Justin Edinburgh says that the FA Trophy semi-final win over AFC Telford United was “just rewards for a lot of hard work” after his side reached the final of the competition.

Goals from Matt Harrold and Josh Coulson sealed a 2-1 win in the second leg of the tie at New Bucks Head, while Macauley Bonne had given the O’s a first leg advantage with the only goal at the Breyer Group Stadium.

Speaking after the game, Edinburgh said: “I’m really pleased. I’m pleased for everyone connected with the football club because there has been some difficult times over previous years but it’s just rewards for a lot of hard work, certainly from my time involved anyway. We’re delighted to have got it over the line, but it took a lot of character to get there.”

It was a performance defined by character from the O’s as they had to play the majority of the game with 10 men after Harrold was dismissed for an alleged elbow, but that wasn’t the only thing that helped Orient through the tie, according to the boss.

He said: “I guess it took the gloss off what was a great start. We started positively and looked to control the game again, got the goal and I thought we were very, very comfortable in the game.

“I haven’t seen [the incident] again but looking at it initially I would probably say it was more a coming together than a flailing arm but we’ll have to have a look at it.

“From then on, we had to find a huge amount of character, resilience, togetherness, everything this team is built on and we have that in abundance and that’s what’s seen us through today.”

Telford initially made good use of their man advantage, equalising before the break through an excellent Ellis Deeney effort, and although Edinburgh praised the hosts for how they went about the game, he always felt that his side would come through it unscathed.

He said: “It [the red card] certainly gave them the impetus and the momentum going into half-time but we always know that with what we have in the dressing room that we can deal with these sorts of scenarios.

“You can stand and coach but the players have got to carry that out and they certainly did that to a tee today and with the game plan in the second half, they did absolutely everything we asked of them and put their bodies on the line.

“Credit to Telford because once they got that equaliser, they were relentless in their pursuit of a second but we needed some incredible defending and great goalkeeping to keep our noses in the tie and obviously we went up and got the late winner.”

Over 3600 spectators packed into New Bucks Head, with plenty also making the trip up from East London, and Edinburgh praised the atmosphere that the O’s fans created to help the team over the line.

He said: “It’s a huge prize, it’s the club going to Wembley. I’m going to be incredibly proud of leading Leyton Orient out at Wembley. When we started in the competition we wanted to win it and nothing changes so we’re delighted for the fans. We can bottle that now, put that to the side and look forward to an exciting end to the season with nine incredible games left.”

The next of those games takes place on Tuesday night when they host playoff-chasing AFC Fylde in the National League, and Edinburgh insists that their attention is now firmly back on the league and that game in particular.

He said: “This is an excellent achievement and I know that we’ll be backed by numbers but we’ve got to part that to the side now and we’re solely concentrating on Tuesday night.

“I think it’s vitally important now that we concentrate on the task ahead and I know that’s what the group are talking about in there now. We’re looking forward to it. It’s a long trip back now so we’ll rest up, get back into training on Monday and be ready to go on Tuesday.”