Dagenham 2 Northwich 0

Last updated : 12 April 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Dagenham & Redbridge sealed their place in the play-offs to ensure that their Football League dream is still alive.

A goal in each half was enough as Hereford lost 1-0 at Halifax. It was a well deserved victory and Daggers played within themselves for most of the 90 minutes.

They should have led within five minutes when Lee Goodwin found himself in yards of space after Northwich's hit and miss offside trap saw four Daggers players in the box and Goodwin shot low and hard, but Matthew Parry parried the ball away.

The visitors best effort early on came from defender Steve Davis' header which went straight at Tony Roberts but he should have done better.

Then came three disastrous minutes. On 30 minutes Mark Stein held the ball up in the box and Danny Shipp fired home a low shot from an acute angle.

Jamie McGuire then had his second moment of madness, he had already been booked for crudely stamping on Goodwin, he was then late on John McGrath and Northwich were down to ten men after just 33 minutes.

Daggers just needed that second goal and victory would have been assured. Steve West headed over from Tarkan Mustafa's cross and Parry had to make a double save from West's free-kick and Stein's follow-up.

The second half was a lacklustre affair until a late surge from the Daggers. West twice saw efforts come back off the bar before substitute Danny Hill found Mark Stein with a glorious through ball and he found the bottom corner of the net with a minute remaining.

Stein also hit the bar late on, but the Daggers place in the play-offs was assured with Daggers manager Garry Hill insisting that he does not mind who his team face.