Vanarama National League, Saturday 12th August
I was over at Victoria Road, Dagenham, for a big local derby between Daggers and Southend United in the Vanarama National League, the hosts were looking to get their first win of the campaign whilst The Blues were looking to make it two wins from two after they thrashed much fancied Oldham Athletic on the opening weekend of the new season.It was a new season The Blues almost never made, it's been well documented over the last few months the troubles the club are going through off the field, the fact they nearly made the playoffs last season was a miracle, only missing out by two points in the end, after all the issues they faced off the pitch which is down to their owner and chairman Ron Martin, who it is fair to say is not welcome at the club these days.
They were given more time to secure their future after their latest winding-up petition over unpaid taxes was adjourned for a second time in July, with the financially troubled club in the High Court over a £275,000 tax bill, with the case previously adjourned in May, and Chairman Martin's request for a further 42-day extension to finalise a sale was granted by Judge Sally Barber.
It's been an ongoing situation though and The Shrimpers are now due back in court on 23rd August, eleven days after this contest, the league did grant them permission to start the season last weekend after some of that money owed was paid, and all their staffs wages were brought up to date, but pretty much everyone associated with the club want Martin out of their club and a new buyer to take on the rein's and take the club forward and back to the football league.
The club, which had pretty much no pre season because of the issues arising from these problems and having a lack of players to field, were only granted a safety certificate for Roots Hall, their home ground, a few days prior to their opening game with Oldham, and fans rallied together to get the ground up to standard and cleaning up ahead of that opener, and were rewarded with a superb performance from their side.
It's been an ongoing situation though and The Shrimpers are now due back in court on 23rd August, eleven days after this contest, the league did grant them permission to start the season last weekend after some of that money owed was paid, and all their staffs wages were brought up to date, but pretty much everyone associated with the club want Martin out of their club and a new buyer to take on the rein's and take the club forward and back to the football league.
The club, which had pretty much no pre season because of the issues arising from these problems and having a lack of players to field, were only granted a safety certificate for Roots Hall, their home ground, a few days prior to their opening game with Oldham, and fans rallied together to get the ground up to standard and cleaning up ahead of that opener, and were rewarded with a superb performance from their side.
And they were out in their numbers again in this one, with the away end a 1,200 sell out, and I can tell you the atmosphere in the away end even half an hour before kick off was immense, those Blues players would certainly be backed to the hilt against a Daggers side who had began their season with a point after they netted a 98th minute leveller at Altrincham in their season opener.
The Daggers had a pretty solid campaign last time out after finishing tenth, which was eight points off the play offs in the end, although some are predicting a tough season for the hosts this time around, although at least they did not have the uncertainly around the club like their opponents today did, however The Blues, who are only allowed a squad of sixteen players currently (despite this those players are still pretty decent!!!) dominated the opening exchanges as the hosts struggled to stay with them.
And the visitors spirited start was rewarded in the 19th minute when Jack Bridge's low cross was turned in by Harry Cardwell, he had also scored in last week's 4-0 win over Oldham, and that goal sent the already partisan away support into absolute raptures, it was a very deserved lead and the Blues were playing some lovely football.
In fact Cardwell might have had his and Southend's second soon after, but his header was saved before the rebound was spectacularly cleared off the line by Dagenham defender Tom Eastman, it seemed impossible to miss, but credit to the hosts defender who put in the timely intervention. It had been a superb performance from the visitors in the opening forty five minutes, the only negative it was only a one goal lead as they could easily have been three up by half time.
Credit The Daggers for staying in the contest, although their only real chance of the game saw a deflected effort almost wrong foot keeper Andeng-Ndi, but he managed to fall on the effort and save, The Blues created no where near as much as they had in the opening half as their tempo dropped somewhat, Noor Husin had their best effort in the second period after he sent an effort whistling just wide.
In fact Cardwell might have had his and Southend's second soon after, but his header was saved before the rebound was spectacularly cleared off the line by Dagenham defender Tom Eastman, it seemed impossible to miss, but credit to the hosts defender who put in the timely intervention. It had been a superb performance from the visitors in the opening forty five minutes, the only negative it was only a one goal lead as they could easily have been three up by half time.
Credit The Daggers for staying in the contest, although their only real chance of the game saw a deflected effort almost wrong foot keeper Andeng-Ndi, but he managed to fall on the effort and save, The Blues created no where near as much as they had in the opening half as their tempo dropped somewhat, Noor Husin had their best effort in the second period after he sent an effort whistling just wide.
The Blues though seemed fairly comfortable throughout and two minutes into six added on minutes of stoppage time they sealed the deal as for the second time in two games, Oli Coker came off the bench to score, curling home a delightful finish from just outside the box after the hosts defence parted like the red sea, to send home that raucous away support very happy indeed.
I have to say, the atmosphere I experience in that away end today was probably one of the best I've ever experienced at any sporting event, those fans deserve a club, and to think it may go under is a travesty, you can see the connection those fans have with their side who came over to applaud them after the contest was over, they really do seem to appreciate it, and who wouldn't, it is truly remarkable support for a club in the fifth tier of English football and one that has suffered so much lately. Let's hope that court date on August 23rd is a positive one.
It's two wins from two then for the Seasiders without conceding a goal so far, and they remain top of the pile after two games, unthinkable only weeks ago, whereas for The Daggers this was a day where they were second best for the majority and they could have a long season ahead but it's early days as they say and I do hope they can find their mojo and have another solid campaign.
Full time Dagenham & Redbridge 0 Southend United 2
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