After putting an end to Boreham Wood’s impressive unbeaten run last Tuesday, Aldershot Town host Dagenham & Redbridge this Saturday, in the hope of redeeming themselves after a disappointing performance against the Daggers back in November.
Daggers Manager Daryl McMahon took over back in January in a bid to push his side up the table and has seen mixed results so far, with two wins, four draws and just one defeat.
Shots Squad:
Danny Searle will continue without Lewis Kinsella (knee) as the only long-term absentee, with Robbie Tinkler (knee) and Mo Bettamer (Ankle) pushing to be back fit ahead of Saturday.
Searle has meanwhile, also bolstered his midfield options with the signing of central midfielder Yannis Drais from French side Besançon Football and will be looking to be involved with the first-team set-up for the first time this weekend.
Academy player Reece Miller has also signed his first professional deal and we will be looking to make his first appearance for the first team, having been on the bench for the last two games.
Opposition:
Name:
Dagenham & Redbridge FC
Founded: 1992
Nickname: Daggers
Manager: Daryl McMahon
Stadium: The Chigwell Construction Stadium
2018/19 Final National League position: 18th
Current National League position: 19th
Recent History:
Dagenham & Redbridge were formed 27 years ago and first reached the Football League in 2007 after six seasons in the then Conference. Two seasons later, the Daggers over-came Rotherham in dramatic fashion at Wembley to clinch promotion to League One but were relegated straight back down to League Two after finishing 21st in the third tier of football. Another relegation followed four seasons later, this time it was to the National League where they have now been for three seasons.
The Gaffer:
McMahon represented the Republic of Ireland Under-16 team at the 2000 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship. Starting as a midfielder his career at West Ham United, the 36 year-old has played for the likes of: Torquay United, Port Vale, Leyton Orient, Notts County, Stevenage, Cambridge United, Farnborough, Boreham Wood, Eastleigh, Dover Athletic and Ebbsfleet United. McMahon would later return to Ebbsfleet United where he took over as manager three months later. He managed Ebbsfleet from April 2015 to November 2018 and won promotion out of the National League South play-offs in 2017. He was appointed as manager of English Football League side Macclesfield Town in August 2019, but tendered his resignation in January 2020 amidst a financial crisis at the club. He then took charge of current club and National League side Dagenham & Redbridge.
Dagenham & Redbridge Squad:
The Daggers have had their fair share of injuries this season and as a result, have brought in a number of players over the course of the year. Midfielders Sam Deering from Billericay Town, Toby Stevenson (who was on loan from Charlton), former Shots striker Reece Grant, ex-Bromley striker Joe Quigley and striker Ben House (on loan from Reading) who has also has his loan from January extended to the end of the season, have helped strengthen McMahon’s squad as he looks to continue his side’s push up the National League table.
Referee:
The referee for this weekend will be James Bell, with his assistants being Adam Ricketts and Craig Green with the fourth official is Matthew Rushton.
Commentary:
There will be live BBC Surrey Sport coverage of the game on Saturday afternoon, with Andrew Raeburn and Lewis Kinsella. Tune in to the BBC Sport website (or the BBC Sport App) from 2:50pm for full match commentary. To interact with the commentary team, tweet @andrew_raeburn.
