Redditch United 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 2

A CUP upset, a season's best crowd and five goals - two of them absolute stunners - ensured Saturday, January 13 will go down in the annals of history at the Valley Stadium.

And while Conference North survival must be the number one target for Redditch United this season, let's not fool ourselves - a run in the FA Trophy is bringing a smile back to the faces of long-suffering Reds fans.

Dagenham arrived as the best non-league side in the country, their place at the top of the Conference in stark contrast to United who cannot break free from the Conference North relegation zone.

But all that counted for nothing on Saturday when an heroic display saw the Reds reach the last 16 of the competition for the first time in their history.

Early Dagenham pressure saw home keeper Richard Anstiss forced into action, blocking a Paul Benson effort before dashing from his area to thwart striker Craig Mackail-Smith - one of two Daggers players heading to Peterborough United at the end of the month.

And Anstiss was again in the thick of things on 11 minutes when he appeared to bring down the forward only for the referee to wave play on.

Scott Rickards, one of the Redditch heroes thanks to a tireless display, was inches wide with an effort moments later while Rob Taylor drilled a fierce effort at keeper Tony Roberts midway through the half as Reds came more into contention.

There had been little to choose between the sides during the opening 45 minutes but the second period began in worst possible fashion for United as the visitors opened the scoring just two minutes after the restart. Glen Southam's corner was not dealt with by the defence and Benson somehow managed to squeeze his effort over the line.

But if the visitors thought they were on the way into the next round they were in for a shock. With 53 minutes on the clock, skipper Carl Palmer's left wing cross was only cleared as far as Rickards who volleyed home in style from just outside the area.

Eight minutes later and Simon Hollis handed Reds the lead when his free-kick from wide on the left was missed by the keeper and ended up in the back of the net.

And when Hollis kept his cool to add a third midway through the half, thanks to a twice-taken penalty, a Trophy upset looked on the cards.

But there was still plenty of time and the Daggers gave themselves a chance when, on 73 minutes, Sam Sloma unleashed a rocket of a shot that flew into the net from 35 yards.

Late pressure on the Reds goal saw another excellent block from Anstiss while Hollis continued his heroics with a goalline clearance.

And the Redditch fans had to endure nearly five minutes of injury time before referee Fletcher finally brought an end to an historic day at the Valley Stadium.

Reds: Anstiss 8, Petty 7, Whitcombe 7, Rea 8, Geoghaghan 7, Softley 7, Taylor 7 (Alsop 75), Clarke 7 (Francis 69, 7), RICKARDS 9 ( Adams 90), Hollis 8, Palmer 8. Subs (not used): A Walker, Cotterill.

Dagenham: Roberts, Sloma, BLACKETT, Leberl, Southam, Akurang (Strevens 69), Mackail-Smith, Griffiths, Benson, Uddin, Foster. Subs (not used): Cole, Saunders, Lettejallow, Hogan.

Referee: Mr R Fletcher (Melbourne).