Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur XI
Pre-Season Friendly
ORIENT were pegged back by a young Tottenham Hotspur XI as they let a two goal lead slip at Brisbane Road on Wednesday evening.
In their only home pre-season friendly, Orient dominated the opening period and were well worth the two goal lead given to them by Ben Chorley and Scott McGleish.
Indeed, their advantage could have been even greater as Alex Revell, Terrell Forbes and Stephen Dawson all hit the woodwork.
But Spurs responded strongly after the interval, and goals from Ryan Mason and Jonathan Obika ensured the game would finish level.
The visitors began well and looked composed in possession, with Mason firing an early warning shot by firing wide from 25 yards.
Former O's loanee Andros Townsend then shot into Jamie Jones' arms, but Orient soon began to take control and Alex Revell drew a fine save from David Button with his fierce effort from 15 yards following Adam Chambetrs' cut back.
The resulting corner caused havoc in the Spurs box, and after Adam Smith handled Scott McGleish's shot on the line, Orient had the chance to open the scoring from the spot.
Chorley made no mistake from 12 yards, placing his penalty low beyond Button's dive and into the bottom right corner.
Orient were soon 2-0 up, doubling their advantage on 20 minutes when McGleish found himself all alone from Matthew Spring's clipped pass through to dink over Button.
The hosts were playing some great football to carve the young Spurs backline open time after time and Revell so nearly made it three on 27 when he met Dean Cox's cross with a looping header that rebounded off the post.
Three minutes later Spring's free kick was nodded back across goal by Revell and McGleish knocked over on the stretch.
And then, on 36, Orient clattered the visitors' woodwork again when Forbes headed a Cox dead ball against the upright after finding space at the back post.
Orient were well worth their interval lead, although the away side nearly reduced the arrears immediately upon the restart when Jones diverted Obika's goalbound shot over the crossbar with his foot.
The hosts were soon back at the other end and they struck the post for the third time on 52. Again Revell was the unlucky man, seeing his 12 yard effort thud against the frame of the goal after Elliot Omozusi did well to get in down the right hand side.
But Spurs gradually grew into the game and gave themselves a lifeline 10 minutes into the second half when Obika showed good skill to beat Mike Cestor on the byline and cut back for Mason to finish from six yards.
Obika then went close himself, flashing a shot inches past Jones' post from 25 yards, and the chances were beginning to flow for the Premier League youngsters.
Harry Kane was next to shave the post with a low curler and Spurs grabbed the leveller they'd been threatening with 13 minutes left.
Their most impressive player on the night, Mason, was once again involved, spreading play to the right hand side for Nathan Byrne to cross and Obika to flick a header home.
There was still time for Orient to strike the woodwork for a fourth time, when Dawson's cross was touched onto the top of the bar by sub keeper Oscar Jansson, and although Spurs will feel they deserved a draw for their strong second half riposte, Orient should have had the game done and dusted well before then.
Leyton Orient: Jones (Butcher 62); Omozusi, Chorley (Tozer 46), Forbes (Brown 62), Cestor (Eagle 59); Spring, Chambers (Smith 46), Dawson, Cox; McGleish (Téhoué 46), Revell (Jarvis 62)
Subs: Patulea, Argent
Goals: Chorley pen 16, McGleish 20
Tottenham XI: Button (Jansson 46); Smith (Nicholson 90), Butcher, Byrne, Rose (Durojaiye 46); Mason, Dawkins; Fredericks (Kane 57), Taarabt (Parrett 46), Townsend (M'Poku Ebunge 46); Obika
Subs: Blackwood, Oyenug
Goals: Mason 55, Obika 77
Referee: Mick Russell
Attendance: 3,198
