Daggers hit Shrimps for six

16 May 2010 20:38

Josh Scott hit four goals as Dagenham & Redbridge all but secured their place in the Coca-Cola League Two play-off final with a 6-0 thrashing of Morecambe.

Dagenham took just four minutes to open the scoring through Paul Benson and capped a marvellous high-tempo performance at Victoria Road with five more goals.

Scott struck four in the space of 34 minutes with Benson adding another as the Daggers made a mockery of Morecambe's fourth-placed finish in the table.

Danny Green had already caused chaos with a couple of long throws before the Daggers grabbed a fourth minute lead.

Green's throw was only half-cleared and Abu Ogogo lobbed the ball back in to Jon Nurse at the far post who powered in a header. His effort was well saved by Barry Roche but the ball ran free for Benson to tap in to an empty net.

Scott then threaten with a header which looped over the crossbar, before the striker did double the lead in the 35th minute. Roche was the villain as he scuffed his goal-kick horribly to the feet of Scott on the halfway line. The forward easily outpaced Jim Bentley to run in on goal and drive home a powerful left-footed strike.

The Daggers had a third in the 48th minute. The hosts had seen two decent penalty shouts waved away in the first half but it was third time lucky as Green was tripped. Captain Mark Arber saw his shot saved and Scott hit the post with his follow up, before finally scoring from inside a crowded goalmouth.

Scott had his hat-trick in the 54th minute. Green was again involved, swinging over a dangerous corner from the right which Scott headed past Roche.

It was 5-0 in the 66th minute after more woeful defending. Right-back Andy Parrish made a mess of a header to present Benson with the simple task of lashing past Roche at his near post.

Scott then grabbed his fourth in the 69th minute when he seized on more indifferent defending to run in from the left and clip the ball into the far corner.

Source: PA