FULL-TIME: Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Barnet 0 (From Times Series)

FULL-TIME: Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Barnet 0

9:42pm Friday 10th October 2008 in Sport By Paul Wreyford

Barnet were brought back down to earth by the high-flying Daggers at Victoria Road this evening.

After two straight wins, the Bees were unable to inflict a first home defeat on one of the league's early pace-setters, goals in each half proving enough for the hosts.

The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession, but, not for the first time this season, had no cutting edge up front.

It was John Still's side's second win over Paul Fairclough's troops this season, Dagenham having also beaten the Bees in the JP Trophy just over a month ago.

Barnet made one change from the side that beat Accrington Stanley on Saturday, with Adam Birchall coming in for Cliff Akurang up front.

Dagenham took just nine minutes to break the deadlock, Matt Ritchie arriving at the back post to head home a Sam Saunders cross from the right. It was the first real chance of the match and a blow to the Bees, who had started quite well.

A minute before, Birchall had got between defender and keeper, but there was no Barnet player arriving in the box to pull the ball back to.

The goal took the wind out of the visitors' sails, and Solomon Taiwo highlighted the home side's growing confidence with an ambitious effort from 25 yards that never troubled keeper Lee Harrison, the ball finishing well over.

Gradually the Bees got back into the game, forcing a number of corners, but they came to nothing.

The hosts had done their homework, quick to close down danger man Albert Adomah whenever he was given the ball at his feet.

On 28 minutes, Adomah did beat his man, and Birchall was a whisker away from connecting to his cross at the near post.

The Daggers were now doing most of the defending, but the visitors were struggling to create clear chances.

Saunders did have a curling effort for the hosts at the other end, but it was an easy save for Harrison.

Barnet's first shot came ten minutes before the interval, Neal Bishop forcing Tony Roberts to push the ball behind for a corner at his near post, the midfielder hitting a powerful effort on the half-volley from the angle of the box.

For Dagenham, Peter Gain hit a volley on the turn which finished on the roof of the net, though Harrison looked to have had it covered.

But Barnet had an extremely lucky escape five minutes before the interval, Taiwo meeting a Saunders free-kick, his looping header coming off the inside of the post and bouncing across the face of the goal, Harrison well and truly beaten on this occasion.

The final chance of a competitive and tight first half came at the other end, Adomah's low cross just going behind the incoming John O'Flynn, much to the frustration of the visiting fans who were behind that goal.

Harrison was the hero early in the second half, pulling off a superb double save to deny first Saunders and then Ritchie from the rebound. It kept his side in the game.

The Daggers had come out strongly, looking for a second to seal the points.

Kenny Gillet then did well to charge down a Taiwo shot, the Bees hanging on somewhat at the back.

But the second duly arrived on the hour, ex-Bee Ben Strevens scoring against his old club. Paul Benson crossed from the right and, though Strevens' first touch was poor, the clearance from Joe Devera hit him and bounced over Harrison. It was a lucky goal for the hosts but it had been coming.

Ritchie had a chance to make it three when he broke down the left in acres of space, but his lob was over the bar, as well as the advancing Harrison.

Barnet should have reduced the arrears midway through the half, O'Flynn shooting wide after Bishop had played him in. It was a rare chance for the Bees.

With eight minutes to go, Saunders turned his man well, but shot wide. From the corner, Ashley Carew had to clear a Benson header off the line.

Benson then drove just wide in stoppage time.

The Daggers were in full control and cruised through the final stages, the Bees having offered little in a one-sided second half.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Carew, Yakubu, Devera, Gillet; Adomah, Bishop, Leary (Deverdics 65), Nicolau (Akurang 69); O'Flynn, Birchall (Medley 69). Subs not used: Beckwith, Porter.

Attendance: 2,629.