Dagenham & Redbridge are in the play-offs! The task now? Stay there. Something which is certainly easier said than done. 

The Daggers bounced back at Aldershot with in-form Josh Walker at the double, following an uninspiring defeat at home to Woking last Saturday. 

Starting with that 2-1 loss, in the aftermath there were certainly questions about whether this side had gone maybe one step too far - beating teams in the play-off places. 

A lacklustre first-half performance ultimately cost Daryl McMahon’s men against a good Woking side in truth, though poor defending on Dagenham’s part helped the Cards to victory. 

The imperative was turning things around quickly on Tuesday against a struggling Aldershot side, a crucial game in hand which, if won, would propel the Daggers up the table and into the play-off positions.

They did exactly that in what was a comfortable victory, though it wasn’t exactly a dominant performance. 

The result is of course more important and on that McMahon’s men delivered. Another positive was the return of Harry Phipps at the back and Paul McCallum up top - both playing a part, the former marshalling the back line to a clean sheet, with the help of Elliot Justham. 

The man who stole the limelight was Walker, a player who has hit red-hot form, scoring four in his last three games in a blistering start to 2023. 

Hopefully he can continue his form into a tough set of fixtures to end the month, notably a trip to Bromley and hosting Eastleigh, key games in the play-off race. 

If we can win those two games it will be a big step in beginning to consolidate a place in the play-offs, now the ultimate task of this team for the remainder of the season.

I think it will require a slight raise in standards of performance, with the Woking game epitomizing the costs of below-par performances - even for a half - against quality opposition.

Hopefully that consistent string of good performances, elusive in seasons gone by, can be put together in the back of the season to deliver play-off football. 

But there is still a way to go and before the next league game and there is the FA Trophy fourth-round tie against Maidenhead this weekend - a second cup clash of the season, with the Daggers coming out victorious last time round to progress in the FA Cup. 

The Trophy run last campaign ended in heartbreak at home to York and it would be nice to go all the way this time round. 

Let’s hope that Trophy run continues and the play-off pursuit remains on track, for this week at least! 

Until next week, Come On You Daggers!