ORIENT'S Youth Team lost for the first time this season on Saturday as they were defeated 3-0 at Brighton.

Coach Alex Inglethorpe had only 12 players to pick from with Derek Duncan joining regular first-team squad members Gabriel Zakuani and Brian Saah on the trip to Grimsby and Scott Wallis and Shane Oakley still sidelined through medical problems.

But the young O's held their own for the first hour before the Seagulls took the lead, and a long-range strike and last-minute penalty sealed the points for the hosts.

"It was a tight game for a long while and neither goalkeeper had much to do, Inglethorpe said.

"Efe Echanomi had a one-on-one chance at 0-0 but his touch was a bit loose and then he hit the bar after we'd gone a goal behind so that was a shame.

"We pressed for an equaliser and committed more men forward but it didn't work out for us on the day.

"On the plus side Aidan Palmer had another good game at left-back and that was the best I've seen Tommy Laxton play since I took over.

"It's only our second defeat in 13 matches and whilst doing well in the league is all well and good, we're after performances and individual development.

"The two go hand in hand, if you play well you get the results and vice versa and we didn't perform to the level we have been doing.

"But you learn more about yourselves in defeat and it sharpens the mind. We have to work at ball retention in key areas and decision making which will come with experience for the boys.

"It's not easy with only 12 players but you want the boys to get through to the first team because there's no point having a youth system if they don't progress.

"Overall I'm pleased with how everything's going - in the same way that one win doesn't make you a great side, one defeat certainly doesn't make you a bad one."

Orient: Paul Jones; Greg Tiffin, Joe O'Cearuill, Daniel Glozier, Aidan Palmer, Jason Demetriou, Tom Ziepe, Tommy Laxton, Prince Toku; Efe Echanomi, Nuno Gourgel.
Subs: Bryan Glover for Gourgel (75).