Bradford City 1 - 2 Leyton Orient
FA Cup sponsored by E.ON Round Two

ORIENT won a place in the third round of the FA Cup for the first time in three years with a hard fought victory at League Two Bradford City on Saturday.

The O's looked set for a comfortable passage through to Sunday's draw when Jason Demetriou's super 14th minute strike gave them a deserved lead for a dominant first half performance.

Bradford upped the heat at the start of the second period, and as sloppiness crept into Orient's play, the hosts took advantage by levelling through Michael Boulding.

But Orient found their feet again and Danny Granville's first goal for the club re-established the lead and ensured a perfect end to a fantastic November.

Orient started strongly and Dean Morgan, back in the starting line-up in place of the suspended Sam Parkin, forced a decent save from Rhys Evans with a well-struck free kick in the sixth minute.

Adam Boyd was linking play between midfield and attack well in the early stages and played an integral role in the opening goal on 14 minutes. His touch made space for Demetriou to drift infield and Boyd found the midfielder, who looked up and curled a brilliant effort beyond Evans and into the top corner.

Orient were on top, but Bradford had a chance to break on 23 when an O's free-kick was cleared.  Steve Jones was in space down the right and he ran towards goal before drilling a cross-shot wide of the far post.

At the other end, Morgan's pace proved too much for right back Thomas Moncur in the 33rd minute.  The O's forward breezed past the Bradford man and worked space for a right footed shot from a tight angle that whistled inches wide of the far post.

Orient were so nearly undone by a bolt from the blue four minutes later when Boulding unleashed a bouncing right footed shot from 25 yards that beat Glenn Morris and rebounded off the post.

It sparked a decent spell from the home side as Orient looked unsteady for the first time all afternoon, but they soon settled and reached the break with a deserved lead.

Bradford were first out of the traps after the break and began to pressurise the O's defence. Left winger Kyle Nix drew a save from Morris 11 minutes after the restart with a 20-yard shot that bounced awkwardly in front of the away stopper.

The pattern of the game had changed and the Bantams were rewarded with a 58th minute leveller when Boulding got on the wrong side of Alton Thelwell to race onto a long ball out of defence and coolly prod beyond Morris.  It was the first time the O's goal had been breached in 575 minutes of football.

Orient's passing was nowhere near as crisp as in the first half and Bradford took advantage by taking a stranglehold on possession and attacking the visitors at pace.

But Orient so nearly took the lead again on 64 when Sean Thornton fired into the side netting after collecting a Stephen Purches cross.

A minute later the O's were back in front when former O's loanee Evans slipped as Morgan delivered a right wing corner, allowing Granville's header to find the roof of the net.

Adam Chambers' drive was deflected a foot over the bar eight minutes later as Orient looked to kill the tie off.

JJ Melligan had the chance to seal it 13 minutes from time when Orient broke well with Boyd backheeling into the Irishman's path.  Melligan was through on goal, but Evans stood up well to block the shot.

There was a nervy moment for the O's on 85 when Moncur's looping effort from 35 yards forced Morris to backpedal and push the ball out from under his crossbar.

Peter Thorne nodded well wide as the clock ticked over 90, but Orient held out to secure their place in round three.

Bradford: Evans; Moncur, Lee, M Clarke, O'Brien; Jones, T Clarke, Law, Nix (Osborne 81); Conlon (Thorne 31), M Boulding
Subs: Arnison, Bower, McLaughlin (GK), Ainge, R Boulding

Goal: Boulding 58

Booked: T Clarke, Jones

Leyton Orient: Morris; Purches, Thelwell, Spence, Granville; Melligan, Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou; Morgan (Dawkins 84), Boyd (Jarvis 78)
Subs: Jones (GK), Cave-Brown, Terry, Palmer, Pires

Goals: Demetriou 14, Granville 65

Booked: Granville, Chambers

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Attendance: 5,065 (407 away)