Burton Albion 0 Dagenham 1

Last updated : 24 April 2004 By Footymad Previewer

John Still had the perfect start on his return to Dagenham as they ended the season with victory in his first game officially in charge.

Leon Braithwaite's 56th minute goal was enough to give the Daggers their first ever Conference victory over Nigel Clough's team.

But for Burton the result was symptomatic of a disappointing season in which they have lost ten home games - six of them by 1-0.

The Daggers threatened to spoil Burton's end of season party as early as the 12th minute when Mark Janney was desperately unlucky to see his 25-yard lob bounce off the crossbar with home goalkeeper Matt Duke well beaten.

With the pressure still on, Burton quickly had another escape when visiting skipper Tim Cole saw his fierce left foot volley flash just wide of the far post.

Burton had a chance of their own two minutes later but Craig Dudley dragged his ten-yard shot horribly wide after arriving unmarked to meet a Sam Shilton cross.

Dagenham finished the half the stronger side with Ashley Vickers having a looping header tipped over the crossbar by Duke, who then got his body in the way of an angled shot by Chris Moore.

Burton were the brighter side at the start of the second half but it was the visitors who made the decisive breakthrough.

Duke managed to get his hands to a low cross from Moore but was unable to prevent Braithwaite from bundling the ball over the line.

Burton's best chance to salvage a point fell to substitute Jon Howard ten minutes from time but he shot wide of an exposed goal, with Burton's claiming he had been tripped from behind by Chris Piper.