WHAT a difference a year makes.

Dagenham & Redbridge striker Josh Scott played in the play-offs last season.

But the Conference South semi-final match he was involved in with Hayes & Yeading did not go quite as well for him.

"I was sent off," he said.

Fast forward a year and Scott, who joined the Daggers from non-league Hayes at the start of this season, was the hero in an even bigger play-off semi-final.

He thumped in four goals on Sunday to virtually guarantee Dagenham a trip to Wembley.

Speaking after the 6-0 thrashing of Morecambe, Scott said: "It went like a dream. I could not have asked for anything better."

Scott had to supplement his income at Hayes by working in his uncle's leather factory, but his future looks a lot brighter now.

Boss John Still called the 25-year-old 'red-hot'.

"He (Scott) has had a good first season and had an amazing game on Sunday. He can be an exceptional player that I think he will grow in confidence after this."

Incredibly, Scott also went into the game not fully fit. He had missed training this week due to a virus.

But it was Morecambe who were laid low by a ruthless performance.

"Whatever I tried seemed to go in," Scott admitted.