A highly controversial penalty cost the Cherries dear in East London as the side went down 1-0.  As a spectacle, it was certainly not one to remember as the Cherries struggled to cope with the Daggers style of play, which may not be pleasing on the eye, but is very effective.

The Cherries lost Ryan Garry to a groin problem before the game, with Marvin Bartley filling in at the back and Josh McQuoid regaining his starting place.

Bournemouth competed well in the first half and looked dangerous at times without really threatening the home goal.  Dagenham meanwhile had few forays in to the Cherries area as a first half high on energy but low and quality never really threatened to come to life.

Six minutes before half time though came the incident that would ultimately decide the game.  Steve Fletcher went up for the ball in the Cherries box with Peter Gain, and incredibly the referee pointed to the penalty spot much to the fury of the Cherries players.  Mark Arber scored from the spot and as the half time whistle went, the referee had to be surrounded by stewards as he went off in to the tunnel situated in the away end, with the 743 Bournemouth supporters venting their disgust.

The second half saw Bournemouth look to get back in to the game, but with the ball launched high every time it was loose, there was no rhythm to the play.  Until the closing stages neither side made much impact, but as Bournemouth pushed forward, Dagenham found chances and hit the woodwork and were twice denied by Shwan Jalal and a fine block from Bartley.

Bournemouth though never looked like getting the equaliser and the penalty was to be the decider. 

Cherries: Jalal, Robinson, Bradbury, Pearce, Wiggins, Bartley, Hollands, McQuoid, Feeney, Pitman, Fletcher.

Subs: Thomas, Connell, Goulding, Cummings, Tindall