Geographical proximity is far from the only aspect in which similarity can be drawn between Bromley and Dagenham ahead of their meeting at the Westminster Waste Stadium AKA Hayes Lane this weekend. 

As the season hurtles towards it's notoriously thrilling climax, both are amongst those at risk of being left behind in their quests to secure a position inside the coveted top seven, and for Dagenham that's partially due to their inability to win in such matches like this against those around them.

After suffering damaging defeats to fellow play-off challengers Notts County and Grimsby Town on successive Saturdays, the Daggers dropped a further two points against Boreham Wood in midweek to leave their hopes realistically hanging by a thread - they simply have to win this one. 

Two points behind (albeit in the comparatively advantageous position of having two games in hand) lie a Bromley outfit that can at least take solace from securing a Wembley date in the FA Trophy final after defeating York City at home last weekend, succeeding where their upcoming opponents had failed in that regard a round earlier.

However, Andy Woodman's side are winless in nine league games so will be just as desperate to taste victory.

  • Form Guide

After winning their first four league games of the new year, Bromley are without one since. Their only two victories since February have come in the FA Trophy, 3-1 against Solihull Moors then York City in consecutive rounds on home soil. 

The latter, though, has secured the outstanding achievement of a second Wembley trip in their recent history, with Wrexham awaiting them in mid-May.

This weekend they play a Dagenham side in patchy form, their previous five games featuring two wins, two defeats and most recently a solitary draw at home to Boreham Wood during midweek. 

The Dagenham players rejoice in joyful celebration during August's reverse fixture. (Image: Dagenham & Redbridge FC)

  • Team News

Dagenham manager Daryl McMahon revealed in the build-up to this clash that Ángelo Balanta has joined George Saunders as a long-term absentee on the treatment table, having sustained a severe hamstring tear.

Elliot Johnson should return to the side after missing the Boreham Wood game through illness, while Dean Rance will be touch-and-go.

Moving over to the Bromley camp, they're likely to be without Harry Forster, Omar Sowumni, Luke Coulson and Scott Wagstaff. The latter was forced off during their midweek reverse at King's Lynn.

  • Predicted Lineups

BROMLEY | Ellery Balcombe, Connor Parsons, Chris Bush, Byron Webster, Joe Partington, Corey Whitely, Billy Bingham, Jude Arthurs, Louis Dennis, Michael Cheek, James Alabi

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE | Elliot Justham, Myles Weston, Callum Reynolds, Manny Onariase, Will Wright, Josh Hare, Brandon Comley, Mo Sagaf, Matt Robinson, Junior Morias, Paul McCallum

  • Ones to Watch

Bromley's main threat will be provided by Michael Cheek, who has forged a reputation as one of the division's most potent frontmen. Though he will struggle to emulate last season's tally, 16 goals is a very impressive return and exceeds that of Dagenham's top scorer McCallum.

He'll be a big danger, incidentally, but the main man to watch out for in the visiting ranks is Junior Morias, a real livewire recently.

  • Previous Meetings

The reverse meeting, on the second weekend of the campaign, saw Dagenham become early league leaders after a 4-2 victory. Josh Walker cancelled out Byron Webster's opener before second half strikes from Paul McCallum, Matt Robinson and Myles Weston put them in complete charge, rendering Michael Cheek's late consolation inconsequential.

That was the fourth straight occasion where the home side has triumphed, both of last season's ending 1-0 as Liam Gordon and Cheek proved the matchwinner on each occasion. 

Indeed, only once in the last five years has this fixture produced an away win, namely November 2018 when Dagenham emerged victorious through goals from Conor Wilkinson and now-captain Ángelo Balanta, continuing the honeymoon period that proceeded their American takeover a couple of months beforehand.

  • How to follow the action

Both teams' media departments will be providing dedicated matchday coverage via Mixlr, which is the best option for anybody not inside the ground. The relevant links are available here - Bromley | Dagenham

Bromley-related information supplied by @BFCJoe04

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