DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE manager Ben Strevens felt that the challenge of York City was 'one of the hardest tests' that the Daggers have faced in recent times. 

Jake Hessenthaler's 11th minute opener put Dagenham ahead after a powerful header from a corner, before Ryan Fallowfield drew York level with a low strike on the brink of half-time. 

Strevens admitted that City were a difficult test for the Daggers and that his side were far from their best in North Yorkshire, and discussed the danger which York's strikers imposed on the visitors defence.

“York are in a lower position in the league but this is one of the hardest tests we’ve had in a while, a different type of test by really trying to compete all over the football pitch.

“It was a really, really tough game of football and we were nowhere near our best today.

"We had to stand up towards the physical threat and their long passes into their front players, their big strong players.

"It started with Dipo (Akinyemi) and (Lenell John-Lewis), and then Will Davies came on who was a handful.

"We wasn’t at our best today, I can’t deny that, but the boys found a way to get a draw out of the game by scoring early and starting the game quite brightly.

"We just couldn’t get in our stride after that, we was trying to pass the ball a little bit better but because they were competing so much all over the pitch there just wasn’t that calmness in the right moments."

Strevens also confessed that Fallowfield's strike was an impressive finish, but was disappointed with how his side responded to a lengthy stoppage after Akinyemi suffered a back injury in the 41st minute.

“There was quite a lot of stoppages for both teams in that first-half with their lad getting that injury over on the far side, there was quite a long break in play and we switched off after that moment.

"It wasn’t too long after that when we conceded, it’s about trying to keep your levels of concentration high.

"We’re disappointed with the goal as we’re disappointed with every goal we concede, but they were certainly growing a lot in that first half and there were a lot of final third entries against us.

"It’s one lapse of concentration that the boys did, and we got punished for it.

"It was a good finish to be fair, from Fallowfield the right-wing back when coming in at that back stick.

"A moment of a lapse of concentration from us, a good finish from them and we went in drawing at half-time instead of being 1-0 and in the lead."