Southend United 1 - 2 Leyton Orient
Coca-Cola League One

ADAM BOYD struck a late debut goal to give Orient the perfect start to the season at Southend United on Saturday.

The O's had to battle back from conceding to Mark Gower in the 24th minute, but led by the outstanding Sean Thornton, Martin Ling's men recovered to claim bragging rights over their local rivals.

Thornton hit a superb free-kick to level, and following Alan McCormack's second half dismissal, Boyd was in the right place at the right time to give Orient victory with just four minutes left to play.

Orient fashioned the first chance with three minutes on the clock, JJ Melligan making a good run to the far post to meet Thornton's free-kick with a shot that home stopper Darryl Flahavan saved from a tight angle.

The O's were looking composed in possession during the early stages and were doing a decent job of restricting the effectiveness of Southend's McCormack and Kevin Maher in the middle of the mark.

But Shimpers wingmen Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Mark Gower swopped flanks and the former forced Stuart Nelson into a save on 20 minutes when he sent a measured low effort in with his right foot from the left hand corner of the penalty box.

Four minutes later Campbell-Ryce was back on the right and, on a quick break, he fed Alan McCormack to send in a cross for Gower to stretch and convert at the far post.

The two home centre halves - Adam Barrett and Peter Clarke - were looking extremely dominant in the air and Orient found little joy going forward in the first 30 minutes.

But a foul by Maher on Thornton after 38 minutes gave the former Doncaster man the opportunity to draw the O's level.

Thornton picked his spot from 25 yards and curled a delightful free-kick past Flahavan's despairing dive to bag a memorable debut goal.

On the stroke of half time, former O's loanee Gary Hooper looked set to restore the hosts' lead, but Tamika Mkandawire produced a fantastic last ditch sliding tackle to deny the striker as he bore down on Nelson.

Gower and Melligan both had shots fielded by their opposing goalkeepers at the start of the second half, but the first serious action of the period wasn't until the 57th minute when the home side were reduced to ten men.

Former O's loan man McCormack was the man to go, picking up a second booking for a late foul on Thornton - one of several times the O's midfielder was picked out for rough treatment from the Shrimpers midfield duo.

Wayne Gray missed a decent chance to give the O's the lead seven minutes later when he shot tamely at Flahavan after being fed well inside the box by Aiden Palmer.

Adam Chambers then saw a shot deflect just wide off Boyd as the O's increased the pressure.

But it was Southend who almost landed a hammer blow on 79 when, following some confusion in the area and a poor punch from Nelson, Jason Demetriou had to stretch to clear Clarke's header off the line.

Orient looked the more likely scorers though, and the second arrived with just four minutes to play.

Sub Efe Echanomi played a key role in the goal, collecting possession from Demetriou and driving at the defence before unleashing a shot that Boyd converted at the far post.

Five minutes of stoppage time were signalled and Orient played them out professionally to ensure their season got off to the perfect start.

Southend: Flahavan; Gilbert, Clarke, Barrett, Wilson; Campbell-Ryce, Maher (c), McCormack, Gower (Black 84); Harrold (MacDonald 89), Hooper (Bailey 61)
Subs: Collis (GK), Richards

Goal: Gower (24)

Booked: Maher, McCormack

Sent off: McCormack

Orient: Nelson; Purches (c), Mkandawire, Saah, Palmer; Melligan (Demetriou 77), Chambers, Thornton, Corden (Daniels 67); Gray (Echanomi 84), Boyd
Subs: Morris (GK), Terry

Goals: Thornton (38), Boyd (86)

Booked: Corden

Referee: Barry Knight

Attendance: 9,821 (2,095 away)