Leyton Orient 2 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Pontin's Holidays Combination Central Division

ORIENT'S reserves ended their season in style by beating Brighton & Hove Albion at Brisbane Road on Tuesday.

Strikers Efe Echanomi and Bradley Gray scored the goals for the hosts, who were made to sweat late on when Joe Gatting pulled one back.

But they held out against their wasteful visitors to secure the points which guarantee a fifth-place Combination finish.

The home side created the first opportunity of the afternoon on seven minutes when Bradley Gray got in down the left and sent over a low cross, which Solomon Shields diverted wide from in front of goals.

Seven minutes later, it was Gatting's turn to go close when he fired over the bar following a ball into the box from Paul Reid.

Orient punished the visitors for that miss within a minute when Shields' fine reverse ball found Echanomi, who finished past an advancing John Sullivan.

Brighton continued to enjoy the majority of the play, but Orient looked good on the ball and Shields cracked a shot onto the base of the upright from the edge of the area on 35 minutes.

At the other end, Jonny Dixon shot wide of the far post after intercepting a poor throw from triallist goalkeeper Joe Woolley.

Nine minutes after the interval, Orient extended their lead when Gray received possession with his back to goal, turned and curled a fine effort into the far corner.

Brighton created a number of chances to get back into the game, but it wasn't until the 72nd minute that they got on the scoresheet, Gatting smashing a super long-range shot into the top corner.

Woolley did well to save from Dixon late on as the Seagulls pressed for a leveller, but Orient had done enough to claim victory.

Orient: Joe Woolley; Patrick O'Donnell, Frankie Webb, Clayton Fortune, Aiden Palmer; Sam Tucknott (Harry Baker 72), Solomon Shields, Daryl Sydes (Harry Beautyman 66), Loick Pires; Bradley Gray (Raphael Sylvester 61), Efe Echanomi
Subs: (not used) Adam Marsh, Adam Bolle