AFC Bournemouth 2 - 3 Leyton Orient
FA Youth Cup Round Two
ORIENT'S youth team progressed to the third round of the FA Youth Cup after an entertaining encounter at AFC Bournemouth.
Efe Echanomi hit a double for the O's, and schoolboy substitute Raphael Sylvester netted the vital third five minutes from time to secure Orient's passage.
In an action-packed first-half, both sides looked capable of scoring each time they attacked.
Orient's high defensive line caused them problems in dealing with Bournemouth's long balls over the top, whilst the home back line struggled to deal with the pace and trickery of the O's strikers and wingers, who linked up effectively and skilfully.
After only 90 seconds Bournemouth took the lead though when striker Brett Pitman capitalised on a lack of communication between Daniel Glozier and Clark Johnson to slot the ball home from six yards after the defender and goalkeeper collided inside the penalty area.
And on five it should have been two when Ryan Moss saw a shot saved by Johnson, and the follow-up was smashed against a post from close range by James Coutts.
Orient made their hosts pay two minutes later when Echanomi grabbed his first goal of the night from 25 yards.
A ball from the right found the fit-again striker in space and despite slipping as he shot, Echanomi's weak effort squirmed under Bournemouth goalkeeper Andrew Smallpiece and rolled across the line.
After 14 minutes Orient were ahead when Aidan Palmer played the ball in to the edge of the box where Nuno Gourgel's clever dummy allowed Echanomi the chance to turn away from his man and curl a neat finish just inside the left-hand post.
The O's, under the supervision of Youth Development Officer Gary Karsa, should have extended their lead in the 25th minute when Echanomi was fouled by Jon Sutton in the box but Glozier - who went off injured shortly afterwards - blasted his spot-kick wide.
Palmer proved to be a useful tool in defence as well as attack for Orient as he first headed a Jon Sutton header off the line after a dangerous corner and then produced a goal-saving challenge on Pitman after the striker had raced clear and rounded Johnson, looking set to roll the ball in to an unguarded net.
The hard work Palmer put in for that tackle was undone from the resulting Sean Hogan corner though as the ball found its way through to Jamie Whisken, who drilled home.
The second-half began in less dramatic circumstances and on the hour mark Orient restructured with the tiring Echanomi replaced by schoolboy Alan Matthews.
Matthews slipped in at right-back allowing Jason Demetriou to push forward and Scott Wallis move to a central striking role.
And the match looked to be drifting towards extra time until the 85t minute when the referee generously awarded Orient a free-kick 20 yards out for a holding by Whiffin on Sylvester.
Derek Duncan's delivery was fumbled by Smallpiece and Sylvester, on the field for only three minutes, slotted the ball home to give the O's the lead at a vital time.
Johnson, who had looked solid in goal all night after his early mistake, made a late save from Jack Cannon a minute from time to ensure it was Orient's night.
Orient: Clark Johnson; Jason Demetriou, Joe O'Cearuill, Daniel Glozier, Aidan Palmer; Scott Wallis, Brian Saah, Tom Ziepe, Derek Duncan; Efe Echanomi, Nuno Gourgel.
Subs: Bryan Glover for Glozier (31), Alan Matthews for Echanomi (60), Raphael Sylvester for Gourgel (82).
Not used: Easton Davis, Shane Oakley.
Booked: Duncan, Ziepe.
Bournemouth: Andrew Smallpiece; Jack Cannon, Jamie Whisken, Jon Sutton, Ben Krauss; Sean Hogan, James Rowe, James Coutts, James Burden; Ryan Moss, Brett Pitman.
Subs: Curtis Allen for Krauss (87).
Not used: Nick Jones, David King, Michael Hubbard, Nathan Geary.
Booked: Moss, Krauss.
Ref: B Knight.
Att: 399.
