TRIUMPHANT Dagenham & Redbridge manager Garry Hill could not hide his emotions as his team made sure of a spot in next season's Natiowide Conference last Saturday.

The Daggers won 3-2 against Hampton & Richmond Borough despite having two players sent off to move 21 points ahead of Aldershot and clinch the Ryman League premier division title.

A tearful Hill, who was carried aloft on the shoulders of the jubilant Dagenham fans after the final whistle, said: 'Sometimes you don't appreciate how passionate the fans are but when you see grown men crying after the game it really shows how much it means.

'I had my worst day in football last season at St Albans City when we lost in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy but this is my best. It's a tremendous day for everyone connected with the club and I am pleased for all of them.

'To come away from home and be reduced to nine men and still win just shows the tremendous character and belief of the players which has carried us through the season.'

Dagenham, who dropped out of the Conference in 1996, have made Victoria Road an impenetrable fortress this season, winning 19 and drawing one of their 20 home league games, scoring 56 goals and conceding 12.

As Hill mentioned, the title campaign has been a team effort based on relentless consistency and a capacity to mix fluent football with physical authority.