ORIENT striker Ryan Jarvis finally broke his scoring duck at the weekend, and then praised manager Geraint Williams for his rejuvenation this season, writes TREVOR DAVIES. Jarvis joined the O s a year ago, but failed to net a League goal last term, and ma

ORIENT striker Ryan Jarvis finally broke his scoring duck at the weekend, and then praised manager Geraint Williams for his rejuvenation this season, writes TREVOR DAVIES.

Jarvis joined the O's a year ago, but failed to net a League goal last term, and managed just two strikes in the Johnstone's Paints Trophy.

The forward made 15 League One starts last season and a further 16 appearances from the bench without hitting the net, but that goal drought came to an end on Saturday, when Jarvis fired home JJ Melligan's cross after 31 minutes in the 2-1 defeat by Oldham.

After the game the striker admitted: "Definitely, it's nice to get a goal, but I would much preferred to have had three points."

Jarvis was one of the few stars on an awful afternoon and he is determined to make an impression after a dismal first season.

So far he is delighted with the way things have gone. "I am pleased the way I came back pre- season," he said.

"I did a lot of work during close season, like everyone else, and I came back feeling fit and sharp and scored goals in pre-season games.

"I have been working hard, and maybe I lacked confidence last year. But the new manager gives you a freedom to play, doesn't make you panic on the ball, and lets you do what you want to.

"You have still got to work as hard as you can, but I've got my confidence back, and I'm doing what I know I can do," added the 23-year-old striker, whose last Football League goal before Saturday had came on April 12, 2008 when he grabbed the winner in a 1-0 success against Accrington Stanley while on loan at Notts County.

With his confidence starting to return, Jarvis believes the Orient fans will see a different player to the one that struggled last term.

"Confidence is a massive factor in football, get your confidence back and things will happen for you," he said.

The Fakenham-born hitman also believes that the arrival of veteran strikers Scott McGleish and James Scowcroft will boost his career.

"We have two very experienced strikers in Scotty (Scott McGleish) and Scowie (James Scowcroft) and they have scored loads of goals and Scowie at a higher level," said Jarvis.

"Me and Adrian (Patulea) are both young ones and we will work as hard as we can and work around them.

"It's so good to work with Scotty and Scowie. They are so good in the air with their flick-ons, it gives you the chance to get behind teams."

Despite two successive League One defeats, Jarvis remains optimistic about the season and added: "We have got a very good team, a very good squad.

"Maybe it's not a massive squad, but there is a lot of quality and, fingers crossed, if we can keep players fit, under this manager we will have a very good season.

"There is no need to panic, we just need to get back to the way we know we can play.

"We had a great start at Bristol Rovers and we were confident going into the Oldham game, but for some reason we just didn't play any football.

"Everything was a long ball fight. Oldham made it quite difficult for us and it was a stop-start game, but we gave away two sloppy goals.

"No football was being played. Oldham made it ugly for us and we didn't do anything about it. We let them control the game really, and that's disappointing.