A 1-0 home defeat on Saturday to Leyton Orient meant trepidation greeted the game for fans and players alike of Oxford United.
George Waring, on loan from Stoke City, kept his starting place in the squad ahead of the injured Jordan Bowery and Ryan Taylor. But it was somewhat surprising not to see Danny Hylton in the starting XI.
It's got to be said, I now have a love for the Tuesday evening fixtures. In seasons gone by they have been depressing to say the least - and you feel the bitter cold when the team isn't performing. Tonight, from the off we commanded the game.
Within the opening minutes Kemar Roofe came close, forcing a fine save from Daggers keeper, Liam O'Brien.
But O'Brien was helpless on fifteen minutes to a low drive from the edge of the area by Roofe. Great build-up play from Liam Sercombe and Alex MacDonald lead to the chance; a web of intricate passes before the decisive assist from Sercombe.
That goal settled any nerves Oxford had, and forced Dagenham to come and play their football. If York last Tuesday was anything to go by, we should be in for a comfortable ride.
And so it proved, Dagenham looked bare on the attack, and unable to deal with the quality we possessed throughout the squad. It must be noted, that nothing escaped Chey Dunkley in central defence. Every aerial ball was claimed by the big lad, something we often lack with Jake Wright in the squad. It's fair to say Dunkley has filled his boots admirably.
Half time was again greeted, like the York game, with a slight frustration that we had not put the game to bed before the break.
The kid sat in front of me in the North Stand went onto the pitch for half time's crossbar challenge and hit the bar twice. Good effort.
Oxford came out fired up for the second half, something becoming a regular theme. Their second goal of the evening was the reward. Waring won the ball back off a Daggers defender before sliding in Roofe, who confidently poked the ball passed the onrushing keeper. Sheer relief at that goal.
It was good play from Waring, who demonstrated he has more in his locker than being a 6'7" target man.
From here on, the Yellows were carving out the Daggers defence time and time again. Hylton came off the bench with immediate impact, hitting the bar. And it was a surprise we hadn't scored four or five before MacDonald headed home the third of the evening. That's right, the shortest player on the pitch scored a header. I think that says all you need to know about Daggers' marking, but it was a good ball into the middle from Hylton.
We were so comfortable, Michael Appleton substituted our midfield duo of Sercombe and John Lundstram, for Josh Ruffels and Josh Ashby. Kind of strange to see Ashby, a kid that was in the year below me at school on the pitch for Oxford. Good for him.
Dagenham actually created a chance after we went three nil ahead. Veteran striker, Jamie Cureton saw his effort from the edge of the box fly just over the bar.
Five minutes from time, Oxford scored their fourth of the evening. Fantastic build up play from Hylton, who played a neat one-two with Callum O'Dowda, before flicking a header on to Roofe to seal his hat-trick! A similar finish to his second goal, across the goalkeeper into the corner of the net.
Absolutely brilliant. Full time was greeted with a chorus of 'We are Going Up!'..... Uh oh, this means we're at the part where it all goes wrong.
In other news, I placed a 12/1 bet at half time on us to win 4-0, happy days!
-Michael
No comments:
Post a Comment