Three superb strikes this afternoon from Sam Saunders and Matt Ritchie (two) seals a 3-0 victory at Meadow Lane for John Still's men. This result means the Daggers are just one point away from extending their season into the play-off's.
Still named an unchanged starting eleven for the trip to Nottingham, the only amendment was on the bench with Jamie Guy out of the squad and Daniel Charge replacing the on-loan striker.
Early in the match the Daggers had a scare when the home side had a great chance to take the lead on just four minutes. Danny Foster had the ball pinched off him by Richard Butcher and with just David Button to beat fired his shot straight at the on loan goalkeeper.
The Daggers then had a half chance when the ball from the left came for Sam Saunders and his pass found Solomon Taiwo but he snapped at the shot and the ball sailed well over the bar.
County looking the brighter of the two teams had Myles Weston breaking clear on the right and cut inside the box but Danny Foster was there to clear for safety.
The deadlock was broken on 34 minutes when Saunders grabbed his fifth goal in five matches. Paul Benson done well on the right and switched passes with Peter Gain and from Gain's pass Saunders picked the ball up and cut inside and fired a superb effort from 30 yards into the top right hand corner of the net, an absolute fantastic goal, probably the best we've seen all season.
Just a few minutes later County should have equalised when Matt Hamshaw's effort was deflected for a corner after Button was off his line. From the resulting corner-kick John Thompson's powerful header just cleared the bar.
The opening half was just a minute to go and the Daggers doubled their lead. Once again a fantastic goal, this time from Matt Ritchie. Benson was fouled by Johnson and from the free-kick Gain touched the ball off to Ritchie and probably one of the contenders for Player of the Season fired home from 25 yards out and another superb finished.
There was a substitution from the Daggers as Ben Strevens was replaced by Glen Southam for the start of the second half due to the Daggers striker picking up an injury in the opening period.
County started the second half well and it was Thompson again in the action as the Daggers failed to clear their lines, which gave Thompson a chance on goal but his effort was well over the bar.
Back down the other end and Jamie Clapham's poor pass was picked up by Ritchie and he sent Glen Southam through on the right. His strong shot was a fine effort but Kevin Pilkington stretched out and palmed the ball away.
The home side continued to pressure the Daggers goal and just after the hour a flick pass to Thompson just inside the box but just moments before he could measure up a shot, Magnus Okuonghae produced an excellent challenge and the ball was cleared for a corner. From the resulting corner-kick Clapham's shot into a crowded goalmouth found Mike Edwards and his close range shot was point-blanked saved by Button.
Gavin Strachan, son of Celtic manager Gordon should have had the ball in the net after Hamshaw's pass and the young midfielder's shot was weak but Button in the Daggers goal needed to save to preserve his clean sheet.
On 84 minutes Daniel Charge from the Academy last season came onto the pitch replacing Saunders and within two minutes had a small part in the third goal. A high ball towards Charge was left for the on-running Ritchie. The ball dropped and Ritchie struck it with a fine volley from 20 yards to score with Pilkington managing to get his hands onto the ball but it wasn't enough and the score was 3-0 to the delight of the 382 travelling Daggers fans.
As the results filtered through both Chesterfield and Shrewsbury Town failed to win their afternoon matches. This leaves our home match against Shrewsbury next Saturday with Still's men requiring a point to continue into the play-off's.
Att: 4,419 (382 D&R)
D&R: 6. David Button, 2, Magnus Okuonghae, 3. Matt Ritchie (22. Graeme Montgomery 90+2 mins), 7. Sam Saunders (20. Daniel Charge 84 mins), 12. Scott Griffiths, 14. Paul Benson, 18. Ben Strevens (8. Glen Southam 46 mins), 19. Danny Foster, 25. Solomon Taiwo, 33. Peter Gain, 34. Mark Arber - capt. Subs unused: 27. David Hogan (GK), 15. Anwar Uddin.
County: 12. Kevin Pilkington, 2. Phil Picken, 4. Mike Edwards, 6. Michael Johnson (18. Stephen Hunt 74 mins), 7. Matt Mamshaw, 11. Myles Weston, 15. Gavin Strachan, 17. Jamie Clapham (9. Jamie Forrester 83 mins), 20. John Thompson - capt, 22. Delroy Facey, 23. Richard Butcher (16. Ben Fairclough 46 mins). Subs unused: 5. Adam Tann, 24. Matt Richards.
