Andy Edwards was full of praise for debutant Sam Dalby who scored in Leyton Orient’s 3-2 victory over Crawley Town on Saturday.

The O’s had to fend off a Reds comeback after a Teddy Mezague own goal and a mishap from Alex Cisak saw Enzio Boldewijn score their second to see Crawley back into the game.

Paul McCallum scored two in the first 45 to ensure Orient had a cushioned lead and they defended until the end to ensure they claimed their first back-to-back home wins since August 2015.

Edwards said: “Dalby was just 17 a few weeks ago and he has come off the bench once or maybe twice and to get his full debut today was a testament to his performance in training.

“He has impressed all of us with his performance for the youth team and he reserves when he has played. So we thought he was worthy of a start and he certainly paid off for us today.”

When asked if he felt old at Dalby debuting Edward joked by saying: “Yes it does. It does. Of course everyone remembers their debut but mine was 30-years ago now.”

Myles Judd has also been a vital factor into turning Orient’s performances around with the right-back making vital clearances and creating chances throughout.

When asked about the young players breeding more confidence he said: “Young players do play without fear. I think Myles has shown that as well.

“We have Sam Sargeant and Josh Koroma on the bench and we have others that have got a chance but we have to be patient in some ways.

“In a perfect world in 18 months, two years, they maybe the core of the side but at the moment they are 17, 18-years-old.

“People talk about that young Man United side with Ryan Giggs and David Beckham. I am not comparing our players to them but they were 20, 21-years-old and still classed as young guys.

“So we have to be realistic of where they are at. But If they are good enough they will play.”

Orient looked nervy in the second period and after Dalby made way for Jordan Bowery it looked as though Crawley could have gained the draw.

“We looked very comfortable going into the break and I would have been more than happy with a really dour second period and all going home and winning 3-0,” added Edwards.

“That was, I suppose, the sort of plan in the back of my mind. I thought if we got the fourth we may have gone on.

“But six, seven minutes in we conceded and it just gave them a little lifeline and we had to try and make sure the second goal didn’t come.

“Unfortunately, it did, it left it being a real nervy finish, we stuck at it and they changed their shape, they stuck men forward, they gambled.

“Sandro had a chance to score in the second period, and a stonewall penalty turned down, Gavin (Massey) was unfortunate and Paul (McCallum) had a header.

“So I think if you at it chance for chance we probably should have won a bit more comfortably but they did put us under pressure for sure.”

Orient host Cambridge United on New Year’s Eve with a 1pm kick off.