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Grimsby v Dagenham Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 04/12/2009 (Last updated: 05/12/2009)

IT’S hard to keep up at Fenty Towers nowadays, new developments arrive on an almost daily basis but whatever is happening behind the scenes good or bad, the club has now gone 393 minutes without a goal.

Home > 2009-2010 Season > Previews > Dagenham (h)


Whether it be Conlon in the clink or Bradley Woods making the club have to order yet another treatment table. Town’s preparation for this weekend’s fixture has hardly been seamless even if Daniel North did state this week included his hardest training session ever. Confident is hardly high among the faithful - let’s hope we can turn the corner and improve on the 0-0’s being collected by Neil Woods and co. Dagenham and Redbridge are far from been a push over asides from been exceptionally organised.

Who are they?

Their History

The club is relatively new with Dagenham and Redbridge having only been formed in 1992 prior to this the clubs family tree could be compared to a major law firm with mergers and acquisitions abound. The club can trace its roots back to no more than 4 other clubs, Dagenham, Walthamstow Abbey , Ilford and Leytonstone. Though their predecessors had mild success, Leytonstone won the FA amateur cup 3 times and the Isthmian League 9 times. It wasn't until the formation of the club as we now know it till it hit the big time. In the 2006-07 newly relegated Oxford United were looking for an immediate return to the Football League and all started well for them until a huge downturn in form handed the Conference championship to the Daggers and they were crowd champions on April 7th 2007.

Last Season Was….

Cruel for the Daggers. The east Londoners were only denied a play off spot in the very last match of the season at home to Shrewsbury’s who’s win over them secured the last play off place for the Shrews in one of the most tense matches of the season. Though it was a disappointing end to a promising start the Daggers can look back with pride and will hope it’s just the start of something special under the stewardship of John Still.

This Season….

Dagenham have been patronised by some critics as been the surprise package of the season despite their near success in May. Currently 5 points off the top spot The Daggers lay 4th in the table just a point ahead of a resurgent Chesterfield. Naturally it hasn't been plain sailing for the eastenders only picking up 5 points from a possible 18 in the last 6 league games including a huge 6-1 defeat at the hands of an impressive Huddersfield in the FA Cup.

Their Biggest Hero Is...

Welsh footballer Chris Moore took many plaudits while at the Victoria Ground the fans favourites had 2 periods at Dagenham after a short spell at Brentford it was his second stint at the Daggers which elevated him to legend. His huge goal haul was one of the main reasons Dagenham can call themselves a league club.

The Future Is….

Looking good though the club is small it is attracting many admirers from around the area, West Ham obviously take the majority of fans it is fast becoming a second team for many Hammers fans. Attendances have stayed almost the same in the last couple of seasons but have risen from their time in the conference what could another promotion do for them?

Key Player… Paul Benson

When we look for our millionth striker of the season Woods would be lauded over if he found any player in the same mould as this guy. At the age of 25 the non league striker born in Southend was plucked out of obscurity by John Still whose faith in the striker paid off in spades. Currently in his 5th season at Dagenham the 30 year old has amassed 140 appearances scoring 62 goals. The 6ft2 striker finished the Conference top scorer in Dagenham’s championship winning season and finished last year as the clubs top scorer with 17, he is currently set to do the same this year already hitting double figures. Benson scored 4 of the 5 goals against Shrewsbury in August and if we continue our poor home form he may well do the same.

Recent Form

TownDagenham
DMacclesfield(a)0-0
LBradford(h)0-3
DLincoln(a)0-0
DNorthampton(a)0-0
LLeeds (JPT)(a)1-3
Currently 23rd in League Two.
LAldershot(h)2-5
DBournemouth(a)0-0
LRochdale(h)1-2
WAccrington(a)1-0
LHuddersfield (FAC)(a)1-6
Currently 4th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownDagenham
Sweeney5
Conlon4
Benson10
Scott6

Team News

TownDagenham

  • Centre back Rob Atkinson returns from suspension, but is not guaranteed his place back

  • On loan Plymouth defender Damien McCrory has agreed to stay at Blundell Park until the new year.

  • Joe Widdowson (foot) and Bradley Wood (ankle) will both miss out.

  • Adam Proudlock, Nathan Jarman and Robbie Stockdale are all still injured.
  • Striker John Scott (ankle) returns after missing the last two games

  • Midfielder Stuart Thurgood (thigh) and defender Scott Doe returns after a one-match suspension.

  • Striker Wesley Thomas misses the third and final game of his suspension
  • Squads

    TownDagenham
    1GKNick Colgan
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFJoe Widdowson
    5DFMatthew Heywood
    6MFPeter Sweeney
    7MFAdrian Forbes
    8FWNathan Jar man
    9FWAdam Proudlock
    10FWBarry Conlon
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13MFNick Hegarty
    14MFPeter Bore
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16DFPaul Linwood
    17MFGrant Normington
    18FWChris Jones
    19MFMichael Leary
    20MFJammal Shahin
    21FWMichael Coulson
    23MFOliver Lancashire
    24DFDamien McCrory
    25DFRob Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27FWDanny North
    28FWJosh Fuller
    29FWBradley Wood
    31MFNicky Featherstone
    32MFMark Hudson
    33FWBen Wright
    35GKLeigh Overton
    1 GK Tony Roberts
    2 DF Alex Bentley
    3 DF Nana Ofori-Twumasi (on loan from Chelsea)
    4 DF Scott Doe
    6 DF Mark Arber
    7 MF Danny Green
    8 MF Stuart Thurgood
    9 FW Jon Nurse
    10 FW Josh Scott
    14 FW Paul Benson
    15 DF Anwar Uddin
    16 FW Wesley Thomas
    17 MF Darren Currie (on loan from Chesterfield)
    18 MF Steven Demetriou
    19 DF Abu Ogogo
    20 MF Joao Carlos
    21 DF Gavin Dayes
    22 MF Graeme Montgomery
    23 MF Danny Spiller
    25 DF Will Antwi
    26 MF Tommy Tejan-Sie
    27 GK Dave Hogan
    29 MF Adam Miller (on loan from Gillingham)
    30 GK Chris Lewington
    32 FW Hakeem Araba
    33 MF Peter Gain
    34 DF Jamie Day (on loan from Peterborough United)

    Head to Head

    Town have never beaten Dagenham, and have conceded 4 goals twice to the Essex team.

    P 4 W0 D2 L2 F 2 A 9

    Head-to-Head (Not on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 1 Dagenham 1 (Tue 27th Jan 2009)

    Town did well to earn a point and continue a mini revival back in January. Loanee Stuart Elliot scored Town's goal.

    Report

    Prediction

    The Fishy Prediction

    It’s hardly going to be easy but we need more than a 0-0 now.

    Town 1-2 Dagenham

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