Dagenham & Redbridge boss Ben Strevens was ecstatic with the character and determination his side showed as Inih Effiong’s 96th-minute winner secured a 2-1 win over Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday.

The visitors had scored what looked to be a dramatic injury-time equaliser, before Effiong’s last-gasp strike snatched all three points for Strevens’ men.

And the Daggers boss gave an honest assessment of how he was feeling.

“I’m just so proud of the character they’ve managed to show since that moment," Strevens told the club's media team. 

"Most of the fans were probably so deflated when we pulled off an incredible double save before firing in.

“They were feeling really down about it, and then, in an instant, we’ve come up with a big moment. 

"A long throw came in, and Inih made first contact and managed to turn it home, so probably the craziest end to a game I’ve been involved in - certainly as manager!”

On the heroics of Effiong, the Daggers boss was keen to point out how impressed he had been with the forward over the last few weeks.

“He’s been brilliant. The last five or six games unplayable at times," he added. 

"I was just coming up with big moments, and I said that to the boys in there.

“Pulling off the double save should have been enough, but Inih popped up with another last-minute goal and did the same against Woking. It’s big moments for big players, and that’s why he’s so valuable to us.

“We spoke about missing him in the earlier part of the season for so long, but the goals and the way he’s taken his chances in recent weeks have gotten us quite a few points as well.”

After a poor run of home form, the win over Dorking means it’s now back-to-back victories at Victoria Road for Strevens’ side.

And the former Eastleigh boss added how impressed he was with the response in recent weeks.

“Tonight’s game was tough for all sorts of reasons," he said. 

"We went man for man in the first half, and they sat off us, which was really difficult to break down.

“We had lots of possession. We thought they’d play out a bit more, but they didn't. So it was about trying to be patient in getting the opening, and I think we did that.

"We controlled the start of the second half and because we went 1-0 up and were so desperate to get that victory, I had to tell them to relax on the pitch, but we didn't, and that didn’t help them.

“We won the game against Eastleigh here, and it’s been nearly a month since we’ve been here to back it up, but the fact we have and we’ve got the three points means we can go on to Saturday now full of confidence.”

Strevens’ side play host to Kidderminster, who sit second from bottom in the National League, on Saturday as they look to build on their recent form and gain further ground on those above them.