DAGENHAM & Redbridge forward Ben Strevens has admitted it’s ‘great’ to be reunited with strike partner Paul Benson, who has made his long-awaited return to the side after injury.

Benson was kept on the sidelines for two months with a knee injury, but he has made two appearances from the bench, which included a vital goal in his first game back during the win over Macclesfield two weeks ago.

Strevens has suffered badly, by his own admission, in his team-mate’s absence, having found the net just once in the ten games prior to the weekend’s defeat to Exeter City.

He cancelled out Stuart Fleetwood’s superb strike on Saturday, only to see the Grecians’ forward score another wonder goal to leave the Daggers empty-handed.

“It’s nice to be back in the goals, I’ve not been happy for the last few months,” admitted Strevens.

“I’ve been a bit low on confidence recently, but, fingers crossed, that goal will help carry me and the team to the end of the season.”

Benson’s return could not have come at a better time for the team, or indeed Strevens, as they are just five points adrift of the play-off places in League Two with just six games to play.

And if the dynamic duo can discover their lethal touch in front of goal, which saw them rack up 25 goals between them to propel the Daggers to the top of the scoring charts, then they will be in the reckoning for a top seven spot come May 2.

“It’s great to have Beno back,” enthused Strevens.

“It’ll be a big boost for me and the team to have him. We just seem to click. He knows where I’m going to run and vice versa. That’s quite rare at this level.

“We have built up a strong partnership that’s up there with the best in the league, and hopefully we can regain that for the last six games.

“I think we’re going to need four wins out of those games. We’d be disappointed to miss out on the play-offs. It’s the minimum we’re aiming for now.

“Although, at the same time, look at where we were last season. We were fighting relegation, so it really shows how far this team has come.”

Mid-table side Aldershot are next on the agenda for the Daggers at Victoria Road on Saturday, and, while John Still’s men enjoyed a 2-1 win at their place earlier in the season, Strevens insists it will be a tough test.

“They are one of the better teams we’ve played this year. They were doing really well and it’s been surprising to see them drop off and start to struggle since then.

“But we know it is a must win game for us if we want to get into the top seven.”

With Strevens and Benson back in tandem for the Daggers, anything is possible.