Dagenham & Redbridge First Round F.A. Cup

City travelled to Dagenham and Redbridge for the first round proper of the F.A. Cup this year, meaning a early start was required, getting up on a Saturday at the same time as you do all week isn't my idea of a good time, but needs must and for the first time ever I was getting the supporters coach to the game. 

An enjoyment of a fine ale and the coaches anti-alcohol rules (and generally the coach means you are told where to be and when) has meant I have shunned the "Berkleys special" for as long as possible! But all in all the journey was ok, and will be used when the need arises again! 

We arrived at Victoria Road in time to collect the prepaid tickets and have a few in the clubhouse, it was in the clubhouse that we heard the stunning news that Jamie Cook was to start with Lee Phillips on the bench, naturally everyone disregarded this as Jamie Cook has been shite all year, but no looking at the official teamsheet and there he was, very interesting.

The ties were played on the Remembrance Weekend and the occasion was marked by a bugler playing the Last Post and an impeccably observed minutes silence.

The small Barking & Dagenham College Stand that had been allocated to City had filled up with an impressive black and white army, and a good atmosphere was soon created under the low roof. The opening few minutes were scrappy but D&R definitely were having the better of it, with Citys only chance falling to Sean Canham who drove straight at the keeper.

However, against the run of play and urged on by their vocal backing the stripes drew first blood. On 11 minutes Marley Watkins collected the ball and attempted a through ball, the D&R defender slipped and the ball flicked off of him into the path of Sean Canham who slotted the ball cooly past Chris Lewington in the Dagenham goal.

The City hordes in full voice

The away end errupted and for the next 15 minutes City had the better of the chances, however, the league opposition soon started to excert more pressure and Jim Rollo was struggling to deal with the pace of Jon Nurse and definitely had his poorest game for a while. City dropped further and further back. Damien Scannell was causing problems for Sekani Simpson, but was also a diving bastard and received a deserved stream of abuse after going down expecting a free kick for the cleanest of tackles.

Glyn Garner almost pushed the ball into his own net having gone wide to close a forward down and getting a dangerous hand onto the ball, luckily for City the ball dribbled harmlessly across goal. However, with half time approaching Nurse beat Jimmer for pace again, floated in a cross and Woodall leapt to head the cross in. City clung on until half time and went in at 1-1.

At half time Jim was replaced by Charlie Clough, and for once the removal of Rollo was agreed with. After the break though, City rallied and started to look the more likely to get a goal. Then came the main controversy of the game, Watkins was set through on goal by Canham and Lewington raced from his goal, Watkins rounded the keeper and went down with the keeper appearing to by last man. The referee blew his whistle, called the keeper over and flourished...a yellow! Screams of derision went up for the away fans, City players surrounded the referee querying the decision and apparently shouts of "cheat" came from the directors box! However, there is more than a few of us who believed Marley took a rubbish touch, realised he wouldn't get there and went down too easily. 

Jamie Cook was actually looking like a footballer and tried an audacious lob that almost came off, if that had dropped in God only knows what would have happened in the away end.  The game then almost tailed off, until the dying moments when City applied the pressure and could have almost won the tie but for some good saves by Lewington. 

The game finished as a draw and we await the replay on the 22nd. The long coach journey home started, and finally 13 hours after setting off I arrived home. The romance of the cup is still alive for some! And a potential home tie to Exeter City has been pulled from the draw so a potentially money raising tie is in sight.