DAGENHAM and Redbridge propelled themselves into contention for a League Two play-off place after seeing off promotion rivals Bradford City at Victoria Road.

Manager John Still must have put something in his players' drinks at half-time, as the Daggers made an astonishing transformation after a toothless first half display.

Sam Saunders' terrific solo effort opened the door for his side early in the second period, and his team-mates kicked it open with two more goals for the deadly strike partnership of Ben Strevens and Paul Benson.

The hosts had a shout for a penalty when the game was just eight minutes old. Saunders wriggled free of his marker on the by-line and went down with a defender at his back, but the referee waved away the appeals.

Both sides had clearly identified long, searching balls towards the forwards as the best route to goal, but the respective defences found it all too easy to deal with.

Bradford managed to get the ball down on the floor and could have taken the lead after 20 minutes. Tricky winger Steve Jones jinked his way to the by-line and stood up a cross to the back post, where Chris Brandon was waiting. The coaching manual advises that heading the ball into the ground is the best option for a striker, but he took the advice a little too literally, as he thudded his effort into the ground and over the bar.

It was Dagenham's turn to go on the offensive shortly afterwards. A cross into the box found its way to the edge of the area, and the advancing Peter Gain met the ball with a crashing left-footed strike. But the shot was blocked en route to goal by left back Paul Arnison, whose arm seemed to move suspiciously towards the ball.

Saunders then saw his curling shot fly high and wide, before a last ditch tackle from captain Mark Arber prevented Brandon firing towards goal at the other end.

Ben Strevens held the ball well up front for the hosts, but he was denied any joy in the box until he met Saunders' swinging free-kick, but his header went straight into the grateful arms of Rhys Evans in the Bradford goal.

After accepting the aerial bombardment was yielding few results, both teams got the ball on the floor and started to create chances after the break.

The Bantams though they had taken the lead ten minutes in, when a free-kick deceived debutant keeper David Button – on loan from Tottenham – and Brandon was on hand to nod in at the back post. But the referee blew for a foul by Paul Mullin in the build-up.

Dagenham responded in perfect fashion, however, as their best move of the match gave them what could prove to be a decisive goal in their bid for a play-off place.

The outstanding Scott Griffiths found Strevens down the left flank, and he was soon joined by Saunders, who galloped forward on the overlap. The striker found the winger, and after dazzling Arnison with a series of dummies, he cut inside and unleashed a sensational curling shot into the top corner.

It was a goal worthy of winning any match.

Bradford surged forward in search of the equaliser, and they almost found it, but Lee Bullock's header from a throw-in struck the post, with Button stranded.

The Daggers made the game safe with ten minutes to go, however. Strevens first turned in the box and was twice denied, first by a defender's legs, then by Evans' feet. But the home side made the next attack count, after the visitors cleared their lines.

Strevens turned provider, threading a neat ball into the path of his strike partner Benson, who had all the time in the world to pick his spot, slotting the ball past the keeper.

A mistake then gifted the Daggers their third, as Evans spilled the ball at the feet of Strevens, who capped an excellent second half performance with a goal, tapping in from two yards.