By Nathan Jackson
April 7 2007

If Lincoln City are still in this division next season then we will have to face Conference Champions Dagenham and Redbridge. A 2-1 home win over Aldershot confirmed that the Essex based club will be playing in the Football League next season, and it might be an irony that they've come up now.

The win over Aldershot moved Dagenham and Redbridge 16 points clear in the Conference with their promotion rivals only able to gain 12 more points. It will be the first time in their history that they'll be playing in the Football League. The promotion comes almost 5 years after they finished 2nd to Boston United, only for the Pilgrims to then controversially be allowed to play in the League despite the financial irregularities. Many football fans called for Dagenham to be promoted instead of the Pilgrims back then, so it seems almost ironic that they could infact replace Boston, a team just 5 games away from a possible relegation.

Dagenham will be hoping to improve on the fortunes of previous Conference champions over the past 5 years. In those 5 years, Boston, Yeovil, Chester, Barnet and Accrington have all won the Conference, but only Yeovil haven't been battling against relegation in their first year.

City and Dagenham have only met once in recent times, an FA Cup second round tie in the 2000/1 season. The tie appeared to be heading for a replay before Imps' goalkeeper Matthew Ghent let a shot go through his legs. Dagenham went on to face Charlton Athletic in the 3rd round.