Farnborough 1 Dagenham 0

Last updated : 31 August 2002 By Footymad Previewer

Dagenham & Redbridge crashed to their first defeat of the season to a gallant Farnborough side looking to build on a somewhat shaky start to the campaign.

All eyes were on veteran Mark Stein and his opposite number Ken Charlery who struck up such a successful partnership for the Daggers last season.

But in the end it was young 20-year-old Boro winger Tony Taggart who stole the show, sealing the points for his side with a wonder goal after 69 minutes.

Taggart ghosted past two Daggers players in the centre of the park and took a return ball from Lenny Piper before burying a 22-yard shot into the top corner of the net.

With both teams boasting such an abundance of talent in attacking areas, this match was perhaps a little disappointing to the eye.

The teams cancelled each other out all too often and it resulted in a real scrap to the finish.

The first half was a rather forgettable affair with the two defences, marshalled excellently by Jim Rodwell for Farnborough and Steve West for Dagenham, well and truly on top.

West almost put the Daggers one up with a thunderous header which flew just over the bar, while Charlery almost rocked his former team-mates with a goal on the stroke of half-time, but his cross-shot skimmed just wide. That was about it however.

Dagenham started the second half on top and Boro looked a little shell-shocked but slowly the visitors were pegged back and it was no surprise in the end to see Taggart break the deadlock with his wonder strike.

Both teams might have added to the scoreline after that but, in truth, Boro had keeper Tony Pennock to thank for two top class saves to deny Stein late on and earn Boro their second win of the season