One of the few advantages that we discovered upon the dreaded yet then-inevitable drop to the Vanarama National League back in 2016 was BT Sport's impressive coverage of the division. As well as a regular highlights package, they continue to broadcast many live matches across the season which, when we were flourishing at the top of the league, enabled us to showcase our capibilities to much of the nation. So, as Daggers make their debut on the channel for a new campaign against Eastleigh this weekend, I profile our nine post-relegation BT Sport appearances, which have seen us rack up 3 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats. DAGGERS 3 WREXHAM AFC 0A completely rebuilt Dagenham & Redbridge side had begun their first non-league campaign in a decade with devastating intent and, as they hosted the first TV-broadcast game at Victoria Road in six years, sat in a healthy second position after winning four of their five games played. Against a dismally lacklustre Wrexham outfit, the Daggers would go on to produce a magnificent display on a sun-kissed afternoon in East London. Oliver Hawkins scored a brilliant hat-trick in the first half and that was what separated the teams, while a certain Corey Whitely also announced himself to the supporters with a lively cameo. DAGGERS 0 TRANMERE 0A vast contrast to their last appearance on BT Sport, Dagenham's home game against Tranmere Rovers on the opening weekend of October was played against a miserable backdrop of heavy downpours and violent thunderstorms, which set the tone for a low-key affair at Victoria Road. Tranmere Rovers, playing their first game under the temporary charge of Paul Carden, had a huge chance to win it in the dying embers of the game, while Dagenham hit the bar through Christian Assombalonga, also in the latter stages of the contest. All in all, a drab encounter, but Daggers preserved their lead at the top of the table. DAGGERS 3 BRAINTREE TOWN 0Seeing their title hopes slowly ebb away, owing to a sloppy run of form which included a loss to Braintree Town days prior in the first installment of this festive double-header, John Still's side simply had to get three points in what was the final match to kick off in the first gameweek of 2017. Thankfully, though, the Daggers got it right on a bitterly freezing, pitch-black night under the floodlights. Though they were already leading at this point through Maguire-Drew, a reckless sending off for the visitors effectively ended the game and allowed Dagenham to return to winning ways comfortably, with Guttridge and Whitely sealing it. LINCOLN CITY 2 DAGGERS 0As a frantic season neared its end, Dagenham headed to runaway leaders Lincoln City in a match of immense magnitude, which could potentially have a significant influence on the final standings of the table. Nobody needed any reminder of how massive the game was but, unfortunately, Dagenham were awful throughout as they produced a bitterly underwhelming display. An injury to Ollie Hawkins (broken arm), adding to their already-large tally, restricted them to very few attacking forays. In the end, goals from Matt Rhead and Elliot Whitehouse sealed the contest, and pretty much denied Daggers any chance of the title. DAGGERS 1 FOREST GREEN 1As Jordan Maguire-Drew slammed home to send most of Victoria Road into sheer jubilation, the prospect of a trip to Wembley, and in turn an instant Football League return, was quite conceivable. It was the first leg of a play-off semi-final, the last year in its current format, and Dagenham were really up for it. In a tremendous home display, they battled from the injustice of a disgraceful penalty decision to roar back and earn a draw, which set the scene for a make-or-break trip to Nailsworth three days later. FOREST GREEN 2 DAGGERS 0It was make-or break, all or nothing, but sadly for Dagenham the end of a fantastic journey that didn't deserve to conclude with our dejected supporters watching Forest Green invade the pitch, after they'd soundly beaten us 2-0 through ex-Dagger Christian Doidge and Keanu Marsh-Brown. After such a monumental effort throughout the campaign, it was one game too far for the Daggers, who failed to carry through the momentum from the first-leg. Forest Green didn't 'crumble', we didn't deliver, and now FGR are a Football League team. chester 0 DAGGERS 4Sensational was how Adam Virgo described it as Dagenham & Redbridge delivered memorable a second-half performance to make it three wins in a row, and cap their first BT Sport appearance that season in scintillating fashion. A lacklustre first-half, plus a terrible penalty from the misfiring Corey Whitely, pointed to a miserable and frustrating day for Dagenham. However, from the moment Sam Ling flicked them ahead in the second 45, they were irresistable and, as Chester imploded, they twisted the knife. Cheek scored twice and Luke Howell bagged the other on a positive trip up North. SUTTON UNITED 2 DAGGERS 1In hindsight, we now regard this as the period where the club was falling apart behind the scenes to such an extent that promotion was the last thing on our minds. While, unbeknown to us, Steve Thompson was being advised to liquidate the club, the wounded Daggers were looking to bounce back from a very difficult few weeks on the pitch too. It was dubbed as a promotion battle by BT Sport but the lunchtime kick-off at Gander Green Lane was anything but a battle; Sutton hit the woodwork four times in the first-half. Dagenham survived and might've thought the luck was with them, but those hopes were soon disspelled. daggers 0 ALDERSHOT 2Under a month later, things had severely escalated as the devastating news of our financial plight swept through the National League. As several key players were sold to free up the wage bill, it was a much lesser side that took on promotion favourites Aldershot, far from ideal opposition when you need a pick-me-up. This game will prove to be one of my most memorable because of the brilliant support from our fans in the face of adversity, and the intensity was matched on the pitch with a brilliant battling display. It was a 2-0 defeat in the end, but the Daggers can consider themselves slightly unlucky.
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January 2024
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