Stevenage Boro 1 Dagenham and Redbridge 2 DARREN ISTED reports from Broadhall Way BORO failed to turn possession into points on Saturday as Dagenham conducted an effective smash and grab raid at Broadhall Way. But boss Mark Stimson declared himself satisf

Stevenage Boro 1 Dagenham and Redbridge 2

DARREN ISTED reports from Broadhall Way

BORO failed to turn possession into points on Saturday as Dagenham conducted an effective smash and grab raid at Broadhall Way.

But boss Mark Stimson declared himself satisfied with his side's performance as they showed some impressive touches, only to fail in front of goal.

George Boyd picked up the Comet player of the month award before the contest and he played like a man in form from the outset. Both Boyd and Jon Nurse found themselves with a chance to put the ball in the net inside the first two minutes in a move which Boro were unable to convert.

Boyd then set Nurse free down the left soon after, but the pacy front man should have done better as he fired his cross into the hands of keeper Tony Roberts.

But as Boro created the chances, it was Dagenham who started to put the moves together and they silenced the home support with a goal, on 10 minutes, with their first real effort on target.

The tireless Craig Mackail-Smith created the chance from nothing, working hard to keep the ball in play on the right and firing in a cross which the unmarked Sloma drilled in off the post for the opener.

It was a body blow for Boro and the lead should have been doubled just two minutes later, a cross from the right again causing problems as Glen Southam drilled the ball over and Mackail-Smith flew in to send a diving header just over the bar.

But with Boyd on form, Boro kept plugging away and they continued to carve out the better of the first half chances.

Dobson saw a speculative effort go wide while Dwayne Lee missed the goal by inches as he rose to guide a flicked header goalwards.

The Boro support looked to have cheered the leveller on 41 but Roberts denied the home side with a stunning block.

A persistent run in the Daggers box by Boyd saw the ball fall to Beard just 10 yards from goal and although he connected well with his shot Roberts dived to his left to pull off a stunning block.

On such moments games can turn, but instead Boro regrouped and in first-half added time they pulled level, all courtesy of a piece of sublime skill from the maestro. Boyd was the creator, turning two defenders on the edge of the box with a mesmerising piece of skill before firing in a cross which Morison powered in for his 10th goal of the season.

It was a fitting end to the half and the second period began in similar fashion with Boro on the offensive.

But while the passing was sharp from the home side, the chances failed to materialise and Dagenham held firm.

Indeed Stevenage managed just one chance of note as Boyd connected with a loose ball close in but saw his shot dip agonisingly wide of the post.

Penned back for most of the opening 15 minutes of the half, Dagenham managed to break free just once, and they took full advantage of the opportunity hitting what proved to be the opener. Mackail-Smith again proved the provider, cutting inside from the right and drilling an effort across goal onto the post for Sloma to slide in and force home for his second of the game.

It was a strike which may have come against the run of play, but Dagenham can't be faulted for their resolve in keeping Boro out. Indeed the goal looked to have knocked the stuffing out of Boro and they threatened just twice more, Dobson firing over from the edge of the box with five minutes to go, while Morison forced a simple stop from Roberts in added time as their neat passing football failed to earn any reward.

MATCH FACTS

BORO v Daggers

12......................Goal attempts...................6

6......................Shots on target ...................2

6......................Shots off target...................3

0......................Hit woodwork.....................1

3......................Offsides..........................4

16......................Free-kicks......................17

5......................Corners.............................5

TEAM: Julian 7, Henry 7, Nutter 6, Fuller 7 (Miller 77), Gaia 7, Dobson 8, Beard 7, Boyd 9, Lee 6 (Deen 72), Morison 8, Nurse 7.

SubS not used: Potter, Oliver Sealey.

BOOKED: Julian 39, Morison 78.

ATT: 2,362.

REF: G Ward (Kent)

# Subs must play at least 20 minutes to earn a player rating.