WHEN Scott Griffiths cross wasn t properly dealt with by the Burton Albion defence on Saturday, there was one man in the whole of League Two they did not want to be on the end of it. Unfortunately for them, he was, and Paul Benson did what he has been do

by MIKE SIMMONDS

WHEN Scott Griffiths' cross wasn't properly dealt with by the Burton Albion defence on Saturday, there was one man in the whole of League Two they did not want to be on the end of it.

Unfortunately for them, he was, and Paul Benson did what he has been doing for fun this season, scoring for Dagenham & Redbridge.

The goal was his third in three games, and took him to eight for the campaign, his best start to a season for the Victoria Road club.

"Scoring-wise, it's easily the best start I've had and hopefully it continues," said Benson, who has netted 70 times in 156 games for the club.

Certainly

"I've played better, but I'm getting a lot of chances as they are certainly falling my way at the moment.

"When you get on a little run, it does make scoring goals easier, because you take on the ones you wouldn't normally do if you're not as confident.

"Whenever a cross comes in, I just try and get across the defender, or the goalkeeper.

"I saw the cross was heading in and thought if I could get in and get a toe on it, I could get it past him, and thankfully it worked."

Last week, Benson was scoring a potential goal of the season, volleying a peach of a strike into the top corner against Chesterfield.

This weekend, it was a typical goal poacher's effort, as he converted from a few yards, and there was no doubt in his mind, which one he preferred.

"The one against Burton, absolutely!" he said.

They are the ones you get about 15 or 16 of a season. The goal last week, you're lucky if you get one or two of them a season.

"If I score one goal in the season and it's one like that, then what good am I doing to the team?

"I need to be scoring on a more regular basis and I want to get 20-25 goals.

"I'm not going to get them like the Chesterfield goal, that would be nice, but I doubt I would be playing League Two level if I could do that each week. I don't even do that in training!"

When regular partner Ben Strevens left for Brentford in the close season, Benson was hoping to form a strike partnership with Jon Nurse.

They managed the one game together, when both players scored in the opening 2-1 victory at Crewe Alexandra, before Nurse unfortunately picked up an injury.

That allowed new signing Josh Scott an opportunity, and the former Hayes & Yeading frontman has been a revelation alongside Benson.

"It needs a bit more work with Josh, but that will come," said the former White Ensign striker.

Brilliant

"He's a brilliant player to play up top with. I've been spoilt really with being able to play with the likes of (Ben) Strevens and (Craig) Mackail-Smith, who are great players.

"Josh is coming into that category now, he does a lot of work for me and makes it easy for me to score goals.

"I can only go with what I've done this season and he's been a big part of that, so a lot of the credit should go out to him."

While Benson won the game with his early strike, there were plenty of match-winners for Daggers, none more so than in defence.

Goalkeeper Tony Roberts saved a penalty, while the defence stood firm and carried on from its sturdy rearguard at Cheltenham Town a fortnight ago.

"The defence won us the three points, they were brilliant," lauded Benson.

"I don't think we attacked as well as we could do, so we needed the defence to be organised and they came up trumps for us.

"As a whole team, we are coming together well now, me and Josh appreciate how well the defenders are doing, so we try to help them out by scoring goals at the other end."

The result ensured Daggers stayed second in the table, and although the league is still in its early days, there are murmurs that the club could be involved in a battle for automatic promotion this year.

Benson himself believes that could be the case, but insists they need to continue their rich vein of home form, starting with the visit of Morecambe this weekend.

Grind

"You have to win your home games if you want to go up and then try to grind out draws and wins away from home," he said.

"That's what we've got to get to, there is no point settling for second best.

"I go out for every game looking to score a goal, touch-wood it's happening so far and we'll approach Saturday by trying to win and keep the form going."

If you would like to comment on this story, email: mike.simmonds@archant.co.uk

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