DAGGERS fans will have some not-so-fond memories of the last time they played Morecambe. The game at Christie Park saw the Shrimps get their first ever win over the Daggers, and no doubt Garry Hill will be hoping it's their last before Dagenham wave goodbye to the Conference.

Danny Shipp had put the Daggers ahead in the game at the beginning of April, before a goal from Adriano Rigoglioso levelled the game, leaving Wayne Curtis to nip in and grab all three points.

Curtis has in fact been the hero of the season for the Shrimps, coming in initially as cover for the injured Robbie Talbot. Since then he has gone from strength to strength and has ended the season as the club's top scorer with 18 goals.

The other scorer of that day in April, Rigoglioso, has just finished a three match ban and will be back in the starting line-up tonight. In fact, the whole squad is at full strength.

Gary Thompson, on the right side of midfield, has picked up the last few man of the match awards. The 22-year-old right midfielder, who can also play up front, joined the Shrimps academy scheme and worked his way up the pecking order and has already netted four this season a certain handful for Jason Broom to contend with.

Meanwhile, Morecambe's own left back, David Perkins, will be looking to push forwards himself and may give Mark Janney some space down the flank.

Up front, the Daggers strike force will be facing Craig Mawson in goal, the 23 year old who signed from Halifax in 2001 has kept 12 clean sheets this season, but has failed to shut out the Daggers home and away this term.

Over on the left wing, Lee Elam completes his first season at Christie Park this year after singing from Conference rivals Southport. The interchangeable forward started his career as a YTS at Bradford City and made his Shrimps debut coming off the bench against Halifax Town in August, scoring two goals to win the game.

Although Morecambe's devastating 5-0 thumping of Burton Albion may have worried a few Daggers fans, they can take heart from the fact that the Shrimps have opted to take a different route into the play-offs and have been fielding a full strength side since qualifying.

A more realistic gauge may be the fact that they only mustered a 1-1 draw with Doncaster the previous match, who were themselves resting eight players

May 1, 2003 10:30