Is this the Daggers which I see before me?

Dagenham 1 WestHam 3
Mystic Matt reports on his trip to Dagenham…

Fraser, Lisa and I head to the Victoria Ground (now officially the Chigwell Construction Stadium) to help #SavetheDaggers — our neighbours Dagenham & Redbridge are in financial difficulties. 

More than 4,500 attend, many of them Hammers fans keen to see the likes of Adrian, Noble, Zabaleta and Collins without having to use binoculars. In fact, we are so close I make sure I shout only positive comments about Patrice Evra, just to be on the safe side. 

This is the first time many Hammers fans have supported the team standing on the terraces for years; sadly, a few Herberts decide to underline how not everything was better in the olden days by singing the vile anti-Semitic Spurs song, along with references to the Pope and the IRA. 

On the pitch, the EastEnders start brightly, with fast one-touch football creating several chances ruined by careless finishing. In contrast, West Ham struggle, managing to get their injury crisis in early with Collins soon limping off. For the Daggers, forward Chike Kandi showed some sweet touches, while Mason Bloomfield was a powerful presence and Dan Sparkes looked bright. Bloomfield headed over, and Kandi shot just wide after a fine run. Masuaki, now described by the West Ham website as a winger, smashed a long-range shot that was tipped round the post, and hit the bar with a miscued cross, on his return from his spitting ban. 

Alfie Lewis, who at 18 is too young to have played much for the under-23s at this stadium, looked as bright as anyone, passing well and making some confident runs. Up front Jordan Hugill, on his first start, tried hard, but gave the ball away too much, and perhaps showed a lack of confidence when he passed to Lewis when he should have shot, although he was denied at close range by an outstanding block.

ONE TREVOR BROOKING

It was rather against the run of play when just before half time an attempted Daggers clearance rebounded to Antonio, and he confidently dinked the ball over the keeper. At half time Sir Trevor Brooking drew the raffle, and some dancing girls battled against a broken sound system, before play restarted with a host of Daggers subs, including former West Ham player Bondz Ngala, who was outfoxed by Antonio who confidently slotted his second. On 59 minutes, there was a humungous goalmouth scramble with West Ham clearing three chances off the line, before Bloomfield finally pulled one back.

Moyes then subbed off Zabaleta, Noble and Cresswell, with youngsters Joe Powell and Ben Johnson going on along with under-18 player Mason Barrett. There was a strange moment when Antonio suddenly ran off the pitch and down the tunnel, emerging a few minutes later. He could and probably should have completed his hat-trick when set up by Tony Scully, another young player who was excellent in the 13 minutes he was given. 

HUGILL GETS OFF THE MARK
The crowd were willing Hugill on, but he was adjudged offside after a one-two with Scully, and it seemed he would never get off the mark for the Hammers. Fortunately, in a Mystic Matt moment, I pronounced he would never score for West Ham, and soon after an excellent run by right-back Johnson allowed him to prove me wrong. 

Two more youngsters made the shortest of debuts, with Tunji Akinola coming on in the 89th minute to replace Evra, who had played centre back throughout, despite his lack of inches. Bernarda Rosa, a teenage Brazilian also appeared, although the Daggers website confused him with Manuel Da Costa. 

SPOTTED DOG

Afterwards we went to the Spotted Dog in Barking, where we went after the last time we played Millwall at Upton Park, when it was the nearest pub the police allowed to open. Fraser refused to sit under a framed England shirt signed by John Terry, and declared himself disappointed that Brooking hadn't played. Moyes will have been pleased to give his squad some playing time, though so many senior players are on international duty or injured that he won't have learned too much. 

The controversial Florida holiday/intensive training regime didn't particularly seem to have benefitted the senior players, but Lewis, especially, Josh Pask, Johnson, Brown and Scully will all have enjoyed the occasion. It was a shame Nathan Holland is still coming back from serious injury, as he's a highly promising winger, but didn't get to show his talents this time. The best under-23 player, the captain Marcus Browne, was also missing, oddly, along with Vashon Neuville, a promising left back, and attacking midfielder Grady Diangana, while midfielder Dan Kemp is injured.

It was worth going along to support the Daggers, and see football close-up at a proper stadium with no running track. The Daggers are struggling after former director Glyn Hopkin resigned last month, a year after his consortium purchased 74 per cent of the club. Food for thought for those of us keen to see the back of our owners.