Rotherham United 2-3 Dagenham and Redbridge - Match Report

30 May 2010 21:59

Jon Nurse's scrambled goal gave Dagenham & Redbridge a remarkable 3-2 victory and promotion in a pulsating Coca-Cola League Two play-off final at Wembley.

John Still's side only averaged an attendance of 2,088 this season but earned the right to play the likes of Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton in League One after an epic final.

Dagenham twice took the lead through Paul Benson and Danny Green only to see Millers striker Ryan Taylor swiftly level on both occasions, but Nurse's scruffy strike with 20 minutes remaining finally proved enough to see off Ronnie Moore's men and deny their manager a third promotion at the helm.

Still has worked wonders at Victoria Road - where just 10 years ago the club were playing in the Ryman Premier League - and will now get a chance to test his managerial mettle in the third tier after victory in the biggest game in the club's history.

Taylor had already threatened with a pair of headers before Dagenham went close to one of the goals of the season on the half-hour mark when Romain Vincelot launched into an acrobatic overhead kick which goalkeeper Andy Warrington did superbly to parry away.

The Daggers and took the lead in the 38th minute through the prolific Benson. Peter Gain played in Damien McCrory on the left wing and when he crossed into the area, Benson showed his predatory instincts to kill the ball with one touch before curling a shot into the bottom corner with his second.

The Essex side were ahead for just 58 seconds though, as Taylor replied in the 39th minute. A quick throw on the left was hooked in by Kevin Ellison and Taylor arched his back to head past Tony Roberts at his near post.

Dagenham started the second period brightly and it was no surprise when they regained the lead in the 56th minute. A long throw was not dealt with and when the ball landed back at Green's feet 25 yards from goal, he took a touch before thumping a low drive beyond Warrington and into the back of the net.

Rotherham had struggled to get going after the break but, after Danny Harrison hit the crossbar, levelled through Taylor again in the 61st minute as he clinically dispatched a left-footed drive past Roberts from the penalty spot.

Still's side again poured forward, and they went in front for the third time in the 70th minute. Green's corner caused chaos in the penalty area and when Nurse mis-hit a shot goalward Ellison could only divert the ball home off his thigh.

Source: PA