Experienced forward netted again to help O’s claim all three points ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Bromley
David Mooney praised Leyton Orient for not losing concentration during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Maidstone United in the National League.
The O’s had to wait until the hour mark to open the scoring after being frustrated by a solid Stones team.
Mooney made the breakthrough, however, and despite some late pressure, Rommy Boco wrapped up the points late on.
“It was stressed at half time about the need for us to stay patient and keep probing, but we thought we worked them well at times during the first 45,” said the 32-year-old.
“You are hoping teams are going to get tired where they are not full time and eventually they did.
“We managed to capitalise on that, but to be fair to them they then grew into it towards the end, although thankfully we hit them on the break late on and got the second goal.”
Orient needed Charlie Grainger to make a crucial save a minute from time to deny Joe Pigott scoring an equaliser for Maidstone.
Although Delano Sam-Yorke fired in the rebound, he was ruled to be offside and O’s made the visitors pay by adding a second seconds later.
It gives Steve Davis’ team plenty of confidence ahead of tomorrow’s trip to London rivals Bromley.
Once again Orient will have to adjust to playing on a 3G surface and Mooney thinks it is important they don’t concede early.
Sutton United score twice during the first half against O’s on August 5 and Davis’ side struggled to get back into the content.
Mooney added: “I don’t really like the 3G pitches, but it is just one of them things isn’t it?
“We have two left, so we have got Tuesday night and the one final game, so the return with Maidstone.
“It will be tough against Bromley, but if we can get in front it will make it a little bit easier because chasing on an astro isn’t too easy.
“For us it is about going there and being compact early on and seeing how the game it progresses.”
In the build-up to the Sutton fixture O’s trained on an artificial pitch, but they won’t do that ahead of facing Bromley.
The south Londoners have made an encouraging start to the new campaign and have yet to suffer a defeat.
Bromley also have several ex-Orient players in their team who will be looking to impress against their old club.
David Gregory, Ben Chorley, Frankie Sutherland, Alan Dunne and George Porter have all had spells at Brisbane Road during their careers.
Although it is yet another test on a 3G pitch for O’s, Mooney was keen to stress that it is a fresh match and different to the opening day of the season.
“We tried to train on it before the Sutton game, but it doesn’t make much of a difference if I am honest,” said Mooney.
“It is all about on the day and in that first match we had a bit of wind, rain and sun, so everything in the end!
“It wasn’t a great day for football, but Sutton did well and we didn’t play great, but it is behind us now and we are looking forward to Tuesday and it is a fresh game for us.”
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