MATCH PREVIEW: DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE (H)

Boreham Wood vs Dagenham & Redbridge
Friday, 29th March 2024, 3:00 pm
Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park, Vanarama National League

PREVIEW

The Wood return to action at Meadow Park tomorrow afternoon as Luke Garrard’s men host Dagenham & Redbridge. Our previous meeting with the Daggers ended in a comfortable victory as we made the journey to East London, despite going behind with Inih Effiong drawing first blood for the home side inside 20 minutes. However, 15 minutes later, a Billy Sass-Davies bullet header from a free kick levelled the scoring. Luke Garrard’s men would then complete the comeback and seal victory on the road through goals from Lee Ndlovu and Erico Sousa with the game ending 3-1. Ben Strevens’ side sit 12th in the league on 50 points, 6 points better off than the Wood, after picking up 13 wins, playing out 11 draws and suffering 17 losses.

FORM GUIDE

Dagenham & Redbridge – D-W-L-D-W

The Daggers sit 13th in the form guide after 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses in their previous 6 in the league, picking up 8 points from a possible 18. A month ago, Ben Strevens’ men welcomed Halifax Town to East London but found themselves on the wrong side of a 1-0 scoreline as Oluwabori gave the Shaymen the lead with a long-range strike into the top corner of the net. The Daggers would then kick off their match with another home tie, this time against Altrincham. It would be a different game this time round however as the home side ran out 3-1 winners despite Altrincham levelling the score through a penalty on the stroke of half time. The victory over the Robins would be thanks to goals from Ryan Hill, Harry Phipps and, former Wood man, Josh Rees. On the following Saturday, Dagenham & Redbridge would make the hour trip to Southend United. However, there would be no victor in this clash as the sides played out a 1-1 draw. Dagenham’s Ryan Hill opened the scoring inside 14 minutes and, despite the visitors taking their lead into half-time, the home side equalised through Danny Waldron 3 minutes into the second half.

Following the draw in Essex, the Daggers hit the road again, but it wouldn’t be an hour trip this time round as Ben Strevens’ side made the long trip to play-off chasers, Gateshead. However, Dagenham wouldn’t make the journey back from Tyneside with the 3 points, nor even a point, as the home side won the tie through Dajuane Brown in the 77th minute and held onto their 1-0 lead rather comfortably. The Daggers would respond to the defeat in style as they hosted Maidenhead United 4 days later and it would be 4 goals that did it. Harry Phipps, Josh Rees, Ryan Hill and Lewis Page were all on the scoresheet for Ben Strevens’ side. The game would see Tristan Abrahams pull one back for the Magpies but this would ultimately leave the result unaffected as the Daggers came away 4-1 winners. Finally, last Saturday, Dagenham hosted Oldham Athletic at Victoria Road in a goalless game which saw a multitude of chances for both sides and a Dagenham penalty shout waved away.

ONES TO WATCH

Josh Rees:

A familiar face, Josh Rees has played a crucial role in the Daggers’ season so far. The attacking midfielder, formerly of the likes of Gillingham, Bromley and, of course, the Wood, has racked up 12 goals in 40 matches for Ben Strevens’ side this season, only 2 goals behind top scorer for the Daggers, Inih Effiong. Rees has bagged 6 goals in his last 10 in the league, including a hat-trick in a 7-1 win over Oxford City in which he scored an impressive overhead kick. The midfielder poses a big threat going forward and may be looking to get on the scoresheet on his return to Meadow Park tomorrow afternoon.

PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW