Dagenham & Redbridge were one of the best teams in the FA Trophy, admits Worthing joint-manager Gary Elphick

Zack Newton of Worthing and Frankie Raymond of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Rebels management team believe team display saw them stun Daggers

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Worthing joint-manager Gary Elphick believes his side’s shock win at Dagenham & Redbridge saw them eliminate one of the favourites from the FA Trophy.

Daggers were the victims of arguably the biggest shock of the first round as the National League promotion hopefuls crashed out at home to the Ryman Premier relegation battlers.

Despite the gulf in positions between the sides, the Essex club rarely threatened the Rebels and Elphick coped well with a side who are the joint-eighth top scorers in non-league’s top flight.

“We nullified all kinds of threats and we were unlucky to go in a goal behind,” he told the Worthing Herald.

“When you’ve got players like Omar Bugiel, Lloyd Dawes and Zack Newton all firing on the counter-attack you can cause a lot of teams many problems and we done that today.

“The defence were terrific as well, we saw a different side to Jack Cook, Corey Heath, Sam Rents, my back four and goalkeeper defended excellently.

“On paper we’ve knocked out one of the highest-ranked teams in this competition away from home, it does speak volumes.”

Fellow Rebels joint-manager Jon Meeney was equally pleased with his team’s display after knocking out Dagenham, adding: “From one to 11 you’ve seen a complete team performance and we’ve got our just rewards.

“I’ve not been involved in a changing room like this one; it’s a special group who get on really well on and off-the field.”