James Harrison takes a look at Who's Who in League Two, a continuting series about next season's opponents.

Last Season 20th
Dagenham spent most of their first ever Football League season teetering on the brink of relegation back to the Conference having won it convincingly in 2007. A run of five wins through February and March, kickstarted by a 6-2 win at home to sliding Chester City aided their cause significantly, especially as they failed to win any of their following nine matches.

Results elsewhere went Dagenham's way and they avoided a potential winner-takes-all clash with eventually relegated Mansfield Town on the last day of the season, a game which they won to take them to 49 points. They had confirmed their safety with a remarkable comeback at playoff contenders Darlington a week previous.

In the FA Cup, they overcame two non-league foes in Hampton & Richmond Borough and Kidderminster Harriers to get to a third round clash at local adversaries Southend United, where they were thrashed 5-2. Interestingly, they had already beaten Southend at Roots Hall in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on penalties in September.

The Daggers were successful in the next round of the JPT at an even more local opponent in Leyton Orient, winning there by the solitary goal. Another local trip followed, but they were well beaten by Gillingham at Priestfield, losing 4-0.

In the Carling Cup, they were narrowly beaten 2-1 at Victoria Road by Luton Town.

Stats (League Only)
HOME: W 6 D 7 L 10 F 27 A 32 - PTS 25
AWAY: W 7 D 3 L 13 F 22 A 38 - PTS 24
TOTAL: W 13 D 10 L 23 F 49 A 70 - PTS 49

Average Attendance: 2,007
High: 3,451 v. Mansfield Town
Low: 1,328 v. Chester City

Top Scorer: Ben Strevens - 15

Against Barnet
Meetings between the two sides have always produced a fair few goals since our first meeting in 2001 in the Conference. That season saw a 4-0 win at Underhill against a Dagenham side in a fierce battle with Boston United at the top for the one promotion place, which Boston ultimately won.

The next two seasons saw Barnet concede five in both games at Victoria Road, and also a 4-2 reverse at home in the year The Bees reached the Playoffs. However, Barnet exerted some harsh revenge on their East London counterparts with a 5-0 demolition in front of the Sky cameras in a year that saw many sides suffer a similar fate at Underhill.

Last season, the Sky cameras were again showing the clash, this time at Victoria Road. Bees old boy Ben Strevens gave Daggers the lead, only for Anthony Thomas to equalise in a bizarre incident. Thomas' powerful shot broke through the net and rebounded back out across the pitch. With the players celebrating, over 500 Bees fans at the opposite end were somewhat perplexed until it finally dawned that the ball had in fact gone in! With high amounts of pressure sustained in the second half, Dagenham had ever entertaining 'keeper Tony Roberts to thank as they held onto a point.

Back at Underhill, Roberts and his team-mates could do nothing to match the irresistible skill of Jason Puncheon, whose hat-trick sent the Daggers home empty handed. An all-round excellent team performance truly put Dagenham to the sword, with Puncheon putting in one of many fine displays. A late consolation was not to be enough for Dagenham, who looked in real danger of the drop as the New Year approached.

Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Barnet
Saturday September 08, 2007
Coca Cola League Two
D&R: Strevens (20)
Scorer: Thomas (45 + 3)
Att: 2,192 (526)

Barnet 3-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Saturday December 26, 2007
Coca Cola League Two
Scorers: Puncheon (41 pen, 50, 78)
D&R: Huke (88)
Attendance: 2,513 (404)

Transfers So Far (As Of July 08)
In: Mark Nwokeji (Staines - Undisclosed)
Out: Dave Rainford (Chelmsford)

As ever, The Reckless Guide To Dagenham & Redbridge will provide all you need to know for our trip to Victoria Road on October 10. Look out for that close to the time of the game.