Dagenham & Redbridge boss Ben Strevens had plenty to feel positive about after his side’s 2-2 draw with West Ham United on Saturday.
Inih Effiong cancelled out Maxwel Cornet’s first-half opener at Victoria Road, with Sydney Ibie converting from the penalty spot after Divin Mubama had restored the Hammers’ lead in the second period.
And a sold-out crowd enjoyed a competitive pre-season encounter between east London’s National League and Premier League neighbours.
“A massive thank you to West Ham for coming down and playing against us,” Strevens told the club website.
“It was just a brilliant day for the football club, great to see such a great crowd, and also the players they had on show, the boys they brought we’re really appreciative of the team they brought.
“I know there was a mixture of youngsters involved as well, but just to see some of their players at close hand was good for us, and it was a really competitive game for us as well. We took loads from today.”
West Ham boss David Moyes included a host of internationals in his side, including the likes of Alphonse Areola, Vladimir Coufal, Nayef Aguerd, Thilo Kehrer, Tomas Soucek and Said Benrahma – who all played in the historic Europa Conference League final win over Fiorentina in Prague.
But Daggers, with most recent signing Jake Hessenthaler in their line-up, were not overawed following defeat at Isthmian League outfit Hornchurch a week earlier.
“If we’d shown too much respect they would’ve just played around us,” added Strevens.
“We had to be disciplined in our approach, the way we did it, boys doing their jobs, and I feel like the relationships some of the boys are building now is really getting good, understanding what we’re asking from them.
“We had that game at Hornchurch, and felt a little bit low from it, it’s not getting carried away from today as well on the flip side of it.
“They’ve come in here with expectations of doing it, we’ve stuck to our jobs, worked, it was tough.
“I was pleased with both the goals for differing moments. We won the ball back well for Inih and then big Syd come on and got a pen as well.
“Overall I was really pleased with the whole performance from the boys.”
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