ShrewsTRUST Man of the Match
Vote for your Man of the Match by texting SHREWSMOM followed by the squad number of the player who was Man of the Match to 88442.
Texts cost 25p plus standard network charge.
Town: David Button, Dean Holden, Joe Skarz, Terry Dunfield, Craig Disley (Steve Leslie 30), Kelvin Langmead (c), David Hibbert, Jake Robinson, Lewis Neal, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Kevin McIntyre
Subs: Kris Bright, Paul Murray, Steve Leslie, Harry Hooman, Chris Neal, Danny Taylor, Jon Taylor
Goal: Hibbert, Leslie
Dagenham: Tony Roberts, Scott Doe, Mark Arber, Danny Green (Wes Thomas 79), Josh Scott (Roman Vincelot 73), Paul Benson, Abu Ogogo, Danny Spiller (Darren Currie 84), Marlon Pack, Peter Gain, Jamie Day
Subs: Jon Nurse, Wes Thomas, Darren Currie, Roman Vincelot, Graeme Montgomery, Chris Lewington, Phil Walsh
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
Assistant Referee (yellow): S Copland
Assistant Referee (plain): C Dunn
Fourth Official: D Gratton
Attendance: 4812 (110)
Paul Simpson makes the two changes to the side with Joe Skarz coming into make his debut and Jake Robinson returning to the starting line-up. Graham Coughlan is missing with a hamstring problem and Steve Leslie drops to the bench.
Town were having the better of the attacking play in the opening 5 minutes and were pushing the visitors back.The home side were playing some good balls in behind the Dagenham defence but both Hibbert and Robinson getting caught with some borderline offside calls.
It was Dagenham though who took the early advantage when a Disley cross field ball was intercepted, the ball was played out quickly to Benson who broke down the right, he didn't seem to have much on but cut inside before driving in a superb shot across the face of goal that beat Button and flew into the top corner giving the Town keeper now chance.
Dagenham only held onto the lead for a few minutes until Town hit back with a superbly worked equaliser.Disley and Neal had swapped wings and Neal had moved onto the right, he didn't seem to have much space with 3 Daggers players in close attendance but he played a lovely little one two to send Robinson away infield, Neal went down the line to give Robinson an option and he used this to put Neal in behind the visitors defence, he then pulled a low ball back into the run of Hibbert who kept his cool to slot the ball past Roberts and make it 1-1.
Town were looking to add to their tally straight away and had a couple of good sights of the goal, the best when new loan signing Joe Skarz received the ball some 35 years out, he let it bounce and the drove in a vicious drive which flew just inches of the bar.
On 18 minute Town were forced into making an early change, Dean Holden had signalled to the bench that he had a problem.This gave Danny Taylor the chance to get ready and at the next available chance he was on for his second Town appearance.
There was a bit of concern on the half hour mark after Disley had challenged for an aerial ball with Ogogo, the Dagenham player caught Disley and this left him prostrate on the floor.Ogogo was booked for the challenge but after extensive treatment from Town physio Nathan Ring and the Doctor Craig was stretchered from the pitch with Steve Leslie coming onto replace him
The switch seemed to give Town a spark and they really took the game to Dagenham. Firstly a quick break saw the ball pinging around the Dagenham box with Hibbert, Neal and finally Leslie having efforts which were blocked.Then minutes later some neat work from Robinson saw him break down the right, cut inside and then curl a shot in which Roberts did well to stop.Then finally a ball down the middle found Hibbert, he turned his marker smartly to make space but he lifted his shot over the target.
Dagenham were always looking threatening and when they did get the chance to break they caused Town problems.The every available Benson gave chase to a ball that Langmead had, he held up and looked to clear but Benson managed to gain possession, he cut towards goal before crossing to the back post to find an unmarked teammate, he drove in a low shot but Skarz threw his body in the way for an important block.
With the game entering 6 minutes of injury Town grabbed an excellent second goal to get their noses in front.They had been pressuring Dagenham and Langmead had stayed up after a corner, a ball in behind the defence found Langmead, he controlled it well and crossed back into the danger area to find Leslie, he had his back to goal and a defender on his back but managed to turn well and hook in a great shot that gave Roberts no chance.
Half-time: 2-1
All the pressure was coming from Town after the restart and the home side were really pegging the visitors back.Any chance Town had to move the ball quickly they took and with Hibbert, Robinson and Neal there were willing runners to get forward. Town were getting a lot of rewards from balls in behind the Dagenham defence and this was causing a few nerves at the back.The best chance of the opening 5 minutes was when a Lewis Neal corner dropped into space, Langmead got in a great diving header but he but the ball inches wide of the target.
There were willing runners throughout the Town side and when Joe Skarz picked the ball up he continued to run, he rode a couple of tackles and came in field before playing it to Hibbert who had come out to the right hand side, he cut past his marker to put the ball onto his right foot and drove in a low shot which flew into the side netting.
David Button had been having quite a quiet game but he had to be alert to deny Dagenham on a couple of occasions, the first he got down at his near post to block and then from the resulting corner had to act sharply to tip over the ball from a snap shot.
Dagenham were reduced to 10 men on 25 minutes much to the amazement of the visiting team.Terry Dunfield had burst through midfield and then played the ball and carried on his run for the return, he had gone tumbling from a challenge from Scott Doe, ref Pawson was straight over and produced a straight red card for Aber for what he motioned was an elbow.
The 10 men of Dagenham were still making a game of it and Town were showing good patience to keep their shape and bide their time.They were having the majority of the play but Dagenham were working hard to close down the space and with three substitutions made since the red card they had fresh legs to help.
With 4 minutes of injury time added Town were trying to calm things down and keep hold of the ball, everything was little rushed at times but the home side were looking to do the right things and wait the arrival of the final whistle.
Full-time: 2-1
