After having the originally scheduled game literally blown
out when the roof of one of the Edgar Street terraces was damaged by gales, the
Daggers ended up with nothing from the rescheduled match as well as Bulls coach
Phil Robinson scored in the 89th minute to win the match. A reported 72
traveling fans had been cheering the news coming over the scoreboard from the
McCain Stadium in Scarborough where Boston were 2-0 down and had a man sent off,
but the Dagenham & Redbridge team, seeming to be aware of this, decided that
a point from the game was enough and began playing for time when they had had
the better of the second half. This risky strategy failed when Hereford snatched
the late winner.
The Daggers were without Mark Stein, Dean
Hooper and Steve West, all suspended, while Mark Rooney is still missing with injury and Ashley Vickers has yet to recover from a virus. In addition to these woes it would appear that Junior McDougald (left) was kept out of the game by his seeming hamstring pull observed by some at the end of the Doncaster match. They welcomed back Lee Goodwin and Ken Charlery though, although Charlery only lasted 40 minutes before having to be replaced.
Hereford started fastest, hitting a post early on and forcing a good save from Roberts before the Daggers started to get their act together. Once again it was Danny Hill (right) that popped up in the box, but this time
his shot hit the post and Mark Janney had a shot from the rebound saved. The Daggers also had a decent shout for a penalty for handball turned down. The loudest cheer of the night from the traveling fans came as news of Scarborough's
first goal spread to the terraces.
The Daggers had the better of early exchanges in the second half without ever really dominating. News of a second Scarborough goal seemed to leave the team confused and they began to play obviously for the point that would leave them top of the Conference as the game wound down. Hereford seemed to sense that the game was there for the taking and pushed forward forcing a number of dangerous free kicks. From one of these,
Steve Heffer (left) was forced to head over for a corner and from this the Bulls grabbed the
winner with a minute of normal time remaining. Tim Cole looked to be fouled as a Hereford player headed the corner back across the goal for Phil Robinson to head home but this was missed by the referee.
In the remaining three minutes the Daggers poured forward looking for an equaliser, including Tony Roberts (right) who went up front at a couple of set pieces, but the Bulls held out for the points that guarantee them Conference football next season.
All we can hope is that the defeat hasn't done the same for Dagenham & Redbridge. They stay second on goal difference and on Saturday travel to the same McCain
Stadium where Boston were comprehensively beaten on Tuesday. The Pilgrims meanwhile face Farnborough Town at York Street. Both the contenders are playing very edgy nervous football right now, and it is a question of who can steel
themselves to cross the finishing line. Boston remain favorites for the moment as they still hold their own destiny.
It could all have been very different though, but for this poor defeat.
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