Wayne Burnett praised non-league outfit after the match

Barkingside manager Matt Frew was beaming with pride after watching his team match a strong Dagenham & Redbridge side for the majority of the game at Victoria Road on Monday night in the third round of the Essex Senior Cup.

The Ryman North outfit were eventually beaten 2-0 by the League Two side after second half goals from Rhys Murphy and Bradley Goldberg.

But the Cricklefield boss could be pleased with their display and Frew revealed Daggers manager Wayne Burnett waited to speak to him after the match to praise the efforts of the non-league team.

“The Dagenham manager come up to me and said ‘at the end of the day you deserved to win the game’ and that was his words,” said the Barkingside boss.

“He said we were the much better side, we played it about and that I couldn’t have asked for much more.

“It is a nice thing to have a League Two manager come up and congratulate me and my players.

“For him to come on the pitch to congratulate us shows we have done something right, and I am a young manager and those sorts of things I will always remember.”

Daggers took the lead in the 68th minute when first team forward Murphy converted from the penalty spot after Joe Ellul had caught Goldberg as he was about to shoot.

Frew didn’t have too many complaints about the decision and revealed how proud he was of the effort his players put in, adding: “We have taken a League Two team all the way and good luck to them in the next round.

“I think he kicked the back of his foot for the penalty. They get given, sometimes they don’t get given.

“At 1-0 I still thought we were in the game because we were causing them problems on the break.

“I know the boys are upset but I said to them you have made me proud and you have made the football club proud.”