United once again found the killer blow against The Daggers today, with Rob Duffy sending them through to the first round of the FA Cup. The game hinged on two second half penalties. Duffy scored his, Billy Turley saved Dagenham's, and United combined progress in the cup with a second victory on the ground of their nearest rivals.

United boss Jim Smith made two changes to team that comprehensively beat Cambridge last Friday.Top scorer Rob Duffy returned in attack in place of the unlucky Yemi Odubade.With Chris Willmott away with his pregnant wife, Matt Day was also handed a starting place in defence.

Before the changes had time to have any effect, the home side should have scored.They broke down the left, got behind the last defender, crossed but with only the keeper to beat Jake Leberl scuffed his 2^nd minute shot straight into the welcoming arms of Billy Turley.

Unsurprisingly it was the home side that had started the brighter of the two sidesAt this early stage of the match, they were closing down United quickly and like the first game between the sides getting the ball forward at every opportunity.

United are a resilient side though and are more than happy to soak up pressure and catch their opponents on the break.The tactic almost worked a treat in the 16^th minute when veteran keeper Tony Roberts did well to push away Duffy's header from Andy Burgess's corner although to counter that, Turley then had to be at his sharpest to deny Dave Rainford as The Daggers pushed forward again.

It was turning into a typical end-to-end cup tie with both sides now throwing men forward looking for the decisive first goal.However, because of that gaps were appearing and in the 25^th minute United exploited this and almost took the lead.Burgess picked the ball up on the left and immediately tried to switch the play to Pettefer.Scott Griffiths misjudged his header, Pettefer won the race to the ball with Roberts in the Daggers goal and appeared to be clipped.Pettefer stayed on his feet, cut inside the last defender and under the tackle went down.But although the linesman appeared to initially give the penalty, the referee waved away the appeals and promptly booked Pettefer for diving.

United were now starting to get on top and they should have taken the lead in the 43^rd minute.Basham broke down the left, Duffy's run made space for Anaclet in the box but with only the keeper to beat, Anaclet inexplicably passed the ball onto Duffy who saw his shot blocked by the home defence.

That was the last of the action in an exciting first half where United had battled well, but had not taken advantage of the chances that they had created. Another chance came along two minutes into the second period as Blackett made a great tackle to deny Pettefer as he homed in on Basham's through ball, but Turley then needed to clutch a header from Uddin to his chest on 51 minutes as the game ebbed and flowed like the distant Thames estuary.

The first goal was on the cards, and on 54 minutes it came United's way from the spot. Andy Burgess's corner was heading for the head of Duffy, who had won most things in the air all day, and Daggers captain Anwar Uddin wasn't going to let him have another free header, so hauled him to the ground. Ref Lewis had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Duffy picked himself up, sent Roberts the wrong way and slotted home his twelfth of the season.

It was deserved on the balance of play, although Dagenham had created more chances than most team against United this season. Once again though they were finding the United back line hard to break down, and with Pettefer and Hargreaves covering more grass than than a Status Quo convention in midfield The U's were rocking again.

The tireless Basham was replaced by Odubade for the final quarter of the game, but with thirteen minutes to go ref Lewis was once again the centre of attention as he gave the home side a very harsh penalty. Craig Mackail -Smith was away on the left and crossed, and the ball struck Quinn maybe a yard away. Ref Lewis saw an arm, and awarded a penalty. High drama, but Billy Turley loves the big occasion and dived to his left to parry Glan Southam's low spot kick.

Maybe that's the key: every one of the United squad plays their part.

They might have made it a bit easier on everyone's hearts if they'd made the most of an opportunity with five minutes to go when Duffy lost his bearings after beating Roberts to the ball, but no-one could quite find a way to get the ball into the goal!

The Daggers had free kicks which went close, and it was certainly a proper cup tie, but then United are a proper side and with Villa losing at Liverpool The U's are now the only unbeaten side in the top seven leagues in England.

Marvellous. 

Report Julian Hitchman and Chris Williams. Pictures Darrell Fisher