Hawks fans praised after Leyton Orient show they are '˜the best team'

Lee Bradbury lauded the Hawks fans following the 4-0 Vanarama National League defeat by Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.
Hawks fans have backed their club in the National League this season. Picture: Ian HargreavesHawks fans have backed their club in the National League this season. Picture: Ian Hargreaves
Hawks fans have backed their club in the National League this season. Picture: Ian Hargreaves

More than 200 Hawks supporters journeyed up to east London and made their presence felt.

The manager was delighted with the way they stayed behind the team on a difficult afternoon.

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Located in a corner of the ground the visitors maintained their encouragement and good humour from start to finish.

Bradbury feels the support can make a big difference as the Hawks look to move forward.

He said: '˜Our supporters were brilliant with something like 250 coming up here.

'˜Even when we were 4-0 down they were still singing away in the corner.

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'˜They continued to applaud our players, singing their names and that does help.

'˜We need to thank them for spending their money and giving their time to get behind us.

'˜Even though the result is what it is I felt we did restore a little bit of pride after last week.

'˜All the players gave everything but we were beaten by a very good side.

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'˜Once we conceded the first two goals it allowed Leyton Orient to showcase just what a good side they are.

'˜They are the best team we have played this season.

'˜That is why they are top of the league and have only lost once all season.'

Bradbury, however, was disappointed with the way his side handed the initiative to the O's in the first half.

He was unhappy to concede the first two goals from set-pieces.

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On 13 minutes a free-kick to the far post resulted in a stooping header from Charlie Lee.

Goalkeeper Ben Dudzinski managed to parry the ball away but Josh Coulson tapped in the rebound.

Soon afterwards the visitors were caught out again.

Jobi McAnuff, who ran the show, whipped in a corner and Macauley Bonne rose above the defence to glance his header inside the far post.

Bradbury added: '˜We are a million miles away from Leyton Orient at the moment.

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'˜You can't afford to give a team like Leyton Orient a leg-up with two set-piece goals.

'˜Players have jobs to do but we weren't switched on.

'˜It wasn't good enough in the first half but I felt we restored a bit of pride after the break.'

At times the O's who were, fitter, quicker, sharper and physically stronger passed the ball at will.

Lee added to the Hawks problems before the break with a superbly struck long-range shot into the bottom corner.

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Though the visitors improved a little after the break there was a sense that the O's felt it was already job done.

Bonne added a fourth goal, the best of the game, on the hour at the end of an outstanding passing movement.

Hawks: Dudzinski, Strugnell, Harris (Huggins 85mins), Cordner, Wood, Lewis, Stock, Tarbuck, Sekajja (Bradley 46mins), Kabamba, Cosgrove (Pavey 66mins).

Attendance: 5,043.