Simons pips Orient, but Cod Army head down

CHARLIE Adam was already planning a promotion bid for next season after Fleetwood’s relegation was confirmed despite Xavier Simons’ late winner.

Town’s 10-year tenure in League One came to an end, but at least the 133 travelling fans had some small consolation on their return home when Simons struck at the death.

“It’s been a tough day for everybody involved at this club,” said Adam.

“That group of players have given us everything since we came in on December 31 and it’s unfortunate we’ve just come up short. It really is bitterly disappointing.

“I thought we were in full control, we were never really under pressure and that’s what you will see from this side next season. They are going to run and fight all the way.

“There is a lot of frustration of why and what, but we’ll sit down and address things and we are going to do everything we can to come straight back up.

“We have the nucleus of a very good squad in League Two because they’ve shown they are good League One players. I’m thinking about next season, what we want, what we need, how we are going to play and what we are going to do.”

In a match of endeavour, but lacking quality, Town almost took the lead early in the secondhalf when a bullet header by Carl Johnston was punched clear by Sol Brynn.

The O’s keeper was soon extended again to keep out a Ryan Broom effort.

Jay Lynch was the busier of the two keepers in the first-half being fully extended when he tipped a 22 yard free-kick by Tom James over the bar and then pushing away a powerful drive by Ethan Galbraith.

At the opposite end, Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu went on an enterprising run before his effort was collected by Brynn.

Then Simons struck when he collected a pass from Tommy Lonergan after Orient failed to clear their lines and neatly struck the ball past Brynn.

For Orient, it was a fourth defeat in six games and boss Richie Wellens said: “I’m disappointed at the way the season has ended for us. I want to keep my standards at the same level all the time.

“Today, I thought that in the first-half we were good but in the second-half we were poor. We got what we deserved.

“We’ve had too many injuries and not enough have contributed.”