Dagenham & Redbridge skipper Scott Doe admits he felt squad was good enough to make FA Trophy final after surprise exit to Worthing

Scott Doe of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Daggers captain angry as Essex club fall at first hurdle

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Lloyd Dawes celebrates scoring the second Worthing goal at Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Lloyd Dawes celebrates scoring the second Worthing goal at Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

Dagenham & Redbridge skipper Scott Doe was devastated by the shock FA Trophy exit to Worthing because he felt the squad was good enough to make it all the way to the final at Wembley.

The Essex club were the victims of a cup upset despite taking a first-half lead through Paul Benson.

Daggers were stunned in the second period as the Rebels levelled when Josh Staunton put the ball into his own net before Lloyd Dawes struck the winner after intercepting a poor back pass from Magnus Okuonghae.

The result means Daggers only have the National League to worry about for the rest of the season, and while Doe sees the plus-points in that, he would also have liked a long run in the Trophy.

Worthing players celebrate their victory over Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Trophy (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Worthing players celebrate their victory over Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Trophy (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

“It is a positive in a way that we can just focus on the league, but again the Trophy was a chance to play at Wembley,” said the defender, who was part of the Daggers squad who won the 2010 League Two play-off final at the national stadium.

“I’ve been very lucky enough to play there, but not many people do and I would have given my right arm to go back there, it’s the best place.

“It’s hard because we believe with the squad we have, we had a very good chance of getting there.

“Playing against Worthing, they fully deserved to win and we didn’t. We have to focus on the league now, which is a slight positive I guess.”

Despite leading at the break, Daggers were sluggish during the first half as they struggled to move the ball at pace.

In the second period, they were put under vast amounts of pressure as they crumbled to one of their worst displays of the season.

It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that Doe revealed there were some strong words said in the dressing at Victoria Road.

“There were some hard words at half time from myself and others and the manager and again at the end from the manager and rightly so,” revealed the skipper.

“There is no excuse for the loss and there is no excuse for some of the performances.

“Quite a few of them have not been good enough, so if the mood is deflated, everyone should be looking at themselves, knowing they should be doing a lot better.”