Elding impressive as Imps dominate Dagenham
By theimps.tk
March 4 2009
After receiving heavy criticism from some fans since arriving at Sincil Bank, Anthony Elding produced a fine display as inspired City to a 3-0 victory at Dagenham and Redbridge. Elding scored City's 2nd after Brown's opener and before Kovacs 3rd, and this will hopefully kick start him onto good goalscoring form.
City started the game well but almost went behind early on, thankfully Saunders' delivery from a free kick went out for a goalkick. Elding produced a fine through ball for N'Guessan, but the Frenchman hit the shot well over the bar. Infact Elding was having a decent game and sent a low shot just wide of the target as he was determined to put one over on Dagenham fans who were giving him stick all game long due to his connections with Boston.
Horsfield's through ball saw N'Guessan through again, but his goalbound shot was blocked by Griffiths. City were dominating against their loftier opponents, it was a surprise to see one of the highest goalscoring teams in the country struggle to get anywhere near City's goal. Brown had a shot easily caught by Roberts before Elding was flagged offside as he was about to put to ball into the net.
Despite wasting several chances in the first half, the Imps did deservedly take the lead when Oakes released N'Guessan on the wing. He beat off Ritchie and sent a cross towards the back post and Aaron Brown was waiting unmarked to head home from close range, his second goal for the Imps. That was the final action of the first half.
Saunders hit another free kick straight at Burch at the beginning of the second half as Dagenham tried to get back into the game. Another attack saw the Imps come extremely close to a second when N'Guessan and Brown linked up well, the latter rolling a ball across the box and it was inches away from connecting with Horsfield's toes.
Elding came close to connecting with an N'Guessan cross as the striker continued to be frustrated by bad luck. Strevens wasted a rare attack for the host before Horsfield went off for Wright for City, Guy and Taiwo replacing Nurse and Loft for the hosts. Dagenham started coming into the game as Ritchie forced Burch into a good save, his first of the match. Clarke replaced Oakes for City and it wasn't long before City's pressure paid off.
Wright worked hard to win the ball and feed N'Guessan, the Frenchman crossed the ball in and Elding hit the ball past Roberts to give City a comfortable 2-0 lead. Make that 3-0 as the Imps quickly scored again, this time Janos Kovacs proding home from on the floor following a free kick.
That was it as City regained their position in the top half of the table, although still 10 points off of the Playoffs.
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I decided to try my luck at getting in, but was told the gates were closed. I thought I would walk round to the away end to check there just in case before I headed back.
I managed to find some railings that I could look through and see one goal and half the ptich, but I was busting for the toilet and getting very wet.
Then a very sensible Security man at Dagenham decided that a fat, wet man (it was also windy and cold all night) in his forties wasn't going to be a security risk and he let me in for free. One wee, a burger and a hot cup of coffee later and I was watching the game.
It was pretty bland, but we never really looked like conceding. Burch made a couple of good saves; full stretch to his right to push one round the post and one low to his right near post that he had to get his body behind in slippery conditions.
DNG stood out and worked hard. Chased, fought and used his strength and skill to create several chances and force Dagenham back. Brown looked competent and Green looked good going forward, including an attempted chip of the keeper from 40 yards out, which left him stranded but went wide. The first tackle wasn't always there at the back (as I said it was slippy and windy, but also high bouncing) but the back up was.
I didn't see much of Horsefield. There was quite a bit of midfield ping pong and not much going forward while I was watching before he came off. When Wright came on he seemed to be trying to bring others into the game, but his lay offs were poor.
That brings us to Elding. I didn't see a lazy waste of space as reported on here recently. He worked, made runs, and his first touch was good. He scored the goal off his knee, but he ran in on it in the centre of the 6 yard box and you could tell he really wanted to be first to the ball. DNG's cross was perfect. He was overjoyed to score and before the third goal was geeing up the crowd (30 people) standing behind the goal on the uncovered terrace, who responded with 'We are Imps, We are Imps' which they only stopped as Kovac stetched his leg and toe poked home as he fell backwards. On this show, with a bit of confidence I would stay with him and I can see him getting more.
My only disappointement was that the players did not make more of an effort to come over and applaud the 150 (plus 1 who didn't pay) for being there on a miserable night, especially since the last action was a corner for us and most of them were at our end.
That said, I smiled most of the way back to my hotel and it only took me 40 minutes to do the whole journey.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:04:08:53:52 by cherryexile.
Good report.
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How wrong I was.