Dagenham & Redbridge boss Ben Strevens admitted the result was the most important thing after his side's 2-1 win over National League rivals Woking.

Inih Effiong netted an injury-time winner at Victoria Road, after Josh Rees had seen his first-half effort quickly cancelled out by Reece Grego-Cox.

And that ended a nine-game wait for victory in all competitions for Daggers, a week on from their FA Cup exit at Bracknell Town, to the relief of Strevens.

RECAP: https://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/sport/23871046.national-league-dagenham-redbridge-2-woking-1---report/

"That's the most important thing, the victory," Strevens told the club website.

"We've definitely played better in recent weeks and not come away with a victory, and maybe lost some games when we've played better.

"But the boys showed a different side to themselves, resilient, hard-working, dealing with all sorts of physical duels, headers, second balls.

"It wasn't pretty at times but the main thing was they stuck together, got through it and a bit of quality in the 93rd minute from Inih to finish it.

"I think they deserved it, just for the way they worked for each other throughout the whole 90 minutes. After last weekend's result, there had to be a reaction."

Strevens had admitted to feeling 'embarrassed' after their 1-0 loss at Southern League side Bracknell seven days earlier.

And he revealed it had been a tough week building up to their return to league action.

"It's been a horrible, tough week," he added.

"One of the worst weeks as a manager, enjoyable-wise, in terms of being around the group, the way I've had to be, but I don't care right now because they've won and that's all I want from them.

"I want them to do better, I want them to win, I want to see the crowd getting behind them like we did today, seeing their endeavour.

"I know they would've thought at times it wasn't pretty but they see the boys were giving it their all for each other.

"The smiling faces and how happy everyone was at the end, forget myself. The players and staff, how hard they've worked all week they deserved that."

Strevens brought Tom Eastman, Sam Ling and Elliott Johnson back into his starting line-up, after injury and suspension, and praised their impact.

"I don't feel we've been able to play our strongest team the whole season," he said.

"That's not making excuses, that's just a fact.

"To have those three back, you know exactly what you're going to get from Easty in the middle of defence.

"With Johnno at left-back it was a tough call between him and Pagey, really tough, because I think Pagey going forward, the deliveries he can put in, I felt it was going to be quite direct and a lot of duels and headers and Johnno is really good at that.

"And Lingy plays everywhere. He was disappointed himself when he got sent off at Aldershot, but come back into midfield. 

"He was really struggling at the end of the game, with the impact injury he took earlier, but managed to do that for 70-odd minutes in the centre of midfield and then went to left-back and was as steady and reliable as ever there.

"Three massive players for us."