Oxford United 2
Dagenham & Redbridge 2
(Nationwide Conference)

SCORING Daggers' last-minute equaliser was one of Sam Sloma's "best moments in football", as Dagenham all but secured their Conference crown against second-placed Oxford.

The visitors took the lead through top-scorer Paul Benson on 17 minutes, but Yemi Odubade's 70th-minute sweet shot from edge of the box made it 1-1 and just two minutes later the Oxford man pounced on keeper Tony Roberts' spectacularly missed kick to hook the ball into an empty net.

In the 90th minute hosts defender Gavin Johnson lofted his clearance to Paulo Vernazza. The Dagenham substitute passed back into the box and Sam Saunders slipped the ball to the unmarked Sloma.

His first time left-foot shot flew into the back of the net, keeping Daggers 11 points clear at the top of the league and in need of just seven points from seven games to take the title.

Sloma said: "It felt really good to be honest. It was one of the best feelings I've ever had in football.

"It almost felt like, we've done it, we've won. But we know we can't rest and relax until we're mathematically there and we're mindful we've got to go and get those seven points. But we know if we do the job to the best of our ability and go out and do the best we can, we can win any game."

Sloma believes coming back from 2-1 down at the Kassam Stadium shows the "never say die" attitude and togetherness the Daggers squad have had all season.

"We call ourselves the family," he said. "Even with the players that have left and the new players that have come in, the management and the gaffer have made sure we've done the work on team shape and how we play so we're all pulling in the same direction.

"I think Monday showed a lot of people that we can hold out and will hold out."

Sloma, who is out of contract in the summer, has been on the bench in Daggers' last two games, with manager John Still choosing a changed formation to face their promotion rivals, but he is hoping his goal will have been a boost to his case for a return.

He said: "To be honest it's not been easy to sit on the bench, especially when I've been involved most of the season. But we have won and drawn against two of our rivals and I'm hoping, when we go back to 4-4-2, I'll be back in the side."

He added: "As far as the contract. I'm going to be patient. "The gaffer said we would talk about it and I'm sure we will when the business of the league is done. I want to stay here and it is every players dream to be in the Football League. "