The Vanarama National League clubs take a break from league action this weekend as the FA Trophy enters the competition proper stage. There are five ties in which National League clubs are in direct opposition, and one of those is at Gander Green Lane where Sutton and Dagenham & Redbridge will meet for the third time this season. Honours were shared in the league games, with Dagenham winning 2–0 at Sutton in September before U’s came from a goal down to win 2-1, Tommy Wright striking the winner (above).
That was the second of four defeats in a row for Dagenham, who have since been beaten by Chorley and Maidenhead, and have dropped down to 17th place in the league, three points and two places ahead of U’s who followed up the win at Victoria Road with an exciting 3-1 home success against Harrogate and two hard earned draws at Notts County and Fylde.
It’s the first cup meeting between the sides since Dagenham & Redbridge took their current identity, although U’s had two significant FA Cup wins against the old Dagenham club and twice beat them in the FA Amateur Cup in the 1960s.
U’s will wait to see if Craig Eastmond has recovered from the rib injury that kept him out of Tuesday’s trip to Fylde, while both Louis John and Nik Tzanev are eligible to play. Dagenham are hopeful that Manny Onariase, on-loan Ben House and Bagasan Graham could be fit to return – all missed the league meeting at the end of November.
Should the game be drawn, there will be a replay at Dagenham on Tuesday although three of the other four all National League ties, at Chesterfield, Harrogate and Halifax, have taken up the option of extra time and penalties in the first game.
There will be plenty going on at Sutton tomorrow, with Amber500 tickets on sale just a week before the non-cash prizes are drawn at the game against Wrexham, and half season tickets available, just £69 for an adult to watch every home league game in the second half of the season, beginning with the game against Yeovil on 28 December. The pop-up shop will also be in action for those Christmas presents you haven’t bought yet, so look in to the Players’ Bar before the game to see Adrian Barry.
