Orient's future is 'exciting' despite play-off final loss

The play-off final was Ethan Galbraith's (left) 53rd game for club and country this season

Leyton Orient midfielder Ethan Galbraith said the future is exciting for the club, despite the sting of losing the play-off final to Charlton Athletic at Wembley on Sunday.

Galbraith's side finished sixth in the League One table during the regular season, seven points and two places below their opponents.

The only goal of the game was a first-half free-kick from Charlton's Macaulay Gillesphey as the Addicks sealed a return to the second tier.

The 24-year-old told BBC Radio London: "We are all gutted and disappointed, but on the other side we've had a great season.

"It came down to a moment which didn't go our way, but I'm just very proud of the lads and everyone involved in the club.

"We hit the post, we hit the bar. Congratulations to Charlton, they obviously took their [moment]. I think we were a bit unlucky," he added.

'The pitch felt massive'

In the final, Richie Wellens' side had 16 shots, compared to just five for the winning team.

"We started a bit slow, a bit unlike us, we're learning," Galbraith admitted.

"Hopefully next time we are here, we can start better and play our game a bit more.

"I think it just comes down to the occasion. The pitch feels bigger. It felt massive."

There is now a relatively short summer for the team to have a break and then plan next season, with League One action resuming again on 1-3 August, the weekend before the Championship season begins.

"We're disappointed for a couple of days, but after that we'll look towards next season and for the club there can only be excitement," said Galbraith, who has been named in the Northern Ireland squad for two friendly matches next month.

"It's a young group. All of our loans – Jamie [Donley], Jack [Currie], Josh [Keeley] – can take a lot from this.

"Hopefully all the lads get here again and hopefully they are on the right side of it."