DAGENHAM & Redbridge were held to their first home draw of the National League season on Saturday.
The Daggers played out a goalless stalemate with play-off chasing Oldham Athletic at Victoria Road.
And the share of the spoils left boss Ben Strevens with mixed emotions.
“The frustration right now is that late on in the game we should probably have come away with the three points,” Strevens told the club’s YouTube channel.
“On the balance of play it was a tough game and the conditions were tough as well for both teams with a swirling wind.
“We had to stand up to their physical presence and they’ve got some good footballers as well. But the positives are the clean sheet which we’ve been talking about for weeks.
“That’s a positive and we take the point and move on.
“We feel like it might have been more but they might think the same as well.”
Dagenham came close to going in front 10 minutes from time when Dion Pereira saw a long shot hit inside of the left post before rolling to safety.
They then saw strong shouts for a late penalty waved away when Keenan Appiah-Forson appeared to be brought down in the box by goalkeeper Matthew Hudson.
However, the Latics survived the scare and came close to scoring in the dying seconds after a goalmouth scramble from a corner.
And Strevens admitted it could have gone either way.
“If Dion’s shot goes in that hits the inside of the post and comes out it’s a well-earned three points,” he added.
“But I have to say the defending and blocks in the 93rd, 94th minute to get that clean sheet were very good too.”
Dagenham now sit 12th in the National League standings after a game which saw Strevens opting against making any changes off the bench.
“I didn’t make a substitution and that’s unlike me,” he said.
“There was a spell in the second half around 60 minutes when you do start talking about what changes you could make.
“They were making changes but we got over that period and I felt like we were getting stronger and stronger.
“That’s the reason why I didn’t make the changes and I’ve apologised to the boys for not bringing them on because I’ve got trust in every member of the group.
“I just didn’t feel like it was the right time to do it.”
However, Strevens will need his squad this weekend as his side head to Boreham Wood on Good Friday before hosting Ebbsfleet United on Bank Holiday Monday.
“We’re looking forward to two tough games at the weekend,” said Strevens.
“Boreham Wood beat us at home so we’ll look to avenge that, then we’ve got Ebbsfleet who have been in good form.
“We got a win there so I’m sure they will be looking to avenge us.
“But what I do know leading into these games is that I’m definitely going to need everyone in the group if we are to come out with some positive results.”
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