Dagenham 3 Stevenage 2

Last updated : 04 March 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Dagenham and Redbridge came from two goals down to make it nine wins in a row and further boost their promotion chances while Stevenage remain entrenched in the relegation zone.

Daggers were caught cold in this physical encounter when Stevenage took an early lead on 11 minutes.

Simon Wormull broke quickly and his pass was intercepted by Ashley Vickers and the danger looked to have been dealt with but Lee Matthews and Mark Smith both left the ball to each other and Anthony Elding found the corner of the net with a left foot shot.

It was 2-0 on 27 minutes. Steve Heffer's foul on the edge of the box saw Boro perform an elaborate free kick routine which ended with Wormull finding the top corner of the net for a brilliant second goal.

Soon afterwards Mark Stein put Daggers back in the game with a near post header from Tarkan Mustafa's cross.

Daggers trailed at half time but made the perfect start to the second period with Stein heading in John McGrath's free kick from the right and it was all square.

Junior McDougald nearly capitalised on a Lionel Perez error as he rushed from goal but the ball ran out of play just in time and with Daggers pressing throughout the entire half a winner seemed inevitable.

It arrived after Paul Terry's crunching tackle which left a Boro midfielder lying injured on the floor, but the ball was pumped to the other end and once again Perez dashed from goal but substitute Steve Watts took it past him, made it to the byline and chipped the ball into the six yard box where McDougald slid home the deciding goal.

There seemed no way back for Stevenage. Daggers looked capable of adding to their lead but the visitors looked to have been given a reprieve by referee Dean Whitestone when he added ten minutes of injury time to this fiery encounter.

Stevenage pressed but offered little other than a series of high balls and the Daggers held on for another vital win.