Barnet will look to get back to winning ways when they host Dagenham and Redbridge FC at The Hive on Tuesday evening (9th January, 19:45 KO).
So, What’s The Buzz?
The Bees were stung away from home in their last encounter after winning the past 3 over the festive period when they faced Altrincham who had lost just 5 league games all season prior to Saturday’s encounter. Altrincham secured a 3-goal lead before a late amber ambush, but unfortunately, Barnet’s efforts were not enough to obtain their first points of 2024.
Barnet remains 3rd in the table and will want to continue their promotion push going into the new year with the current squad while looking to strengthen as the winter transfer window in The EFL means clubs like Barnet can potentially poach talent from higher divisions. Two signings have already taken place with Jordan Maguire-Drew coming in on loan from Yeovil Town already impressing, having thought he’d scored on debut before it was awarded as an own goal and competition in the other net in the form of a talented youth prospect, Joshua Keeley on loan from Tottenham Hotspur who debuted in last Saturday’s defeat.
It looks to be an exciting 2024 for The Bees and a win in their first match at The Hive this year will be seen as the perfect response.
Club Profile
Club Name: Dagenham and Redbridge FC
Nickname: The Daggers
Founded: 1992
Ground: Victoria Road
Manager: Ben Strevens
League Position: 17th
Form: DWDLL
Opposition Report
Dagenham and Redbridge have been an ever-present at this level since 2016, having flirted with promotion back to The EFL a couple of times in the past 8 seasons but have more recently stabilized themselves in the 5th tier. This season has proven to be like previous, with The Daggers struggling to score the level of goals it takes to find their way back into The Football League however they’ve managed to score 8 goals in their previous two matches coming against Eastleigh
with a 4-4 thriller away at Silverlake, the previous home of Dagenham’s manager, Ben Strevens.
One to Watch: Josh Rees
Coming through the Arsenal youth system as an eight-year-old, the talented midfielder made his professional debut in 2014 for then-Championship side, Nottingham Forest, in a 2-1 defeat against Brighton and Hove Albion. Since then, Rees has played for many clubs with his most prolific scoring
season coming in 2017-18, scoring 16 goals in the National League for Bromley. The 30-year-old has been crucial once again this season after scoring 6 in 25 appearances including a brace in that 4-4 draw with Eastleigh after his move in the summer from Bees’ rivals, Boreham Wood. Rees will
be looking to add to his tally and continue his fine form away from home when the teams face off on Tuesday.
In The Dugout: Ben Strevens
Strevens knows what it takes to put chances away having scored 125 goals across the divisions in 604 league appearances in a 19-year career, having started his career at Underhill for The Bees, scoring 42 league goals over 7 years. Strevens started management with roles at his last two clubs in his playing career, Whitehawk, and Eastleigh, with the latter being his only permanent role prior to Dagenham, with 4 years at Silverlake. He is yet to achieve honours at a managerial level but has plenty of experience and 3 league titles as a player to his name as he looks to implement his vision on a club wanting success at this level.
