One week on from our stunning victory at Stockport and the delerium remains fresh. Even the most ardent of supporters wouldn't have anticipated such a comprehensive victory, but perhaps that was doing a disservice to a side who went on to prove that they're very capable of overpowering the best at this level. Or, maybe even that they're amongst them. Daggers been heavily backed by bookmakers to mount a title challenge in each of the past two years but persistent underachievement meant they disappeared beneath the radar this summer, eclipsed by the glamourous quartet of Stockport (though made to look far from glamorous on Saturday), Wrexham, Chesterfield and Notts County. However, our victory has thrust us right back into the spotlight, albeit within the context of only being one game, such was the sheer magnitude of the statement it signified. To dismissively regard the result as one of many anomalies often produced by the opening day of a new season would be easy, especially in a division as notoriously unpredictable as this, but the performance was simply too perfect to not be an authentic reflection of what the team's optimum standards are. It also was a continuation of the near-flawless form exhibited towards the back end of the season, from which there has been a seamless transition into the new one due to our squad being virtually unchanged. Would quite the same story have unfolded if we arrived at Edgeley Park following another of the large-scale rebuilds that have become a regular occurrence for us since relegation to this level? Impossible to say with certainty, but probably not. Having made the fewest signings of any National League side with just three, only one of whom was in the starting lineup, we were able to come flying out of the blocks as others progressively gel together. Only minimal time has been afforded to reveal in the opening-day triumph, though, because focus immediately shifts to the upcoming Bank Holiday double-header, in which we entertain fellow London outfits Bromley and Barnet inside the space of a hectic 48-hour period. The frenetic schedule generates excitement within supporters, especially as attending games is a newly-reintroduced concept, but will prove challenging for a squad as tight-knit as ours. That hasn't been aided by a hamstring injury to influential attacker Ángelo Balanta, which doesn't carry a specified timescale but will keep him out for the ''foreseeable future''. This knocked the available player quantity to just sixteen excluding backup goalkeeper Josh Strizovic, so Daryl McMahon has now made a further signing - Ryley Scott - to take us above that dangerous threshold. The midfielder impressed on trial in pre-season and, like Blair, adds a valuable element of youthful vibrancy. Zoning in on our first game of the weekend, we host a Bromley side who are very much an unknown quantity due to their season opener being postponed, however the quality of their existing squad indicates it'll be a tough challenge. We boast an impressive record against them, winning four of our last five clashes at Victoria Road, with the other being a draw televised on BT Sport. Included in that sequence was a 5-1 victory, during which Michael Cheek and Corey Whitely were amongst the goalscorers. Both of those now ply their trade with the Ravens, forming the basis of a strong frontline. A solitary alteration is expected from the Stockport victory, with Josh Walker presumably set to replace Balanta, who will begin his previously-mentioned spell on the sidelines. The absence of our number 10 has proven catastrophic for us in recent years, but thankfully we now seem to have adequate options to remedy such a situation arising. It's not ideal, though, and we'll certainly miss our captain.
Hopefully we have enough in the armoury to dismantle Bromley, then there's a short turnover before we renew our rivalries with Barnet just 48 hours later. Once again there will be a lot of connections between the teams, adding another dimension to the match, as no fewer than eight players will be lining up against their former sides: Elliott Johnson, Callum Reynolds, Mauro Vilhete, Josh Walker, Paul McCallum, Joe Widdowson, Mitch Brundle and Mason Bloomfield. It will be the first time our supporters have been able to visit the Hive in three years, as two of the previous clashes were postponed and one was contested behind-closed-doors just a few months ago. However, though firmly embedded into the minds of fans, Daryl McMahon won't be diverting his attention away from the first assignment of the weekend until Saturday evening at the earliest. We've set the bar incredibly high already and a performance even half as good will be gratefully received. By the end of this frenetic few days, let's hope we're still sitting on maximum points.
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May 2024
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