NICKY Cowley says Concord Rangers are getting used to playing the toughest opponents after they drew Dagenham & Redbridge in the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior Cup.

The Beach Boys’ assistant manager said he should have expected to see Concord pulled out of the hat after the League Two side.

But he says the Beach Boys players will draw on the experience of playing a Football League side already this season, having tackled Mansfield Town twice in the FA Cup, and having enjoyed success at Victoria Road in the past.

“It is a really tough draw,” said the Beach Boys number two. “They are the hardest possible opponents for us as the highest ranked side left in the competition and the only Football League club.

“We are getting used to these types of games, having beaten Boreham Wood in the FA Trophy and playing Barnet this weekend. These were the two highest ranked opponents we could have faced and we will have to do it again at Dagenham!

“It is away as well but we do have some fond memories of playing at that ground. We beat Dagenham 4-3 in 2012 in this competition having been 3-0 down and we obviously won it there last year so we will use those positive experiences.

“We seem to do well against the bigger sides and it helps us develop as a team so we will look forward to the match.”

Cowley also praised Concord’s mental strength after they overcame Grays Athletic in the fourth-round on Tuesday evening.

The Beach Boys had led 1-0 after a first-half strike from Lewis Taaffe but Joao Carlos scored a 90th minute equaliser to send the game to penalties.

Grays’ Freddie Ladapo was the only man who failed to find the net and Cowley was full of praise for the players at the final whistle.

“We have been working on our physical and mental strength and to concede right at the end was disappointing. But to go on and hold our nerve to score five out of five is a great credit to the players.”