Dagenham want to go up right way

After a summer of controversy, Dagenham & Redbridge are relieved to be back in business on the pitch and winning football matches.

Last season the Daggers were widely perceived to be the favourites to seize the Nationwide Conference title and secure promotion to the Football League, but they lost out on goal difference to Boston United. Then, when the Lincolnshire club were charged with financial misconduct, Dagenham believed that they were back in with a chance of a place in the Football League.

Last month Boston were found guilty by the Football Association of irregularities relating to players' contracts, fined £100,000 and docked four points. But the deduction was applied to their debut season in the Third Division, not last term's Conference tally. The verdict enraged Garry Hill, the Dagenham manager. "This decision is laughable," he said at the time. "Boston have been allowed to cheat. This is not justice." However, he had to accept the decision and return to the task of preparing his squad for another assault on the Conference title.

So far, he seems to have done a good job. After two games Dagenham, who visit Scarborough tomorrow, are level with Hereford United at the top of the table. "It's nice to be playing football again," Hill said this week. "That's what we're here for. As a club we've come a long way in the three years I've been manager. I've no doubt we'll be up there with the best of them again. I'm looking forward to going up the way it should be done."