COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO Dagenham & Redbridge 3 Brentford 1 by MIKE SIMMONDS IT WAS some night for Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday evening as they took a massive step towards the League Two play-offs, thrashing leaders Brentford 3-1 at Victoria Road. If Dag

COCA-COLA LEAGUE TWO

Dagenham & Redbridge 3

Brentford 1

by MIKE SIMMONDS

IT WAS some night for Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday evening as they took a massive step towards the League Two play-offs, thrashing leaders Brentford 3-1 at Victoria Road.

If Daggers could bottle up a performance and take it with them up and down the country, then this would have been it.

From the word go, they were in the faces of their opponents, affording them no space on the ball, playing at a devastatingly quick tempo for the entire 90 minutes to destroy their opposition.

It must be remembered to, that this was a Brentford side who could have walked away with the League Two title on the night and had lost just six games all season.

They visibly wilted in front of the pace and power of the Daggers, who to a man, turned in a stunning performance.

With over 3,000 supporters packed into the ground, including a large away following, there was a cracking atmosphere to the match, and one which the hosts used to their advantage.

Matt Ritchie went close in the early stages, firing straight at Ben Hamer, but Daggers were ahead after 20 minutes, albeit with a slice of good fortune.

It appeared that top scorer Paul Benson had controlled the ball with his hand, before he laid it off to Sam Saunders, and as the defence hesitated, the diminutive winger placed the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

It was Saunders' fourth goal in four games, and now makes it 13 for a season which just gets better and better.

The goal lit the touchpaper for Daggers, and Ben Strevens almost made it 2-0 after rounding Hamer, but his audacious effort from the by-line was cleared off the line by Ryan Dickson.

The hosts were winning every second ball now, but they were indebted to keeper David Button for a fine save midway through the half as Marcus Bean had got the better of Mark Arber.

Daggers had that all-important second goal on 34 minutes, and what a goal it was.

A corner was punched clear by Hamer, and it landed at the feet of Solomon Taiwo, who took a touch and volleyed into the far corner from 20-yards.

It was by far the best half of football Daggers have produced at home this season, and there was more to come after the break, as Arber leapt highest to head Saunders wickedly curling corner into the net via the post.

It was party time at Victoria Road now, with one lovely move involving Peter Gain, Strevens and Ritchie bringing the 'oles' out from home fans, who swiftly started the 'can we play you every week' chants to the shell-shocked visitors.

Scott Griffiths almost broke his lengthy duck in front of goal, but Hamer saved with his legs, before Brentford managed to pull back a barely-deserved consolation, as Damian Spencer fired home after a corner wasn't properly cleared.

With the final whistle blown, the lights then went out at Victoria Road, echoing memories of the abandonment a few weeks ago, but thankfully there was no-one who could take the points away from the Daggers, on what had been a tremendous night for John Still's side.

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