Leyton Orient striker scores ‘one of most ridiculous finishes you’ll see for some time’

Leyton Orient striker Paul Smyth scores ‘one of most ridiculous finishes you’ll see for some time’ in Saturday’s win against Barrow.

Adam Rooney and Robbie Gotts both had efforts well-saved by Lawrence Vigouroux but it was the hosts’ Ruel Sotiriou who came closest to breaking the deadlock in a error-strewn first half.

Sotiriou struck the crossbar with a 20-yard free-kick on the 33rd minute and then had a close-range header tipped over by goalkeeper Paul Farman.

🤯 You think the chance is dead, and then he does this…

Paul Smyth, ladies and gentleman! 👏#LOFC #OnlyOneOrient pic.twitter.com/vtJ7zefTJo

— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 27, 2022

However, Farman was remarkably beaten after on the seven minutes into the second half by Paul Smyth, who was faster than the keeper in a race to collect a pass from Connor Wood before turning the ball into the net from an very acute angle.

The dangerous Sotiriou make up for his earlier chances when on 62 minutes, he met a free-kick and hit a shot low into the bottom corner of the net for his sixth goal in seven matches.

For the remainder of the game, the hosts dominated the match and held on to collect their third-successive win to leave the Cumbrian outfit just six points above the drop zone with new manager Phil Brown having plenty of work to do.

Leyton Orient boss Richie Wellens said after the game that Paul Smyth has the potential to be the “best player in the league”, as per a report by the Newham Recorder.

“He has the potential to be the best player in the league. His injuries have obviously frustrated him this season but lets finish the season strongly with him, manage his minutes so we don’t have nothing recurring, he said.

“Lets bring him back next year firing because he has the potential to be the best in the league.”

Wellens, who celebrated his 42nd birthday on Saturday, told the club website: “In terms of performance it was ok. I think our supporters are fantastic, because every time we moved it with a bit of tempo in the first half we made chances. 

“I thought the atmosphere in the ground was excellent and we have a lot of potential to build this club forward and take it forward and be successful.”

He hinted at some potential changes to his side for the midweek game against Oldham, adding: “Sometimes we looked a bit leggy which is understandble, but we’ve got a squad and I think we’re going to have to start utilising the squad against Oldham, because again it’s a long journey.

“The Saturday to Tuesday recovery is a lot shorter than the Tuesday to Saturday, but everybody is performing well. The standard of training at the moment with the lads that are not playing is exceptionally high.

“If you’re a club and you want to be successful, the players that are not in your squad or starting XI, the level they train at has a knock-on effect upwards. So the fact they’re training really well is putting the starting XI in good stead.”

Orient currently sit 17th in the League Two table and are 15 points above the drop zone with eight games left to play.

Barrow boss Phil Brown says his side will stay up if they win all their remaining home games, in a plea to make Holker Street a fortress.

Brown said, via the official club website: “We’re back in Barrow on Saturday and we have to make that stadium a fortress. We’ve got four games to go (at home) and win those four games and it’s enough.

“I know they’re tough games but I’m not bothered about the opposition I’m just bothered about my team.”

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There was lots of reaction as Leyton Orient striker Paul Smyth scores ‘one of most ridiculous finishes you’ll see for some time’…

@DanAuton2590: Let’s be honest, if Kane or whoever would’ve scored that exact goal yesterday people would be wanking themselves silly for the rest of the year, it’s an unbelievable finish #lofc

@CanSoccerHist: That’s a belting finish. Take a bow Paul Smyth

@NancyTague: Goal of the season….. some boy!!!

@rajatx7: This is a ludicrous finish. So hard to do at full pelt. Support your local teams. Support lower league football. The last remnants of romanticism left in this sport. #believe

@Rdwilliams94: Mad finish 😍⚽️

@BLayerofficial: Wowww what a goal. This won’t get talked about though as it’s league two and not a top 6 club 😕 #leytonorient #football

@MaxHuntii94: Some finish that

@_danmcdonald: Always rated him. Shame he was very unlucky with injuries for us

@TheAuthenticGaz: GOAL OF THE SEASON!!

@RobbieMinchin: Unbelievable 😍

@AshDigsFilms: Just bloody lovely.

@LawtonGamst: Send it 🚀👨‍🚀 #LOFC

@SunshineLOFC: Lovely stuff #lofc

@SebCain: It just gets better the more you watch it. Last week’s may have looked more impressive at first glance but this, technical, is far superior!

@KatieHcom: What a screamer! #lofc #comeonyouos

@markpotter9: Wow what a finish 👏👏

@GKeaveney: That is magnificent!

@jackLOFC: This bloke is the bog dollocks

@HarvMarksy: The fact the world has never witnessed Paul Smyth play for Portsmouth is quite frankly just not good enough. His footballing ability is irrelevant, it’s just the rules.

@sc1898_: oh my oh my

@SpiceAlbert: A week after scoring with a glorious long range shot out of nothing, Smyth does this. #lofc

@Tommy_Cullum: TAKE A BOW SON