Town eventually came through a tricky FA Cup tie at Dagenham and Redbridge, beating the Essex side 4-1 after going behind. The home side started strongly and went ahead through Junior McDougald before Sixto Peralta (2), Jim Magilton and the returning Marcus Stewart won it for the Blues. Once Town had gone ahead there was little doubt who would win with Town keeper Andy Marshall rarely tested.

Town lined-up with Marshall making his Town debut and Wayne Brown, Sixto Peralta, Martijn Reuser, Titus Bramble, Jermaine Wright and Marcus Stewart all returning to the Town team. Brown and Bramble were in the centre of defence with Makin and Hreidarsson the full-backs. Jermaine Wright and Jim Magilton were in the centre of the midfield with Reuser and Peralta on the flanks. The two Marcuses started up front for the first time. Notably absent were Matt Holland and Matteo Sereni. In Holland's stead Jim Magilton took over as captain.

The Daggers started very strongly and the first chance went to them, although from an unlikely source. Hermann Hreidarsson sliced a clearance from well out on the left and almost sent the ball over Marshall into the net. Fortunately the ball flew past the post for the first in a succession of Dagenham corners.

Andy Marshall made his first save in the third minute when Danny Shipp was well-placed in space.

The Daggers continued to have the best of it and they went ahead on 17. A shot from the edge of the area hit Wayne Brown and ran into the path of Junior McDougald. The striker, in for Mark Stein, had little trouble in beating Marshall in the Town goal. It was another soft goal in a season littered with similar giveaways, although it was well deserved of the balance of play.

In the 20th minute Chris Makin and McDougald got involved in a bit of a tussle on the right hand side. Titus Bramble stepped in to split the two and referee Styles gave Town a freekick and showed no yellow card.

Dagenham keeper Tony Roberts touched the ball for the first time on 21 as Hermann Hreidarsson put in a cross towards Marcus Stewart. Seconds later Roberts was in action again as he saved a weak Reuser header.

Town's equaliser came in the 29th minute courtesy of a fine move. Marcus Stewart played the ball back to Hermann Hreidarsson on halfway on the left. He played the ball forward to Martijn Reuser who cut in and crossed low into the box where Sixto Peralta stooped to head home. Town had started to get their game going and the equaliser gave them new impetus.

The Blues had a scare on 35. Andy Marshall rushed wildly out of his goal and mis-punched the ball straight to the feet of Danny Shipp on the right of the area where he had an open goal on front of him. Luckily for Town Rob Styles blew his whistle for an alleged foul on Marshall by McDougald. While the Town keeper played to the crowd wiping his brow in a comedy manner, Wayne Brown lectured him on talking to his defenders.

Mark Janney came close to a second Dagenham goal in the 37th minute when his shot from the edge of the area was deflected wide of the post. The right winger had got away from Hermann Hreidarsson before hitting his goalward effort.

Sixto Peralta came close to a yellow card a minute later as he was twice penalised for fouls. To be fair to the Argentinian he had won the ball the first time, although the second was a bit wild. Rob Styles is never a man keen to give too much to Town and on a number of occasions might have given freekicks to the Blues, Marcus Bent particularly unlucky not to get more decisions go his way.

With two minutes left of the half, Town ought to have gone ahead. Marcus Stewart ran down the right, cut in and crossed towards Sixto Peralta who left the ball to Martijn Reuser. The Dutchman seemed to take an age to set himself and by the time he got his shot in a defender had come across to block.

Right on 45, however, Town were ahead. A long ball was pumped forward to the edge of the area where Marcus Bent headed down into the path of Jim Magilton. The Northern Irishman hit a shot on the volley to Roberts's right giving the ex-QPR man no chance. The Blues went into the break with a deserved lead despite an injury time effort from Janney going wide when he should have done better.

It was Magilton who was to have the first chance of the second half within seconds of it starting. The Blues' captain was put through by Stewart, but keeper Roberts saved as the Ulsterman tried to slip the ball by him.

Mark Janney broke well down the right in the 57th minute. Hermann Hreidarsson got back to challenge and put the ball for a corner. From the kick an unmarked Lee Matthews headed over when he ought to have at least hit the target.

George Burley made his first change on 63. Off came Marcus Bent, who had had an unrewarding time of it and on came Richard Naylor. Janney hit another effort over the bar from distance immediately afterwards.

Town went further ahead in the 65th minute, again from another well-worked move. Reuser brought the ball forward in a central position and played the ball right to Magilton. The skipper played the ball wider and forward to Peralta who finished well and celebrated in front of the Town supporters.

Marcus Stewart has the chance to add the fourth four minutes later. He had been played in by Naylor but Roberts saved to his right.

Tommy Miller replaced double scorer Peralta on 72 while former Town man Mark Brennan was well received by his old supporters as he came on as a sub for the home side.

Richard Naylor got himself in the book after following through late on Roberts who appeared to make a bit of a meal of it. The Town sub had chased a ball through which Roberts had cleared. As Naylor received his yellow card (which from where the Town fans were appeared to be white rather than yellow) the linesman called over the referee. He appeared to have been hit by objects thrown on to the pitch by Dagenham fans. A number of plastic bottles were on the pitch and several coins as well. A section of the home crowd had been chanting a number of seventies-style hooligan songs for much of the game (“you'll never make the Heathway”), although most appeared to be in their teens.

After the game was held up for a couple of minutes the linesmen switched and a number of police and stewards were despatched to the area.

Town's fourth goal came ten minutes from the end. Tommy Miller played the ball to Richard Naylor just inside the Daggers' half. Naylor put the ball forward into Stewart's path and the returning striker made no mistake. He had had an understandably quiet game, but the match practice and goal will do him the world of good.

Miller became the second Town player in the book as he went through late on Danny Hazelden with eight minutes left on the clock. A minute later George Burley took off Stewart and brought on Pablo Counago. The Spaniard came close in the late stages with a flicked header which Daggers' sub Steve McGavin put wide. Shortly afterwards the whistle went and Town were in the hat for the fourth round.

A professional enough performance from Town after a difficult start. The Daggers threw a lot at Town in the early stages, but once Town found their footing (not easy on a muddy surface) there was only one winner. Second half Town were comfortably on top without ever really stepping up to their peak. The Blues will find out who they get in the next round tomorrow evening.

Photo: Action Images

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