A late header from January signing Jamie Turley helped the O's see off a battling Blyth Spartans side, with the National League side progressing to the last eight of the FA Trophy.
Leyton Orient 1 - 0 Blyth Spartans
Leyton Orient Starting XI: Brill, Lawless, Maguire-Drew (Ling 90), Judd, Happe, Brophy, Gorman, Harrold, Turley, Alabi (Sotiriou 74), Sweeney (Ogie 51) SUBS: Sargeant, Shabani
Blyth Spartans Starting XI: Jameson, Nicholson, Liddle, Green, Buddle, Laing, Watson, Oliver, Maguire, Reid, Dale SUBS: Fewster, Mullen, Wrightson, Horner, Holmes
Match Summary
A relatively quiet start to the match here in east London, on the second minute the O's pushed forward well and Maguire-Drew's effort was tipped round by the travelling goalkeeper. Ten minutes on the clock and Alabi scuffed a shot in front of goal, it was great play by youngster Jayden Sweeney who finds Orient's no.27 with a great ball but failed to connect fully.
Then, soon after, the live stream went down but luckily for them they weren't missing much. 15 minutes later, a through ball to Maguire-Drew who's shot was well blocked by the keeper, a roar from the travelling Spartan Army behind the goal followed. Maguire-Drew was on the scene again minutes later, as he cut in fantastically but the ball slightly spills to a tighter angle but still forces a shot saved by the keeper.
A fantastic opportunity for James Alabi goes begging, once again, as a cross comes in and misses a header from inside the six-yard box, with the west stand growing inpatient. Two minutes later Lawless played an exceptional ball into the path of the chuckle brothers upfront, from five yards out Alabi and Harrold failed to take control.
Just before the break, from a Blyth corner, the O's won possession and countered, Brophy passed to Maguire-Drew but was forced out the danger zone. Judd later crossed it back in and a deflection almost saw a Blyth defender score an own goal if it wasn't for the goalkeeper being in fine form.
Five minutes after the restart James Alabi showed his strength, tussling a number of Blyth players off the ball and winning a corner. From this set-piece, Dan Happe's header whizzed past the face of goal. On the hour mark the visitors shock the O's with a great attempt, a powerful strike from the edge of the box which looked like it was going in but Brill was there with the stop.
As time was running out it looked like the O's would be heading up to the deep north on a Tuesday night. However, Dale Gorman lined up a free-kick which floated straight to Turley, who had been fantastic all second half as Blyth applied pressure, headed home his first goal for the club. Blyth almost levelled but after a goal-mouth scramble Brill blocked the ball off the line then the second attempt tipped onto the post and was cleared by Turley.
The final whistle blew and Leyton Orient progressed to the next round.
My Thoughts
A quiet affair at Brisbane Road, thankfully we got through and didn't have to travel for a replay. However, fair play to Blyth, they were unlucky and some might say deserved the replay.
However, I feel as if we disrespected them today, with the team selection and attendance. Brill and defensive partnership Happe and Turley were very solid today and could be a great potential partnership in the making.
I love that Happe's getting his shot and I hope that Justin Edinburgh keeps him in, he's one of your own at the end of the day. Turley coming in is just what we needed, in my opinion. He brings a new sense of reassurance at the back.
I think we could go on and do well in this. However, for me, its about getting those long, unpredictable, unordinary days out such as Spennymoor for example. What an away day that could be, plus if we played a strong team and won - we'd be in the last four! We are three games from Wembley - lets make it count Orient. It's not everyday this club wins something and this is a great way to do so.
I was talking to someone on Twitter the other day who compared the Checkatrade Trophy to the FA Trophy, I personally strongly disagree with this.
The Trophy offers a chance for an 8th tier local regional league club to face off with ex-football league clubs and heavyweights of non-league football like trips to Wrexham, us and Chesterfield.
The Checkatrade gives a chance for U23 teams to play away to League 1/2 clubs in empty stadiums of hundreds to 1/2,000 fans gaining no revenue or attraction whatsoever. Where's the 'Roy of the Rovers' Cup adventure in that!
I do feel we can get to Wembley but not with Harrold and Alabi upfront. For me, Harrold doesn't bring anything to the team apart from his build as a footballer, whilst Alabi brings strength and work rate which is useful coming on as a sub but not as a starter up top.
I feel the youngsters all had a great game, Sweeney has come on leaps and bounds since his first game, Ogie looked good in pre-season and hopefully gets better as he goes on and Ruel looks very sharp.
Player Ratings
Brill 7
Judd 6
Turley 8
Happe 7
Brophy 6
Lawless 7
Sweeney 7 (Ogie 6)
Gorman 7
Harrold 6
Alabi 6 (Sotiriou 6),
Maguire Drew 7 (Ling 6)
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