Notts County 0 - 1 Leyton Orient
Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Section Round One
ORIENT eased into the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with a 1-0 win at League Two side Notts County on Monday evening.
Efe Echanomi's first competitive goal since breaking his leg nearly two years ago was enough to seal progress for the visitors, who also hit the woodwork on three occasions.
On what was a low-key night in front of a tiny Meadow Lane attendance, Orient did a professional job and the Londoners deserve their place in the second round draw.
Charlie Daniels had the game's first serious effort on goal, curling a low free-kick from 30 yards straight into home stopper Tim Sandercombe's grasp.
Glenn Morris, making his first appearance of the season, was called into action for the first time a minute later, and he simply dealt with a weak daisycutter from Jay Smith.
Paul Mayo earned a corner with a shot that was blocked behind in the 22nd minute, and home skipper Stephen Hunt almost broke the deadlock, rising well to meet Neil MacKenzie's delivery but his forceful header was blocked on the line.
Both sides were struggling to make an attacking impression in an even opening 30 minutes, although Echanomi tried to change things with an ambitious left-footed long range shot in the 26th minute which sailed over the bar.
A moment of controversy followed five minutes later when Sandercome came out of his box to deal with a lofted through ball and went down injured in the process. Both Adam Chambers and Echanomi had shots blocked in the ensuing passage of play and County's goal survived unbreached.
Sean Thornton was the next to go close, making a superb run from midfield seven minutes before the break to collect a through ball from Jason Demetriou. The O's midfielder shifted the ball onto his right foot and beat Sandercombe with his shot, but not the top of the crossbar and the ball bounced to safety.
Sandercombe then plucked a fierce Melligan effort out of the air as the game threatened to burst into life, and Orient's good spell earned its reward two minutes before the interval.
The visitors worked possession well in the left channel for Thornton to feed Demetriou into the by-line, and the O's youngster, playing in an unfamiliar left wingers role, stood up a fine first time cross for Echanomi to power home at the near post.
Eight minutes after the interval, Lawrie Dudfield caught Daniels in possession as he chased a lost cause in the right channel. The former Hull man played over a dangerous low cross, but debutant Sam Oji covered excellently to deny Spencer Weir-Daley on the slide.
County looked to up the tempo and Morris got down well with 57 minutes on the clock to touch Weir-Daley's angled volley behind.
But Orient hit back and came within a whisker of adding a second when more good work from Demetriou saw him beat Gary Silk and work space for a cross. His delivery was inch-perfect and Tamika Mkandawire made a fine connection, but his volley thudded off the crossbar.
The County goal was living a charmed life, and Thornton struck the woodwork for a third time 20 minutes from the end with a 25-yard free kick.
Orient couldn't find the match-sealing second, but it wasn't to matter as the home side rarely looked like forcing an equaliser - except in injury time when Glenn Morris had to deny Matt Somner from point blank range after a set-piece bounced around the O's box.
Notts County: Sandercombe; Silk, Tann, Hunt, McCann; Smith, Somner, MacKenzie (Parkinson 52), Mayo; Weir-Daley (Frost 80), Dudfield (Sam 70)
Subs: Pilkington (GK), Austin
Leyton Orient: Morris; Thelwell, Mkandawire, Oji, Daniels; Melligan (Terry 76), Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou; Boyd, Echanomi
Subs: Nelson (GK), Palmer, Sylvester, Kemp
Goal: Echanomi (43)
Referee: Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire)
Attendance: 900 (89 away)
