Bristol Street Motors Trophy (Southern Group E)
LEYTON ORIENT 1 PORTSMOUTH 2
JOHN CHUBB at Brisbane Road
@JohnCphoenixfm
Leyton Orient bowed out of the EFL Trophy this evening, after League One rivals Portsmouth beat them by the odd goal.
O’s head coach Richie Wellens named a strong squad for the match, because although only four of those who began Saturday’s 3-1 win over Carlisle United in the FA Cup First Round were in his starting line-up, a further eight involved in Saturday’s squad were named in tonight’s party.
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho saw his side defeated for the first time this season on Sunday as they fell victims to an FA Cup shock, losing 1-0 away to National League leaders Chesterfield – managed by ex-Pompey boss Paul Cook – and named a similarly experienced squad of his own.
With seven minutes gone Orient’s Theo Archibald had the first real chance of the game, venturing into the opposition area and firing a shot that went through the legs of Portsmouth’s Denver Hume, but was then blocked.
In the 19th minute O’s forward Aaron Drinan laid on an excellent ball for Archibald, but as he approached goal he was brought down on 23rd edge of the penalty box by Pompey captain Sean Raggett, who was then shown a straight red card by referee Stephen Parkinson – the correct decision with the home side’s winger having been the ‘last man’.
George Moncur was on target with the resulting free-kick, but visiting goalkeeper Ryan Schofield saved well.
The O’s were clearly buoyed by the man advantage and continued to press the opposition, with Moncur narrowly firing wide to the right of Schofield as the game reached the half-hour mark.
Portsmouth came close to opening the scoring a few minutes afterwards with their first real goalscoring chance of the match, when Gavin Whyte displayed excellent skill to set up Christian Saydee.
But the striker struck the ball way over the bar from only seven or eight yards out, despite having a virtually open goal in front of him.
With less than two minutes of the first half left though, Saydee atoned for his error as he fired the ball past Orient keeper Sam Howes to put the Hampshire side in front.
O’s had a shout for a penalty as time added on apprached, with captain Darren Pratley appearing to be fouled in the penalty box, but the home protests were waved away by referee Parkinson and Portsmouth went in 1-0 up at the break.
Orient boss Wellens made two changes for the second half, Joe Pigott replacing Archibald to face one of his former clubs and Ethan Galbraith coming on in place of Ed Turns.
And after only a few minutes the hosts had a great chance to level the scores, Drinan setting up Ruel Sotiriou whose close range effort bounced off the post to the right of Schofield.
But with the hour mark approaching, the East Londoners were back in it.
Substitute Pigott received the ball with his back to goal, turned cleverly and shot the ball past Schofield into the net to make it 1-1.
And just after the game entered the final 20 minutes O’s came close to snatching the lead, home captain Pratley teeing the ball up for Charlie Pegrum who had come on as a substitute a few minutes previously, and narrowly missed.
But in the 74th minute Abu Kamara caught the home side napping, using his pace to advance on the goalmouth before firing past Howes to put Pompey back in front.
Orient nearly levelled again in the 79th minute, Drinan’s header from close range forcing a superb stop from Schofield who tipped the ball over the bar.
But the E10 men couldn’t find a way back, so Portsmouth won the game to progress to the final 32 and ensured Orient’s interest in this competition is over for this season.
LEYTON ORIENT (Head Coach: Richie Wellens): Sam Howes, Tom James, Jayden Sweeney, Ed Turns (Ethan Galbraith 46) Jordan Brown (Dan Happe 69), Ruel Sotiriou (Charlie Pegrum 69), Theo Archibald (Joe Pigott 46), George Moncur, Aaron Drinan, Darren Pratley(c), Omar Beckles.
PORTSMOUTH (Manager: John Mousinho): Ryan Schofield, Zak Swanson, Ryley Towler, Gavin Whyte (Terry Devlin 64), Ben Stevenson, Christian Saydee (Joe Rafferty 85), Kusini Yengi, Sean Raggett (c), Denver Hume, Abu Kamara (Sam Folarin 85), Harry Jewitt-White (Conor Shaugnessy 73).
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Attendance: 2371 (including 1065 from Portsmouth)
