More graft to come says Daggers’ Still

3:17pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

DAGENHAM boss John Still was delighted with his side’s second-half masterclass which saw off Lincoln – but warned the hard work can’t stop.

The 58-year-old is famed for driving his ‘team ethic’ mantra into his players.

And it paid off against City on Saturday as Daggers adapted to the situation and overcame a first-half deficit to run out comfortable 3-1 winners at Sincil Bank.

“The second half performance was first class,” Still told BBC Essex.

“The movement of our front four and the retention of the ball was top class.

“We’re going to have games where we’ve got to defend and do our jobs for an hour, and the game will slow down and you can show your quality.

“But you don’t show your quality before the hard work.”

Goals from his first choice strike partnership of Ben Strevens and Paul Benson – a brace from the former – will particularly have cheered Still.

Both work hard for the cause and can carve something out of nothing, something that doesn’t go unnoticed by the boss.

“Every time we attacked the movement of our front two was causing them massive problems, to the point they couldn’t even pass back because we was up high on them,” said Still.

“We pressurised both their centre halves and our wide people never let them come out with the ball.”

Still also took time to praise youngsters Dominic Green and Solomon Taiwo.

Winger Green, 19, has started the season on fire, while 23-year-old midfielder Taiwo proved that he can live with any opposition in the division following a powerhouse performance against City.

“Dominic is very special,” said Still.

“He’s still learning the game. It’s all new to him and Taiwo.

“They’ve come from nowhere but are both outstanding players.

“I thought in the last half hour Taiwo was absolutely dominant. He was strong, powerful, picked his passes well.

“They've still got some way to go but they are two very good young players. It is nice to see them get their opportunity, and better to see them take it.”

The win over City kept Daggers on top of the League Two pile after two games – and the club is suddenly daring to dream.

But, while enjoying the moment, Still knows that more work needs to be done – starting with Saturday’s clash with Port Vale at Victoria Road.

Still said: “There's still things going on in games that we’re not quite sure about and we try to pass that information on.

“We're trying to be competitive first.”

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