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The Daggers completed a memorable double over near-neighbours Barnet yesterday,
running out 4-2 winners at Underhill.
With Barnet riding high in the table and the Daggers seemingly at the start
of something of a resurgence in form, it always looked to be an entertaining
encounter and so it proved.
Colin Hoyle made a debut for the Daggers having signed on a non-contract
basis as defensive cover, Ashley Vickers apparently injured despite completing
his two game suspension. Otherwise the Daggers lined up pretty much as expected,
Naisbitt taking the gloves against his old club.
The
Daggers took the game to their opponents from the start and opened the scoring
in the 20th minute through a Chris Plummer own goal after Chris Moore's cross
caused all sorts of problems and an attempted clearance by Simon King struck
Plummer and went in.
Richard Pacquette nearly doubled the lead immediately, hitting the post, but
the linesman had the flag up anyway.
Then suddenly it was 1-1. Giuliano
Grazsoli the Conference top scorer looked at least a couple of yards offside
when he received the ball, but ran clear and finished with some style, lobbing
Naisbitt.
 The
status-quo didn't last long though and Tim Cole (right) made it 2-1 with a
header from a free kick with
only 28 minutes on the clock.
The game continued to be a thriller when almost straight from the subsequent
kick off Yakubu went down dramatically when challenged in the box having been
put through by Geoff Pitcher.
 Ian Hendon
stepped up to take the kick against Danny Naisbitt (left) and hit it straight
down the middle. It was obviously exactly what the ex-Bee was expecting and he saved with his legs much to the annoyance of the Barnet crowd, especially when he showboated as the follow up shot was put wide.
After that thrilling ten minute spell the game wound down to half time with
the crowd catching its breath over the half time cuppa.
 Following
the interval, the gane was still end-to-end both sides having chances. Just
before the hour though it was the Daggers who made a further breakthrough when Mark Janney (right)
beat Gore with a spectacular long range lob.
The Daggers were well in control now, with Barnet huffing and puffing looking
for a way back into the game. It looked like they visitors would see the game
out comfortably until another explosive five minutes at the end of the game.
First Grazioli added a second for the Bees to make it 3-2 and give the home
side a hint of a way back. Danny Naisbitt went to get the ball out of the net
but not quickly enough in the view of Chris Plummer who charged into the Daggers
keeper flattening him. A melee ensued and eventually the referee sorted out the
mess and showed Plummer red, the only real option he had. Despite this Naisbitt,
who had not exactly made himself flavour of the month at Underhill, was
predictably abused by the crowd even more.
Barnet's hopes of grabbing an unlikely draw were finally dashed in injury
time when the excellent Danny Hill, who had one of his best ever games for the
club in central midfield robbed Geoff Pitcher on the edge of the Barnet penalty
area and beat Gore with some style.
The Daggers now find themselves 9 points off the play-offs, in the top half
of the table for the first time this season in 11th and in a fine run
of form. Whilst it would seem that the play-offs are not a realistic
possibility, there is still all to play for and Garry Hill's men need to keep up
the pressure next weekend against Exeter City.
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