Jamie Turley said it was a “relief” to get the win as Leyton Orient progressed into the FA Trophy quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Blyth Spartans.

Turley scored the winning goal six minutes from time, powering home a header from Dale Gorman’s free-kick, and the recent signing was happy to get the O’s over the line and a step closer to Wembley.

Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “It was a relief in the changing room, it was a great effort from everyone. It would have been a long trip up to Blyth Spartans away so the most important thing today was a win.

“The clean sheet was a bonus, but it was all about getting the win today.”

The visitors, who currently sit 11th in the National League North, made the game difficult for Orient, defending resolutely while also creating their fair share of chances, and Turley was full of praise for the way they played.

He said: “They matched us, they really did. We had a squad rotation because we’ve got the strength in depth, but their striker was a handful, they pressed well, so I take my hat off to them, they were really good.”

The late winner marked Turley’s first goal for the club since joining after leaving League Two side Notts County, and the defender feels as though he can be a threat at the attacking end as he continues to settle in.

He said: “I was pleased. I feel like I can be a threat in the box anyway, I know I’m a nuisance but to get the winner today was brilliant.

“I’ve really enjoyed it here so far. It’s a great, great group of lads, the management staff are brilliant and I’ve really settled in well.”

Head coach Justin Edinburgh made a host of changes to the side, bringing in 17-year-old Jayden Sweeney and, later, giving a debut to another teenager, Shadrach Ogie, in the same position after a lengthy international clearance saga.

Turley acknowledged the quality that the youngsters possess, noting that they are hot on the heels of those regular members of the squad.

He said: “I think Jayden slotted in really well in the first half. He played himself into the game but I think he got a slight knock but I thought he did really well.

“Shadrach has been waiting a long time for that and he did really well when he came on as well so it just shows that everyone has to be at the races every weekend because there’s young lads snapping at their heels.”

The win sets the O’s up with a trip to Brackley Town, last year’s winners of the competition, leaving them within two matches of a potential visit to Wembley.

Turley said: “It’s great to get through, it’s a trip to Wembley hopefully if we can get there. It’s somewhere I’ve never played at, I missed that last year so it’s an ambition of mine to get there. It’s a cup game, everyone gets up for it.”

The tie against Brackley is due to be played on Saturday, February 23 at St James Park, while the O’s next league outing sees them make the long journey up to Hartlepool United on Saturday, February 9.