Dagenham could have been celebrating their ascent to the Third Division but the best the public address announcer could do was urge fans to celebrate the less recognised title of "best part-time team in the Nationwide Conference."

As 3,939 supporters were treading confetti into the mud on their way out, Dagenham manager Garry Hill was venting his disappointment. "You lose less games than any other club, twice beat the team that wins the championship, and you have to feel very unlucky," he said.

Boston manager Steve Evans fanned the flames last week, saying he feared Chester might field a weakened side. "His comments are a disgrace," Chester manager Mark Wright said yesterday. He's made another enemy in the game. It's a slur on the club, the management and on me and it is now in the hands of the lawyers. It will be taken further." In fact, Chester spent much of the first half fending off Dagenham's forward jabs while making fluent incursions up the other end.

It took a heavy downpour early in the second half to wake up Dagenham's attack. Within four minutes of that Mark Stein came to life, following up a Paul Terry shot that had been parried by Chester goalkeeper Wayne Brown and then side-footing home from a Junior McDougald pass. Tim Cole made it three.

Would Hills be telephoning Evans to congratulate him? A pause: "Who's he?"

· Gravesend's 1-0 win at Bedford Town, on the day long-time leaders Canvey Island lost 2-1 at Braintree, confirmed their promotion from the Ryman League. Kettering, 2-1 winners at Tiverton, finished as champions of the Dr Martens League at the expense of Tamworth, who were held to a 3-3 draw away to Folkestone. Both Gravesend and Kettering join Unibond champions Burton Albion in the Nationwide Conference.

Man of the match: Paul Terry (Dagenham and Redbridge)

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