Nwokeji gets his Daggers career off to goalscoring start

11:16am Tuesday 15th July 2008

DAGENHAM and Redbridge got their pre-season campaign off to a winning start with a 3-2 victory over Ryman Premier League side Borehamwood at Meadow Park yesterday.

John Still fielded a strong side, with new boy Mark Nwokeji and trialist Aaron Frey both making the Daggers starting line up.

Fit again Richard Graham played a full 90 minutes, with Peter Gain, Soloman Taiwo and Paul Benson all starting as well.

Former Staines striker Nwokeji looked lively from the off, setting up a gilt-edged chance for Benson who struck past the post.

But Nwokeji went one better on the half hour with a rifled drive into the bottom corner to give Daggers the lead.

But the east Londoners couldn't hold onto their lead, with Borehamwood striker Craig Morgan making the most of a mix up between Mark Arber and Scott Griffiths in the Dagenham defence before curling a great strike around Ed Thompson just a minute later.

Daggers restored their lead before half time when Taiwo struck a sweetly-hit volley into the top corner.

Daggers stretched their lead ten minutes later when Gain hit another unstoppable effort into the top corner.

The home side pulled one back when striker Simon Thomas hit a shot past Thompson.

And the same player almost put Wood back on level terms a minute later, only to be denied by a double save from Thompson.

Nwokeji almost scored a fourth for the Daggers late on, but Borehamwood keeper Noel Imber produced a fine save.

Boss Still was satisfied with the work-out.

"We scored some high quality goals and worked hard," he said.

"Mark Nwokeji scored a good goal, almost had another and looked strong.

"We shall be working on his link-up with other players in coming games."

Dag & Red: Thompson, Frey, Uddin, Arber, Griffiths, Graham, Taiwo, Gain, Green, Benson, Nwokeji. No subs used.

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