Andy Hessenthaler hails work of Leyton Orient’s Andy Edwards
Leyton Orient's Andy Edwards looks on at Yeovil Town with Peter Ramage (right) about to take a throw (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
East Londoners youth have shone in last two weeks of the season to provide a positive for supporters
Leyton Orient's young duo Aron Pollock (left) and Sandro Semedo embrace after the full time whistle against Mansfield Town (pic: Simon O'Connor). - Credit: Archant
Leyton Orient caretaker Andy Hessenthaler has praised the work of long-serving Academy Director Andy Edwards.
The O’s finished their League Two campaign with a 1-0 win at Yeovil Town where various youngsters were involved.
Sam Sargeant, just 18, kept a clean sheet in goal while another teen in Aron Pollock started and played 56 minutes before coming off injured.
Josh Koroma, a first-year scholar, replaced him and 19-year-old Sandro Semedo played the whole match at Huish Park.
You may also want to watch:
They’ve all been developed under the guidance of Edwards and fellow youth coaches Richard Thomas and Danny Webb.
Hessenthaler said: “Andy Edwards is a great lad, I’ve known him a long time and played against him back in the day. He has great ideas.
Most Read
- 1 Cops break Covid-19 rules to have haircuts at Bethnal Green police station
- 2 Murder arrest after woman stabbed to death in Whitechapel this morning
- 3 'Grenfell Tower'-type cladding still not removed from New Providence Wharf after 3 years
- 4 Covid hero who did charity walk in Bow aged 100 now has vaccine
- 5 Whitechapel murder victim named as teenager charged with killing
- 6 Lovely Day for Aldgate School picked to sing on Billy Ocean's new single
- 7 Police e-fit expert retiring after 15 years at Bethnal Green
- 8 Fury as family homes vanish when Isle of Dogs landlord converts to bedsits
- 9 Leyton Orient boss Embleton could rotate team for Bolton trip
- 10 Man sentenced after teenage boy groomed on Snapchat to sell heroin
“You can see that through the youngsters success. They’ve won the league and to get some of the young boys out there against Yeovil must have been a proud moment for all involved with the youth set-up.
“It was always in our mind as a group of people, being out of the play-offs, to give these boys a bit of experience at league level to see if they can handle it. Well yes they definitely can, they have proved that.”
Koroma made his first O’s appearance at Barnet on April 9 before Pollock was handed his debut against Mansfield Town at the end of last month.
He delivered a man of the match display while Semedo showed his potential at Brisbane Road before going one better at Yeovil.
The former Chelmsford City loanee started at left midfield before dropping back to full back and did a fine job throughout.
Orient’s caretaker added: “The young boys have come through and they are the future. Pollock and Semedo have had their opportunity.
“We’ve been able to see these boys as well as Sargeant and Koroma. I think over the last few weeks that has been the positive for me from the season.
“Sandro was terrific on Saturday, but one thing I would say I thought the senior players were outstanding at Yeovil considering we had to shuffle the pack in terms of injuries.
“The likes of Nicky Hunt, Peter Ramage, Sammy Moore and Lloyd James were exception as well as Sean Clohessy. I felt the work rate they put in during difficult conditions was outstanding. They showed and helped the youngsters through the game - credit to them boys as well.”