The Daggers today won a hard-fought match against Play-Off hopefulls, Aldershot
town in front of a packed Victoria Road.
The win was enough to ensure that the Daggers are crowned Nationwide
Conference Champions 2006/07 and start next season as a Football
League Club.
The
hosts started the game brightly and looked the more threatening
in the early exchanges. It came as little surprise when, on
12 minutes, Paul Benson (left) headed home his twenty-sixth
goal of the season from a great cross from the left by Sam Sloma.
Shortly after this, Benson did well to hold up the ball and laid
it back for Sam Saunders, but Saunders was unable to keep his shot
down.
The visitors then started to come more into the match and had
a few chances of their own but were unable to capitalise and the
teams went in at half-time with the Daggers just about deserving
of their single goal advantage.
There was a big cheer at half-time when Brownie announced that
Oxford were losing and Morecambe were only drawing.
The second half started much as the first half had with
the Daggers doubling their tally 15 minutes into the half. Rhys
Day was adjudged to have fouled Ben Strevens (right) in the
area and Dave Rainford made no mistake in blasting his penalty into
the bottom left corner of the goal.
The goal seemed to do more harm than good for the hosts though.
It was as though the team let out a "oh well, that's
that then" sigh and took their mind off the game somewhat.
The visitors came more and more into the match and some sloppy
defending from corners led to the Shots getting a goal back when
Jonny Dixon headed into Tony Roberts' goal.
Some very nervy play from the Daggers almost let the visitors
get back on level terms, but the Daggers weathered the storm and
the final whistle brought scenes of jubilation around Victoria Road.
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