VNL#39 - Wealdstone 0 Daggers 5
This is admittedly a very generous run of fixtures for the Daggers, granted, but the manner in which they've explosively breezed through it cannot be ignored. A team that has notoriously struggled to assert their dominance, especially this season, are battering their way towards an impressive end to a season that for the most part has been bitterly disappointing. Five points off the play-offs leaves us with a very outside chance of fulfilling our ambitions. However, quite simply, we'd need to maintain our current perfect form but against vastly superior opposition to who we've been playing recently. The likelihood is that we will fall just short, but all we can do is win every game we possibly can, while hoping for slip ups from upwards. This was an exceptional statement ahead of a tougher sequence of fixtures. Stockport away in midweek is a daunting prospect, but six consecutive wins isn't a bad way to approach it. Certainly they'll be aware of what we're capable of, and no more so was it evident than this 5-0 success at Wealdstone, which was pretty much a procession. It was game over after four minutes, at which point we'd scored twice and had another cleared off the line. Our start was quite sensational, and set the tone for a half where we sliced through them at will. The second half was a stark contrast as we took our foot off the gas, quite inevitably, and only notched one. The damage was long done. Our potent trio of Balanta, McCallum and Robinson caused mass destruction, all adding to their impressive goal tallies of late. While they will naturally claim the plaudits, everybody was brilliant. Khan had his best game for us, Vilhete was outstanding, the defence snuffed out all the danger. It was a superb performance. The outcome can be attributed as much to Wealdstone being astonishingly poor, though. It didn't take long to discover why they'd lost their last six matches. Them, King's Lynn, Barnet and Woking have all packed it in with the threat of relegation removed. We've been fortunate to play all four in the past fortnight. They were all there for the taking, but you can only beat what's infront of you, and we've done that in the most emphatic way possible.
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VNL#38 - Daggers 3 Woking 1
🚨 FIVE LEAGUE WINS IN A ROW 🚨 As much as it is an admittedly palatable run of fixtures, that doesn't dilute what is a klaxon-worthy accomplishment. Not since early 2017 have we managed to record five victories on the bounce, but as impressive as the results are the performances that are supplementing them. This, for the most part, was an absolute joy to watch. Our interplay, primarily involving the majorly-influential Matt Robinson, was absolutely exceptional. His passing is a skill he is only recently receiving immense praise for. He always seemed a gritty enforcer type midfielder, but he can certainly ping a football. The same can be said for Will Wright, who racked up another two assists. Much like Robinson, his technical ability has often been overlooked, but he showcased what he can do here. McCallum, also bang in form, headed home his pinpoint early cross to take his own individual tally to ten, which swiftly became eleven from the penalty spot soon afterwards. Balanta would later join his strike-partner in double figures and a crucial goal it was too, after Woking had threatened a comeback that, for a short while, seemed conceivable. Though we were outstanding at times here, we were also poor for long periods and it almost proved costly, so Balanta's goal at 2-1 was absolutely critical, once again outlining his importance to the team. A drop-off in standards from the first half to the second is understandable when you consider that we only had our previous fixture two days previously. We made only two changes, both enforced, so it's not entirely surprising that we looked jaded. Ultimately, we got the three points and that's all that matters, especially at this stage of the campaign. All in all, it's another wonderful afternoon for the fanbase to savour. We must keep looking forwards rather than back, though, and focus must shift to making it six from six away at Wealdstone next weekend. I've every faith we can, such are the strengths of our current performances. VNL#37 - Barnet 0 Daggers 2
A win, in any circumstances, is always welcomed and celebrated accordingly. It's true, though, that nobody will be getting the bunting out for merely accruing three points against not only the worst team in the division, but possibly one of the poorest to grace the top tier of non league in many, many years. However, it's not the win itself that was most impressive here, but rather the manner of it. Daggers were slick, fluent and in all honestly a thorough delight to watch. We coasted to a comprehensive triumph while barely breaking sweat. I'd use the word easy, although that undermines the hard work that characterised our performance somewhat. It's the fourth game in a row where we've performed exceptionally and been rewarded as a result, all of which propels us into our highest league position all season. This winning run is our best in over two years and two very beatable teams now await us, offering the opportunity for things to get better still. It is tinged by the frustration of our recent upturn in form having come too late to ultimately count for anything. Though the gap between us and the play-offs isn't completely insurmountable, what would be required is a monumental run of form that I don't think anybody in this division would be able to produce, barring maybe a couple of the real standout sides. Of course, context and perspective is needed. We've had a great few weeks but our last two wins have been against truly dreadful teams. Outclassing King's Lynn and Barnet is something we should be doing, it isn't overly worthy of mass celebration. That said, irrespective of opposition, there's a real promising vibe about the way we're playing recently. Robinson, McCallum and Balanta have all been outstanding of late. The former two netted at the Hive, while the latter was essential in the build-up. The link-up play has been exceptional, and when you add players like Vilhete to the mix, a real positive pattern emerges. When Weston gets added to the equation, we'll have a whole other dimension too. Focus will very quickly switch to Woking, who we're pitted against in less than 48 hours. Their defeat to Weymouth today is the sixth game in succession they've lost. Not making that seven, and extending our own run of form in the process, would be inexcusable. The final month of a remarkably unconventional campaign begins in the kind of congested nature that has defined the previous seven months, with a quick-fire double header crammed into the Bank Holiday weekend.
One of the most telling take-aways from the recent Fans' Forum, held over Zoom as a sign of the times, was manager Daryl McMahon admitting that this season has been a failure on his part. Despite this, we're more than capable of finishing strongly, which would dilute the frustration somewhat but nonetheless would not distract from the fact that our ambitions have not been fulfilled. Ahead of this extended weekend, we're on an impressive run of three victories in succession, our best streak since that surreal Winter period after the American owners seized control of the club. There are shoots of recovery protruding from the soil, but it seems they've come too late to make a tangible difference to our overall fate. Zoning in on the next few games in particular, it's not an understatement to say that the upcoming three are not only winnable, but should be won. Barnet may be in reasonable form but they're bottom of the league, with an abject defensive and attacking record. Woking have lost seven of their last eight games, including five in a row. Wealdstone have a similar record, their only win from ten coming against today's opposition, a damning indictment on both of those sides. Anything less than nine points from nine would be disappointing. The Barnet game is one that all of our supporters want to win more than most. There's still animosity from a few years ago when they raided our financially-depleted resources, and they mustn't be too pleased that we returned the favour this season by pinching Elliott Johnson, Callum Reynolds, Charlee Adams and Mauro Vilhete from their play-off squad, while also signing their much-adored loanee Paul McCallum. The Hive hasn't been a particularly happy venue to visit for Dagenham supporters over the past few years. Our first trip there was during our relegation season and produced one of the worst performances I can remember. Two years later, we lost 2-1 there, and last season's fixture wasn't played because it was twice postponed, including at late notice last February with several hundred fans already in the vicinity, before the onset of the pandemic curtailed proceedings. Our luck there has to change today. We'll need every member of our squad across the next three days, especially with an injury list we won't want to add to. Fundamentally, though, this weekend is all about making it four, then five, wins in a row, as we at least aim to secure a top-half finish. |
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May 2024
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