ORIENT'S youth team maintained their position as early pacesetters in the Youth Alliance South East Conference after a 3-1 victory against Southend on Saturday.

The young O's returned from Essex as comprehensive victors to make it two wins and a draw from their opening three games of the season.

Defender Daniel Glozier (pictured) kept up his record of scoring in every game this season as his low fifth minute free-kick from 20 yards beat the home goalkeeper.

In the 68th minute Efe Echanomi doubled the lead by smashing home from the edge of the box and it looked as if the O's would be certain victors but Southend were handed a route back in to the encounter with a cheaply conceded goal from Joe Ilett shortly afterwards.

And an equaliser looked on the cards when Southend were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box but Paul Jones, who saved a spot-kick in a pre-season match with Braintree, repeated the trick diving low to his left to deny Ben Price and preserve the O's lead.

Shortly afterwards, five minutes from time, another break from Orient ended with an Efe Echanomi shot being parried in to the path of Jason Demetriou, whose finish sealed the points.

"We started well and it was a boost to take an early lead, youth team manager Alex Inglethorpe said.

"The first half was tight and we had plenty of corners and pressure but were only able to manage one goal.

"We lost our concentration a bit and allowed them a soft goal which gave them hope, but Paul did really well to save the penalty and then we made the points safe.

"It's been a good start to the season and I've been pleased with how the squad are performing to stay unbeaten but we need to keep our focus throughout."

Orient: Paul Jones; Greg Tiffin, Joe O'Cearuill, Daniel Glozier, Aidan Palmer; Jason Demetriou, Tommy Laxton, Bryan Glover, Derek Duncan; Prince Toku, Efe Echanomi.
Subs: Scott Wallis for Duncan (65), Nuno Gourgel for Toku (80), Tom Ziepe for Echanomi (85).