Grays Athletic 2 - 3 Leyton Orient
Pre-Season Friendly

ORIENT produced their best pre-season performance so far to overturn a two-goal half time deficit at Grays Athletic on Wednesday evening.

Martin Ling's men passed the ball better and looked more incisive as an attacking force at the New Recreation Ground, but they still produced some shaky moments at the back and would have been disappointed with the two goals they conceded.

Grays' 2-0 interval lead was a touch unreflective of the first half's proceedings as Orient began to click for the first time this summer.

With 11 minutes on the clock, Lee Steele and Donny Barnard exchanged passes sharply before the former prodded wide from 15 yards.

12 minutes later strike partner Jabo Ibehre received the ball from Matt Lockwood and turned his man but could not beat home stopper Nicky Eyre from the edge of the box.

Grays had barely threatened, but following a lengthy stoppage while captain Stuart Thurgood received treatment for an ankle injury, Orient's back line switched off with Aaron McLean collecting Lee Boylan's flick and taking all the time he needed to pick his spot.

More inattentive marking allowed former O's striker McLean to break free again in stoppage time and after his low cross wasn't dealt with, Boylan stepped up to smash home from close range.

Shane Tudor was one of six players introduced at the break, and he gave Orient's forward play a pacier dimension.

The flying winger didn't take long to make his mark, crossing for Daryl McMahon to nod home 11 minutes after the break.

The goal gave Orient a welcome lift and they drew level 18 minutes from the end when Gary Alexander held the ball on the halfway line before releasing Tudor down the right.

He looked up and found Paul Connor at the far post, who headed emphatically past Ashley Bayes from six yards.

The O's weren't finished yet and five minutes later Alexander thumped home a left footed shot from 20 yards to seal the Londoners' first pre-season win.

ORIENT: Glenn Morris; Adam Tann (Jason Demetriou 73), John Mackie (Justin Miller 46), Brian Saah, Matt Lockwood (Aiden Palmer 46); Wayne Corden (Shane Tudor 46), Donny Barnard (Craig Easton 46), Michael Simpson (Derek Duncan 73), Joe Keith (Daryl McMahon 46); Lee Steele (Paul Connor 63), Jabo Ibehre (Gary Alexander 46)