EVEN THE award of the club s official player of the season trophy couldn t do much to lift Magnus Okuonghae s spirits as his side missed out on the League Two play-offs after defeat to Shrewsbury Town. Although in a sombre mood, the imposing centre half,

EVEN THE award of the club's official player of the season trophy couldn't do much to lift Magnus Okuonghae's spirits as his side missed out on the League Two play-offs after defeat to Shrewsbury Town, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.

Although in a sombre mood, the imposing centre half, who has been a revelation this season alongside Mark Arber, was pleased with the recognition. "I'm happy with it, it is a reflection on me and my team-mates," he said after beating Matt Ritchie and Scott Griffiths to the honour.

"I play in a good back four and a good team. I've played a lot of games this season, I've enjoyed it and hopefully we can go again."

Whether Daggers can go one better next season and make the top-seven solely depends on whether they can keep hold of their top players, with a number out of contract now.

Okuonghae is one such player, but he offered signs of hope that he will be pulling on the red and blue jersey again in August.

"We're talking and hopefully we can get something sorted," he said, before admitting that it was no surprise to any of the squad how well Daggers had done this season.

"Some people see Dagenham as a small club who shouldn't be achieving what we almost achieved," he said.

"But we know we've got talent and ability in the squad.

"We didn't get the result this time, but I think we deserved it for the whole season and we have to pick ourselves up and go again next season."

The hosts, buoyed on by a record crowd at Victoria Road, started the game uncharacteristically quietly and fell 2-0 behind within 33 minutes.

Okuonghae didn't feel the side had approached the match with a different mentality as they only needed a draw, but preferred to praise the Shrews for their fast start.

"If you try to play for a point, you're in trouble," he said.

"We knew we didn't have to go gung ho and score five goals, but credit to them they started well.

"We thought they would be on edge, but they got two goals which knocked the wind out of our sails slightly."

Daggers did up the tempo after the break and pulled one back, but despite their best efforts, it wasn't to be.

"In the second half, it looked like there would be only one winner, or we would score two goals," admitted Okuonghae. "We can all look in each others faces and say we did our all to make a good season into a great one."

Should Daggers do all they can to keep hold of Magnus next season? Email: sport@ilfordrecorder.co.uk

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