O’s forward scored in last two matches of the campaign and has praised academy graduates now making their mark on first team

East London Advertiser: Leyton Orient goalkeeper Sam Sargeant punches the ball desite having opposite number Artur Krysiak (pic: Simon O'Connor).Leyton Orient goalkeeper Sam Sargeant punches the ball desite having opposite number Artur Krysiak (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: 07958 573219 simon.oconnor@virgin.net)

Leyton Orient forward Ollie Palmer admits it has been exciting watching the youngsters at the club impressive in the first team in recent weeks.

The east Londoners chances of reaching the play-offs went after a 1-0 loss to AFC Wimbledon on April 23, but it did allow Andy Hessenthaler and Academy Director Andy Edwards the opportunity to blood some of the talented youth.

Aron Pollock, Sam Sargeant, Sandro Semedo and Josh Koroma were all give minutes to impress in the final two matches of the season against Mansfield Town and Yeovil Town.

Not one let the O’s down as the Brisbane Road outfit finished the campaign with back-to-back 1-0 wins following two strikes from Palmer.

He said: “It’s exciting to have the youngsters coming through. You’ve got Josh, Sarg, Pollock at the back and Sandro. We have quite a few coming through showing their ability and their worth so hopefully they’ll have fantastic careers.

“Aron is brilliant, he has great confidence, a great physical presence and hasn’t shied away at all and that’s a big credit to him.

“With ‘Sarg’ it is not just at Yeovil where he has made brilliant saves, he is fantastic in training as well.

“I believe he got an England youth team call-up recently. His attitude is brilliant in training every single day, all the boys like him and he’s a top lad.”

Palmer scored the winner at Huish Park on the final day of the season and admitted he will let Koroma claim an assist for the goal.

A Yeovil defender tried to clear the ball and it hit Orient’s first-year scholar before dropping perfectly for Palmer.

He slotted it confidently into the back of the net to demonstrate his improving composure in front of goal.

“We went for the diagonal and then I tried to knock it down for Paul McCullum and I think the ball has come into the box with a few ricochets,” said Palmer.

“Then it’s just dropped and Josh had kind of set in for me. I’m not sure if he wanted to take the strike himself, but I managed to whip it in to the far post. He’s claiming an assist, I’ll let him have that because he’s a good lad.

“I thought our boys defended quite well. Yeovil had a few long range efforts but ‘Sarg’ was brilliant and they didn’t trouble us too much.”