ADRIAN Patulea has spoken of his delight at his prize-winning strike and said he wants to score more.
Orient hitman Patulea has not started many league games so far this season, but fans have picked his cup goal in the Johnstone Paint Trophy as their Ultimate Finish.
That last-minute strike in round two of the competition was against Brighton Hove Albion on October 6. It garnered hundreds of fans' votes.
Patulea recalled that game and his intense celebration after the goal.
“There was a lot of pressure in that game with players who are not first team regulars trying to prove themselves” he told Guardian Series Sports.
“I was having chances but not scoring, and their keeper was stopping shots.
“I was wanting to put the ball into the net and when I scored in such a moment close to full-time, it was special.
“To be honest, it is lovely to have that award.”
Today, Patulea is hungry for his next goal in a Orient shirt, having come off the bench for 13 of his 17 appearances.
But he said he is confident he will find the net.
“It’s very frustrating to be not starting but you must understand the thoughts of the gaffer” he said.
“My purpose here is to be involved and to score goals, and I know I’m a good striker and that I’m capable of scoring.
“We must stick together no matter what, and I accept his accept his decision even if it is frustrating for me.”
Patulea identified tomorrow’s game against Gillingham as vital for the O’s as they look for points after last week’s heart-break defeat away at Leeds.
“It is an important game for all of us because we need to go up the table. Our start to the season was not good. We know we could be scoring more goals, but we have been ruling games.”
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