Dagenham & Redbridge - Home, Withdean Era
Season 12 (H) 12/4/11 - 4-3 ~ Calderon, Murray, Bridcutt, Barnes
Brighton were playing D&R so soon after our trip to theirs because of more rescheduled dates - see away text. Our super FA Cup run during winter took us to Watford in round4, so here we were now on a Tuesday evening in April instead. The match was a sell-out because it had been one hell of a season to be a Brighton fan. Gus Poyet turned up the wick and Albion burned bright at head of league1. A win tonight would mean BHA promoted to the Championship and on course to be title holders of league1. Over 7600 turned up on a cool but clear night - our last at W'dean.
Yeah, we got promoted but it was hellava rollercoaster ride. Daggers led inside the first minute, although via a deflection and we weren't particularly worried about levelling soon. Two quick goals (18 & 19 min) then put Albion ahead. Calderon poached from a corner and Murray headed in Noone's cross. D&R upped their game after the break and caught us cold. Brighton lost possession in midfield and twice conceded (48 & 51m) to smart play - the second a penalty. Bridcutt next levelled once more with a thunderous shot from outside the area (56m). Super sub Barnes came on to increase goal threats and headed the winner from Bennett's corner (63m). B'ton kept a hold on the contest and Gus put Sparrow in to plug midfield. D&R wouldn't roll over and you had to admire their battling qualities. It was great entertaiment and gaining a place in level two at end of it put sweet icing on the cake, as we tasted and toasted our success. The L1 title was all but ours.
Ankergren, Calderon, Elphick, El-Abd, Painter, Bennett, Bridcutt, Dicker (Kishishev), Noone (Sparrow), Wood (Barnes), Murray.
League1 P 41 . W 27 D 9 L 5 . F 77 A 32 . Pt 90 Po 1

no previous meetings in the Withdean era.

Dagenham & Redbridge - Away, Withdean Era
Season 12 (A) 29/3/11 - 1-0 ~ Murray
It shoulda been yer Boxing Day on a Sunday, when we'd been scheduled an away fixture to the back of beyond down river. Many trains weren't even running and originally it was a 1pm k-o and all. Then metro tube drivers went on strike and there was freezing Xmas hols to boot. Despite all efforts in one of the coldest winters known prior to any New Year, this small Essex ground got frozen solid like most of league1 festive fixtures. So we went there for our first ever visit one evening in late March when it was quite mild. Over 1400 made the trip to see a poor pitch and watch our league leaders try in one month, to win eight matches in a row.
Brighton played poorly and still won. It was very much third tier fare and we seemed to slip back to previous ways when Gus Poyet first took over from Russ Slade and before him Micky Adams and Dean Wilkins. How D&R didn't take the lead following a goalmouth melee as they hit the bar, showed just how well our luck was holding these days of chasing promotion. Daggers piled it on but Albion took a shock lead two thirds into this dire contest. Noone reached a bouncing ball, jumped and his fast centre was smashed home by Murray close in (59min). We went on the back foot again and Gus brought on Kishishev, Sparrow and Wood at various intervals to stay ahead. Believe it or not we won 1-0 again for those 8 straight victories - 5 of these by a single goal. We were 13 points clear of prospective runners-up and surely going up - probably as champions too. More Withdean era records could yet still be broken, as history was being made before our vey eyes.
Ankergren, Calderon, Greer, Elphick, Painter, Bennett (Kishishev), Bridcutt, Dicker (Sparrow), Noone (Wood), Sandaza, Murray.
League1 P 38 . W 25 D 8 L 5 . F 69 A 27 . Pt 83 Po 1

no previous meetings in the Withdean era.