Bristol Street Motors Trophy Southern Group E
LEYTON ORIENT 1 COLCHESTER UNITED 1 (Leyton Orient won 4-2 on penalties)
JOHN CHUBB at the Gaughan Group Stadium
@JohnCphoenixfm
Leyton Orient took an extra group point by winning the penalty shootout at the conclusion of a lively contest at Brisbane Road on Tuesday night, after the Sky Bet League One outfit had fought out a 1-1 draw with their League Two opponents Colchester United.
The East London club had lost their first match of the season in the competition at the hands of an under-21 side from Premier League giants Arsenal, whilst Danny Cowley’s Colchester had won their opening Southern Group E fixture at home to Milton Keynes Dons.
And it was the U’s who had the first shot on goal with ten minutes played, when Harry Anderson unleashed a powerful strike but a superb block from Orient defender Jayden Sweeney prevented any chance of Danny Cowley’s side opening their account at that point.
The Os’ first decent effort came in the 21st minute, when an inswinger from the left from midfield man Diallang Jaivesimi sailed wide of the far post.
And six minutes later, Richie Wellens’ men almost broke the deadlock when a Jack Simpson cross found Sweeney, who set up Sonny Perkins but a superb close range save from U’s goalkeeper Tom Smith, and another stop from Os captain Darren Pratley prevented the hosts from going in front.
But just before the half-hour mark, Orient opened the scoring when Zech Obiero crashed the ball into the net, after Smith had kept out his initial effort and once again it was the impressive Sweeney who set up the opportunity.
In the 37th minute, the East Londoners almost doubled their lead when a thunderous strike from Jordan Graham bounced off the post to Smith’s right.
With just over a minute of the first half to go, there were appeals from Colchester for a penalty when Samson Tovide went to the floor well inside the area whilst advancing down on goal, but referee Abigail Byrne waved play on, and the home side went in with their lead intact at the interval.
After the break, with nearly 49 minutes played Colchester had the first chance of the second period, after the pacy Tovide had charged towards goal and the U’s had won a corner, but after the ball fell to Mandela Egbo just outside the area his shot sailed well over the bar.
As the match approached the hour mark, Graham should have made it 2-0 to the home side but with an open goal in front of him, the former Aston Villa and Wolves midfielder blasted his effort wide to the right.
After both sides had made changes, Colchester grabbed an equaliser in the 79th minute.
A powerful Jack Payne free kick thundered against the crossbar and came out to Ben Goodliffe, who nodded the ball into the net to make it 1-1.
With seven minutes remaining, the Os lost the services of Brandon Cooper, who was on the receiving end of a crude and quite unnecessary challenge by Tovide, who barged him into the advertising hoardings and was perhaps fortunate to receive only a yellow card from referee Byrne, becoming one of five United players booked during the match.
Many of the home supporters were audibly unhappy that the visiting number nine wasn’t shown a red card instead, and fortunately Cooper was able to climb onto his feet and leave the field after receiving what looked like a nasty head injury, which resulted in Omar Beckles – one of several senior first team regulars who had dropped to the bench for this match – replacing him.
The home side, who had the edge over the 90 minutes in terms of possession and efforts on goal were trying to find a way back in, and late substitute Ollie O’Neill had an effort on goal with just over four minutes remaining, but his shot was just wide.
With seven minutes of added time Orient were pushing to try and win the match, second half Orient substitutes Dan Agyei and Charlie Kelman both having efforts blocked by the Essex side and so it finished 1-1, which meant the match would be decided on penalties.
Agyei, O’Neill and Simpson all netted spot kicks for Orient, as did Payne and Anthony Scully for Colchester, but the third U’s penalty – taken by Arthur Read – was saved by home keeper Zach Hemming.
Jordan Brown then had the hosts’ next kick saved by Smith, before Tovide’s effort for the opposition sailed way over the bar – much to the delight of the Os supporters who were still fuming about his foul on Cooper.
Up stepped Kelman, and the on-loan Queens Park Rangers striker made no mistake as his effort sailed past Smith into the net to give Orient two group points to Colchester’s one on the night.
LEYTON ORIENT (Head Coach: Richie Wellens) – Zach Hemming, Jayden Sweeney, Jack Simpson, Brandon Cooper (Omar Beckles 83), Jordan Graham (Ollie O’Neill 74), Dom Ball, Lewis Warrington, Darren Pratley © (Jordan Brown 66), Sonny Perkins (Charlie Kelman 74), Diallang Jaivesimi (Dan Agyei 75), Zech Obiero.
COLCHESTER UNITED (Manager: Danny Cowley) – Tom Smith, Ben Goodliffe, Harry Anderson (Fiacre Kelleher 63), Samson Tovide, Jack Payne, John-Kymani Gordon, Tom Hopper ©, Anthony Scully, Mandela Egbo, Rob Hunt, Alex Woodyard (Arthur Read 63).
Referee: Abigail Byrne
Attendance: 1483
