Braintree match ideal preparation, says Hendon

O’s boss believes the physicality of the Iron is what his side can expect to face in League Two this season

Leyton Orient head coach Ian Hendon felt Friday’s pre-season match against Braintree Town was a perfect taster for what the Brisbane Road club can expect to face in League Two this season.

The National League team defeated the O’s 2-1 at the Amlin Stadium with Kenny Davis and Sean Marks scoring to cancel out Paul McCallum’s opener – his first goal for his new side.

Although it was the first friendly fixture of the new campaign for both teams, the encounter was played with great intensity.

Players were flying into tackles all evening and the Iron provided a stern test for Orient in Hendon’s first game as head coach.

He was pleased that they come up against a physical side and believes that will help his squad ahead of the League Two season.

“We have asked the players to go out and basically put the effort in, which you would think is a given, but they have done that,” said Hendon.

“It was a good work out. You have seen Braintree’s side is full of big, strong boys and that is what we expected and probably what we are going to come up against for most of the season in League Two anyway so it was a good work out.

“I have seen some players out there compete like I wanted them too. It is two different teams we have had out and we have mixed it up a bit so no issues where I am standing.

“We saw a bit of a mixture of my style of play at Braintree. In the first half when it has gone up to Paul McCallum he has got hold of the ball. It is not playing long ball it is played into him and he controls it, gets it down and brings Blair Turgott into the game.”

McCallum impressed against the Iron and Turgott also showed some of his potential, whilst the likes of Ollie Palmer, Sammy Moore and Sean Clohessy all got 45 minutes to settle in with their new team mates.

Although Orient were defeated, Hendon would have seen a number of good performances from his side, which included various youngsters.

Five trialists were involved, with four believed to be Frazer Shaw, Alex Woodyard, Luke Howell and Francois Zoko, and O’s boss admitted a decision on them will need to be made quickly.

He revealed the Brisbane Road club are likely to announce more additions before they travel to Spain tomorrow for a pre-season training camp in Malaga.

“The mobile phone will be on all season, but there might be a couple of new faces on the plane,” admitted Hendon.

“We have got some sorting out to do with the trialists we have got and we need to make some decisions on those guys quickly to be fair to them.

“I am sure they want to get themselves fixed up as soon as possible and we will be doing that. Like I say, there will be a few new faces.”