Improving City blunt Daggers with resolute defensive display

City moved five points clear of the Enterprise National League South bottom four with a hard-fought goalless draw against Dagenham & Redbridge at Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park this afternoon.

City started the game brightly against the London side, with Will Jenkins Davies flashing their best early opening narrowly wide on six minutes. Dagenham began to pass the ball around with greater intent as the half progressed but struggled to turn this into clear chances, Gitau shooting straight at Harvey Wiles-Richards in the 25th minute then Mitch Beardmore hooking a dangerous cross off the line. They should have taken the lead on 36 minutes though, when a mix up between Jack Batten and Ollie Tomlinson gifted Carroll a free run on goal but he shot wide of the far post.

The second half started in a similar fashion with City on top. It took a great block by Graham to deny Beardmore four minutes after the restart. Luke Russe couldn’t keep his shot on target just before the hour mark after good build-up play by the returned Danny Greenslade and Jenkins Davies. The latter then sent a shot of his own over the bar but the Daggers were beginning to press City back as the game went into its final quarter. However, City’s backline continued to stand up superbly to a series of dangerous crosses and Wiles-Richards was rarely called into action. A number of late corners were comfortably dealt with to secure a deserved point.