Good debut win says Dagenham & Redbridge matchwinner Effiong

Having signed from Aldershot earlier in the week, Effiong struck twice in a 2-1 win for Daryl McMahon’s men, who moved back up the National League table to eighth, one point off a play-off place.

And the 31-year-old said it had been a good day for himself and the team.

“It’s a good feeling. Solihull are my team, I’ve scored against them I think every time I’ve played them,” he told the club website.

“Most importantly we got the three points, after the defeats we’ve had lately, we needed to bounce back. Everyone worked hard to a man and we got our just desserts.”

Effiong opened the scoring on 36 minutes, firing home after seeing a free-kick blocked, but the visitors levelled before the break through Bartosz Cybulski.

The home side had penalty claims turned down in the second half, before Effiong struck a fine 73rd-minute winner to end a run of three successive defeats.

“The first one, poor free-kick, and just a rebound and a good strike,” he added.

“The second one, when you’re on form, I saw the keeper off and thought ‘I’m just going to hit it’ and it was a good strike and went in.

“It’s nice. It’s a good debut for me and I’m happy. The fans were good, they drove us on towards the end and everyone worked hard.”

Effiong also revealed how he been made to feel welcome in the Daggers dressing room and said they need to keep grinding.

“I’ve felt welcomed. I know most of the boys already, from either playing with them previously. They’ve welcomed me with open arms,” he said.

“I didn’t come here just to enjoy and have fun, we’ve got a job to do. That’s what I made sure I’m going to bring to the team, when I’m in the changing room.

“We have to grind out all results. We grinded today, we showed good tenacity all around, defended well – I don’t think they really had a shot to save – and it was all us really.”

Daggers entertain Eastleigh at Victoria Road on Tuesday and head to Scunthorpe United on Saturday ahead of another midweek home date with Effiong’s former club Aldershot on February 21.