SCARBOROUGH have started the Nationwide Conference campaign with three games without a win - but seem to have cornered the market in red cards.

Beaten 1-0 at home by Dagenham & Redbridge, Boro ended with only ten men on the pitch for the third successive game.

Steve Baker made the lonely trudge to the dressing room four minutes into the second half after he pulled Junior McDougald back as he attempted to bear down on goal.

When you consider that the club also had a trialist sent off in a reserve game at Hull in midweek, the red mist certainly seems to have settled at the seaside.

"We shot ourselves in the foot again" said Boro boss Russ Slade.

"That's three set-plays that have conceded three goals in three games and we cannot hope to win football games if we keep on getting reduced to ten men.

"It's very frustrating, as we played some good football in the first half and dominated the game."

The only goal came after 34 minutes, when Paul Bruce's corner went all the way across the penalty area and Mark Hotte, who had replaced Richard Dryden in the home side, nodded the ball past his own goalkeeper via a post from six yards.

- again If there was any communication between Hotte and goalkeeper Andy Woods, it was certainly ineffective.

Before this, Anthony Ormerod had missed three simple chances, with Keith Scott being the provider on each occasion.

Tony Roberts saved well from David Pounder and Gareth Stoker before the break.

However, the game was effectively over as a spectacle when Baker received his marching orders, as Dagenham were quite content to sit back on their lead.

Scott, who was the pick of the home side, almost salvaged a point in the last minute, but Ashley Vickers made a superb goal line clearance to deny Slade's men a share of the points.

Slade certainly has problems at the moment, with Scott setting up chances, but no one able to take advantage of them.

Slade is hoping to strengthen his squad this week, but any new faces would not come until after today's testing trip to Chester City.

Scarborough: Woods, Rennison, Baker, Hotte; Shepherd, Stoker, Henry, Pounder; Ormerod (Blunt 57), Scott, Rose (Campbell 71)

Dagenham & Redbridge: Roberts, Heffer, West, Johnson, Vickers, Perkins (Hill 51), Terry, Shipp, Bruce (Hazelden 90); McDougald, Stein (McGavin 84)

Referee: P Canadine (Rotherham)

Attendance: 1,192

Updated: 11:59 Monday, August 26, 2002