The Daggers tonight eased into the Essex Senior Cup Semi-Final thanks to a 2-0
win over Ryman Premier League outfit, Billericay Town.
Fielding a much
changed side and including debutant Ollie Berquez on the bench, the Daggers had
an early scare when former-Dagger, KK Opara forced a full stretch save from Paul
Gothard in the Daggers' goal.
From then on though, the play was mainly with the visitors with Jason Broom
and Danny Hayzelden particularly impressive. Despite the wind and rain,
the Daggers acquitted themselves well.
Broom was forced to leave the field ten minutes into the first half after
receiving a cut to his head but returned with a bandage to his head.
The
Daggers continued to pile on the pressure for the remainder of the half and
finally got the breakthrough in the 44th minute when a chipped shot from Danny Hill
rebounded off the crossbar and was
met by Ken Charlery (right) who slotted the ball home to send the large
travelling support wild.
At half time, Matt Jones was replaced by Berquez.
Nine minutes after the restart and the Daggers found themselves two up when
Charlery fired his second of the evening with a turning shot from the edge of
the area.
From this point on, there was no doubt that it would be the visitors who
progressed to the next round.
Great play on the right from Danny Hill led to a chance for Berquez but his
shot was well saved by Gavin King in the Town goal. Two minutes later and
the Frenchman had another chance but his shot crashed against the post and
rebounded to safety.
As the match drew to a close, the home side did have a couple of half-chances
but Gothard kept them at bay to notch up his first clean sheet of the season.
The Daggers face Purfleet at The Thurrock Hotel in the Semi-Final and must
surely be favourites to retain the trophy. Purfleet beat Heybridge Swifts
3-0 in the last round.
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