IT S BEEN a difficult few months for Dagenham & Redbridge striker Ben Strevens. Firstly, he was the subject of a bid from Wycombe Wanderers in the January transfer window, which was turned down, and then an injury to regular forward partner Paul Benson, c

IT'S BEEN a difficult few months for Dagenham & Redbridge striker Ben Strevens, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.

Firstly, he was the subject of a bid from Wycombe Wanderers in the January transfer window, which was turned down, and then an injury to regular forward partner Paul Benson, coincided with a loss of form for the former Barnet man.

But after scoring against Exeter a fortnight ago, Strevens then set up Daggers equaliser at Gillingham on Monday with some delightful skill, and now feels he is back to his best.

"I've not been overly happy with my form for the last couple of months," he said. "I was a little bit unsettled around January, that's not an excuse, but it didn't help me and it also coincided with 'Benno' not being in the side.

"Sometimes partnerships come together, I don't think too many people would have thought me and 'Benno' would be a good partnership, but we really enjoy playing with each other.

"We're on the same wavelength, we click together and you play better when you're playing alongside someone like that."

When asked about his intuitive piece of footwork that allowed Sam Saunders to notch his 11th of the season, an honest Strevens admitted it was an off the cuff moment.

"It was just one of those things," he smiled. "I'm not even really sure what I did, but it came off and I was happy with Sam getting on the back stick.

"It's good to see the midfielders popping up with goals as it takes the pressure of myself and 'Benno' scoring every week."

When Saunders netted his equaliser, it looked like Daggers could have gone on to win the game, especially after a fine second-half display.

But, Gills substitute Dennis Oli outjumped Tony Roberts late on to seal victory for the hosts, to the frustration of Strevens.

"We're massively disappointed, there have been a few like that this season," said the striker, as Daggers conceded late on yet again.

"Credit to them, they're a good side, who hadn't been on a great run, but they started sharply and put us under pressure.

"Once we got back into the game, I think we more than matched them and deserved to nick it in the end."

With four games to go, Daggers are still heavily involved in the play-off race, as they remain just four points away with a game in hand.

Strevens remains convinced that his side can feature in the end of season lottery.

"We said we wanted three more wins and that is still the target," he said.

"Bradford and Shrewsbury's away form isn't great, while we feel we can get something from Notts County, so there is a lot of belief in the camp.

"If we can get nine points, then fingers crossed, that will be enough for the play-offs.

"Who would have thought Dagenham would be in this position though, and it's much better than the pressure we faced last year.

"That was horrible and I don't ever want to go through that again."

Is Strevens back to his best again? Email your views to: sport@ilfordrecorder.co.uk

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