Embleton relieved as O’s halt a barren run
ROSS Embleton spoke of his relief at seeing Leyton Orient secure their first win in 11 matches.
Three goals in the space of 18 minutes leading up to halftime set Orient on their way to victory at Cambridge.
Having been three clear at the break through Jamie
Turley, Josh Wright and Jordan Maguire-Drew, Embleton’s side faced a nervous finish following goals for the hosts from Jack Roles and Sam Smith (penalty), but they held on to earn the points.
“It’s really strange because I’ve just walked in there and it’s almost like a subdued feel to the fact we’d won a game of football,” Embleton said afterwards.
“Obviously the reason for that is because of the way the second half panned out.
“We have to remember it’s been a while since we had that feeling.
“The main thing is we got over the line and got those three points that we’ve been waiting for a very long time.
The O’s raced into a three-goal lead at half time, with
Turley firing in unchallenged from Maguire-Drew’s knock-down after 29 minutes and Josh Wright converting a rebound after his penalty had been saved by Dimi Mitov six minutes later.
The game appeared over as a contest in first half stoppage time when Maguire-Drew converted a fine freekick to Mitov’s left-hand side.
Cambridge got one back 21 minutes from time when sub Roles struck an impressive effort from distance, and set up a grandstand finale eight minutes from time when Smith sent Sam Sargeant the wrong way from the spot after he was felled by Turley.
There was still time for both sides to be reduced to 10 men for second bookable offences by referee
Trevor Kettle. Reggie Lambe was dismissed for a second caution United six minutes from the end, and he was followed down the tunnel barely a minute later by Myles Judd, also picking up a second yellow card.
Cambridge boss Colin Calderwood felt his side handed
Orient their chances.
“Three set places have given them the start in the game,” he moaned. “They were lifted by that and they were better than us so they deserved to be ahead in the game. We weren’t fluent at all.
“You get a bloody nose every so often in this game.”