Leyton Orient’s Richie Wellens pleased at pre-season opener

O’s battled to a goalless draw at Isthmian League Premier Division club Billericay Town, with Wellens fielding two different teams in each half.

And he had praise for the four newcomers that were involved on the night at New Lodge.

“I thought Max Sanders was the best player on the pitch first half,” he told the club website.

“His range of passing is there for all to see, he’s a clever footballer and when we tidy him up he’s going to be a real asset to the club.

“Sam Howes in goal looked really composed, has done everything with an intensity to him, you’ve seen little glimpses of Dan Agyei, he’s a week behind the rest of the lads, but you’ve seen little glimpses where he can manoeuvre the ball, he’s got pace, power, he’s exciting.

“And Ethan [Galbraith] has shown little touches of class as well second half.

“Idris [el Mizouni] only trained with us two days so we thought it was important he got a training session today, and on astro, it was a little bit of a risk.

“I think they’re four good signings, hopefully we might have a couple more in the next week or so.”

Dan Happe did not feature as he continues his own training programme after a medial ligament injury, but is expected to be back by Tuesday.

And Wellens was pleased to come through the first 90 minutes of pre-season without any more injury problems.

“I’m not excited about these kind of games,” he added.

“They don’t really get my adrenalin going, they don’t get the pulse going.

“But they are a means of a means. You turn up for you first game, after you’ve worked hard. The players have been fantastic. It’s an astroturf pitch, it’s roasting. I thought the first half the players found it tough in terms of the heat was extreme.

“But all the players have acquitted themselves, no injuries, and some of the things in terms of our possession we got to.

“But when you pick two teams like that, it’s mix and match, it can be very difficult. We’ve got through it no injuries and I’m pretty pleased.

“When you change surfaces it can be really difficult. We had all the ball more or less the whole game, but I thought their shape was really good, you have to give them credit.

“A typical pre-season game, you want to play in front of them, every goal has to be perfect, they were quite high, we had no pockets to play in.

“We just need to lift the ball over the top more to create gaps in the middle of the pitch.

“Second half was more or less complete domination. We just needed a goal to break them down. A lot of players got good minutes, and it’s just a starting board for them.”

O’s visit Brentwood Town on Tuesday, before heading out to Spain to continue their preparations, with a game against opening-day opponents Charlton Athletic on Friday July 14.