Dagenham & Redbridge striker Paul Benson takes more pleasure in beating Dover Athletic than scoring

Paul Benson of Dagenham & Redbridge is congratulated after scoring the second goal at Dover Athletic (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) ©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468

Daggers forward says result was of greater significance than grabbing first goal of second spell at club

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Steve Arnold of Dover Athletic and Paul Benson of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo) Steve Arnold of Dover Athletic and Paul Benson of Dagenham & Redbridge (pic: David Simpson/TGS Photo)

Dagenham & Redbridge striker Paul Benson says the 2-1 win at Dover Athletic in the National League was more important than his goal at Crabble — despite it being his first for the club in over six-and-a-half years.

Jordan Maguire-Drew had opened the scoring for Daggers before Benson doubled their lead just before the break with his first goal for the Victoria Road side since the 2010 League Two play-off final win over Rotherham United.

Though the National League’s top scorer Ricky Miller pulled one back for the Whites late on, it wasn’t enough to deny the Essex club a first win in three matches, and Benson was happier to return to winning ways than to get back on the scoresheet.

“I know it’s an old cliché, but I’m more thrilled we won the game (than scoring) if I’m totally honest,” said the former Charlton Athletic forward.

“That was the main aim, to go to Dover, get the win, make up for the defeat to Torquay United and get back on track. We had to dig in in the second half because we were under a lot of pressure, but performances like that are what we are about.

“The display against Torquay wasn’t really us, but we were a lot better against Dover and deserved the win.”

Benson was drafted into the starting XI after injury had ruled out Oliver Hawkins, but the 37-year-old played brilliantly in the target man role.

The former Swindon Town attacker was not the only Daggers player to shine, with plenty of Benson’s team-mates also turning in super displays.

And Benson believes that to a man, Daggers outperformed their hosts on Saturday and were fulling deserving of the win.

“Everyone was up for it and won their personal battles, which we didn’t do against Torquay, we weren’t winning the ‘one v one’ situations, but we were on it at Dover, picking up the second balls,” he added.

“‘Gutts’ (Luke Guttridge) and ‘Boucs’ (Andre Boucaud) in the middle were brilliant together and they won us the game if I’m honest, they got on top of Dover’s middle two, kept us driving forward and gave good screening for the back four. It was a great team performance.”