Leigh RMI v. Dagenham & Redbridge preview

The Daggers
By Matt Lawton
April 7 2003

Leigh RMI take on promotion chasing Dagenham & Redbridge at Hilton Park in a vital Conference game at the peculiar time of a Monday night after the match was re-arranged from earlier in the season.

Leigh RMI manager Mark Patterson will be desperately drumming the importance of today's game in to his players as the Railwaymen look to bounce back from Saturday's disappointing 3-1 defeat at the hands of relegation rivals Stevenage Borough.

However, opponents Dagenham & Redbridge, famous for their FA Cup runs in recent years, will certainly be no pushovers as they look to cement a place in the inaugural Conference play-offs this season.

Despite doing the "double" over the London outfit last season, and a poor start to this season by the Daggers, they have improved gradually and have quietly sneaked up the Conference table in to their current position of fifth. That, coupled with yet another famous FA Cup run, has produced another satisfying season for Garry Hill's men, although their ultimate goal is to gain promotion in to the Football League.

Daggers travel north for the second time in three days, sweating on the fitness of striker Junior McDougald, who was stretchered off during Saturday's defeat against Morecambe with a back injury. Also struggling is midfielder Paul Terry, brother of Chelsea centre back John, who has a knee injury.

The home side give a late fitness test to former Burnley defender Gerry Harrison who suffered a foot injury in Saturday's game. Former Chester City defender Martyn Lancaster will also have a fitness test after sustaining a cut to the head against Stevenage, although he is expected to be fit.