORT
VERDICT: Dagenham & Redbridge kept their place at the summit of the National League with a silky attacking performance that was too much for Bromley to handle
ACLASSY performance from Dagenham & Redbridge saw them retain their position at the top of the National league and further add to Bromley’s home woes. Delighted boss John Still purred about the quality of the Daggers’ display and in particular his front four who at times led the Ravens defence a merry dance. The lively Corey Whitely put the visitors in front in the opening quarter of an hour before quickfire strikes from Jordan Maguire-Drew and top scorer Oliver Hawkins from the penalty spot cancelled out an equaliser from Rob Swaine, who was later sent off. “I felt we kept the ball brilliantly in the second half and should have been a couple of goals in front by halftime,” Still beamed. “But all things considered it was a fantastic performance away from home.” It took Dagenham just 15 minutes to take the lead – Whitely picking up a Hawkins knock down 25 yards from goal and making no mistake with a low, crisp drive into the net. With Bromley struggling to get a foothold in the game, they fluffed their best chance of the half on 24 minutes when Tobi Sho-Silva headed Blair Turgott’s left-wing cross over the bar from three yards out when it seemed easier to score. Dagenham should have stretched their lead on two occasions either side of the half hour mark. First Whitely played in Fejiri Okenabirhie whose shot was parried by Alan Julian with Hawkins unable to turn in the rebound. The same two players combined minutes later but again Julian parried Okenabirhie’s volley with Maguire-Drew unable to score in the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Bromley came out in the second half with renewed vigour and promptly equalised with their first attack of the half – Swaine heading in from Dave Martin’s corner. But parity was shortlived as Dagenham turned the match on its head in a crazy five minutes. Loose play in the middle of the park allowed Dagenham to break at speed, Swaine took out Okenabirhie but the ball broke to Hawkins, whose cross
was turned in at the far post by Maguire-Drew.
To add insult to injury, referee Chris O’Donnell then gave Swaine his marching orders for his foul and second booking in the build up to the goal.
The Daggers then went for the jugular and less than two minutes later added a third when MaguireDrew was tripped from behind by Martin and Hawkins made no mistake from the penalty spot.
It was all too much for Bromley boss Neil Smith, who was brutally honest in his assessment afterwards.
“You just can’t give teams like Dagenham clear chances and then with ten men,” he blasted.
“They will always wear you down and once again we’ve shot ourselves in the foot.”
STAR MAN: Corey Whitely (Dagenham & Red) ATT: 1,558 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Christopher O’Donnell 5/10