Daggers 2-5 Aldershot, Hot Shots Part Deux

Dagenham & Redbridge lost their 100th league home game to Aldershot Town this afternoon in a simply shambolic performance. The game ended 5-2 to the Shots in a game that left me physically sick after the final whistle, add to that my illness which made me sick and we have a winning combination.

I won't go into detail in this Blog, as to be honest, I don't want too, we'll briefly outline the match and then have some thoughts on the encounter and just everything in general at the moment. I begin pre match, where I was quietly optimistic of a good result, Aldershot aren't one of the "form teams" and therefore we could be expected to give them a game and perhaps even beat them. With the news that Danny J Green was starting in place of Ollie Lee, my optimism flourished some more, add to that the Shots were resting Danny Hilton for their giant Carling Cup clash with Manchester United in midweek, I was brimming with confidence, as well as mucus, a cold, and a bunged up nose.

However, the first five minutes were the most painful of the season so far. After Nursey had tested Ross Warner to start off with, Aldershot went up the other end and took the lead. Adam Smith floated a delightful ball in towards the backpost where Jermaine McGlashan was on hand to slam past a helpless Lewington with just three minutes in. The Daggers nearly equalised when a rasping Gavin Tomlin volley was saved well by Warner between the sticks, but as that promise fizzled out, Aldershot doubled their lead. Bradley Bubb had a shot parried by Lewington, however the ball fell straight into Peter Vincenti's path who got their before the defender and tapped home. Within the first five minutes, the Daggers were 2-0 down, deja vu of the previous 5-2 against Aldershot was beginning to set in.

A restbite of 30 minutes or so followed where neither team really provided any significant threat of any kind. On 36 minutes however, Mark Arber made a hash of a challenge just inside the box on Michael Rankine, Mr Drysdale pointed to the spot and handed Arber a yellow card. Rankine dispatched the fifth spot kick at Victoria Road this season with ease to send us 3-0 down. Just over five minutes later, the Daggers pulled one back. A corner from Damien McCrory was met by Jon Nurse who headed home despite the best efforts of a Aldershot defender on the line. Some kind of solace in a drab first half showing, that looked to be the final action of the first 45; or so we thought. On the eve of the half time whistle, Luke Guttridge headed in from Anthony Pulis' cross to further dampen Dagenham fans' spirits.

The half time whistle blew and the Daggers went in to a chorus of boo's, personally I don't agree with that at half time, but at the end of the day, everyone voices there frustration in different ways I suppose. Half time was taken up by me gloating over beating Jon Nurse in the programme quiz, I beat the Barbados International 9-8 if you didn't know. A fantastic victory for all fans around the world.

The teams re-emerged for the second 45, with everyone hoping for a somewhat miraculous Daggers comeback. A mediocre start to the second half saw Brian Woodall replaced by Troy Hewitt who hadn't really made any impact as yet since his loan move from QPR. Gavin Tomlin was given the best chance of the half so far, a cross from the left met his boot from yards out, the slightest of touches would have seen it go over Warner and into the back of the net. However we're Dagenham & this is Tomlin, it went high over the bar and out for a goal kick. The Daggers made their final two subs in the space of 10 minutes. Danny J Green was replaced by Damien Scannell and Gavin Tomlin was withdrawn for Ollie Lee.

Directly after Lee was introduced came the Daggers second goal of the afternoon. A foul on Scannell by Luke Guttridge saw the Daggers get a free kick on the right hand side, ideal for a left footer to shoot. Damien McCrory stepped up and slammed it home to bring the deficit down to just two goals, game on perhaps! Just minutes later, McCrory laid one in down the left, Hewitt pulled off a neat flick and it nearly crept past Warner, but the former Charlton stopper just saved it.

Just as it looked like that was the end of the scoring, Dean Holdworths men repeated the feat they managed two years previous. Jermaine McGlashan nabbed his second of the game after some neat footwork he outwitted Lewington and slotted the ball past him to send the Aldershot supporters home happy.

Dagenham & Redbridge 2-5 Aldershot Town.

What can we take from todays game? The answer is, nothing. We managed to score two goals again, but they were effectively pointless goals. The team lacks confidence severely, it's clear for all to see. It's all old ground really isn't it? Arber, confidence, conviction, we've been through it a thousand times but today is was more evident than ever.

People calling for Arber to be dropped, he's in poor form, but would you rather Phil Walsh play? I could rant & rave, but there's no point is there, the forum or the facebook page will give you all the diverse opinions you need.

As for Aldershot, decent performance by them, but we made them look better than they are in my opinion. However I still reckon they'll be around about the play offs come the end of the season, as for us, who knows! However I was very disappointed with your away following, a very poor number for a short trip if you ask me.

The players need to start being Daggers again, a good performance against Steve Evans' Crawley on Tuesday night could be the tonic we need. Whatever happens, I'm sure that Tuesday will be special, finally meeting the old adversary and hopefully getting one over on that cheating twat.

I'll speak to you again on Wednesday after the Crawley match on the Tuesday, until then, stay safe and keep the faith!