THERE couldn t have been a more deserving scorer of Dagenham & Redbridge s winner on Saturday than full back Abu Ogogo.

by MIKE SIMMONDS

THERE couldn't have been a more deserving scorer of Dagenham & Redbridge's winner on Saturday than full back Abu Ogogo.

Starting only his third match since signing from Arsenal in the summer, the 19-year-old capped an all-action performance by sliding home Jon Nurse's pass on 72 minutes to make it 2-1.

It was his first strike for the club, and the smile on his face was even bigger than normal when he talked to the press afterwards.

"I got a nosebleed when I got the box, but I thought I'd try my luck" he grinned.

"It was tight in there, but I just wanted to be the first to the ball, get good contact and make sure it went into the net.

"I think that's it for the season now in terms of goals, so I'll just try and do my best to help the team."

Ogogo also had his own mini fan-club in the ground two, with his two sisters in raptures after the match-winning strike went in.

"They were giving me a bit of banter before the game, saying I'd best go and score," laughed the defender.

"I pointed up to them when I did, so I think they were happy with that!"

Ogogo has had to wait his chance this campaign after he picked up an injury in pre-season and then saw Scott Doe put in some decent performances.

But the former Gunner gave plenty of examples of his potential on Saturday as he read the game superbly and when once he was caught on the wrong side of his man, his searing pace got him into position to time a challenge to perfection.

"I'm just delighted to be out there on the pitch playing," he said. "For a full back, it's very tiring. You need to get up to support the attack and then get back as quick as possible, but I'm happy to be doing that.

"The defence talk me through the game, it's good to play with the likes of Mark (Arber), Will (Antwi) and Scott (Griffiths)."

Not one member of the Daggers back four put a foot wrong on Saturday, and it was a result that gave Ogogo and his team-mates far more pleasure than some of the thrashings they handed out earlier in the campaign.

"To be fair, when you're backs are against the wall at times, you have to stay nice and compact and as a unit," he said.

"The gaffer said the back four were brilliant, I thought so too, it was a hard game and we had to stand up and be counted.

"When you're winning 3-0 or 4-0 it can get easy, but when there's a hard game and you have to dig in, it shows your character and I think we showed how good we are."

Daggers travel to Macclesfield this weekend and Ogogo is hoping the team continues their unbeaten run, but isn't backing himself to score again.

"It would be nice, but I'm not bothered if I score, the main thing is getting the three points," he said, before admitting he wouldn't be drawn into taking penalties either. "No way, my penalties are shocking," he laughed!

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

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