Game 2 – Lincoln 1-3 Daggers

WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE SAY WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE.

The question is how long will it last for? Is it even remotely possible for the Dagenham & Redbridge to have a season like when they got promotion two years ago to the Football League?
I think we’ll have a much better idea in 10-15 games time whether this is a false dawn or if the Daggers are more than just pacemakers. Nevertheless, it has certainly been a very encouraging start and by no means were today’s Lincoln side pushovers.
The injuries which ravaged the squad last season have gone for the time being with only Danny Foster and Shane Huke still on the treatment table. However, with both men not taking part in pre season it doesn’t feel as if they have been lost. In a way, when they return it should feel like a new player is coming in to challenge for positions. The discovery of Magnus Okhunghae as a decent option at right back should allow Huke to fully concentrate on central midfield rather than always being on stand by for Foster. This also, for the first time, gives Foster some decent competition for his spot which can only help him try to raise his performance.
Another big plus has been the form of the wide players (see my stat at the bottom). Supporters are under no illusions that Sam Saunders can be a very dangerous crosser and dead ball taker when he is on top of his game. The problem has always been maintaining that consistency even though he came away with the most assists in the team last season. However, the first couple of games have seen Sam deliver a lot more quality balls which can only be good news for Paul Benson and Ben Strevens looking to profit in the box. On the opposite flank Dominic Green has become the latest young dagger (Mackail-Smith and Griffiths as others) for fans to get excited about. Blessed with genuine pace and trickery, Green has also shown he has a good left foot with a peach of a free kick to get the Daggers campaign up and running.
Possibly the biggest success story of the first week has been the form of Solomon Taiwo. With Glen Southam seemingly out of favour, Shane Huke a few weeks away from playing and Dave Rainford’s departure, Taiwo has really stepped up to the challenge determined to make the starting place his own. From watching him so far I would describe him as a strong centre midfielder with a good range of passing and never one to bottle out of the tackle. His introduction, if anything, has really helped Peter Gain’s influence on the team. When Gain played with Southam his role was a lot more restricted as Southam was played as the attacking midfielder. However, with the knowledge that Taiwo is covering him, Gain is able to support the strikers and, with his eye for a penetrating pass, is a genuine threat going forward.
Another major positive is that Ben Strevens has carried over his form from last season, including two very good strikers goals today. There were a few question marks over whether Strevens and former Conference top scorer Paul Benson would be able to work together but five goals from the pair in two games seems to have distinguished that theory.
Next up for Dagenham & Redbridge is Port Vale at home. The visitors are definitely one of the favourites to gain promotion to League 1 but a poor 2-0 home defeat to Accrington Stanley today will give the Daggers much optimism going into the game. Let’s hope the Daggers can make it three out of three and really give the fans dreams of visits to Millwall next season…………well maybe not Millwall!

League Goalscorers

Strevens – 3
Saunders – 2
Benson – 2
Green – 1
Nwokeji – 1

League Assists

Saunders – 1
Strevens – 1

Wilson’s Daggers stat

Out of the 9 goals scored so far, 5 of them have been scored as a result of a free kick or corner.