Luton Town 2 - 1 Leyton Orient
FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON Round One

ORIENT bowed out of the FA Youth Cup to a late Luton Town goal on Friday night.

An evenly-contested cup tie looked set to go all the way to extra-time, but Luton's Ryan Charles took advantage of a defensive mix-up with just seven minutes left to break O's hearts.

The visitors had cancelled out an earlier Charles goal with a Jack Page header, but Luton proved just too strong and it is the Hatters who progress to the second round.

Goalmouth action was lacking in a very even opening period, and Bradley Gray came as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock with he nodded Loick Pires' cross over the crossbar.

But the game changed at the start of the opening period when Luton grabbed the lead through impressive striker Charles.  Central midfielder Elliott Osborne-Ricketts threaded the ball through and Charles drilled under Michael Doyle.

Orient were level within two minutes, Page making a great run into the box to meet a cross from the left with an unstoppable header.

The O's then enjoyed a good spell, but Luton weathered the storm and they came close to retaking the lead on the hour when another Charles shot went through Doyle's grasp but rebounded off the post.

13 minutes from time Osborne-Ricketts struck the crossbar with a dipping shot from range, and six minutes later the home side secured their place in the second round when Charles pounced on some hesitation from Elliott Babbs and Frankie Webb to drill past Doyle.

The home side just about deserved their victory, but Orient will be disappointed not to have built on their equaliser.

Orient: Michael Doyle; Brandon Martin, Frankie Webb, Elliott Babbs, Matthew Hall; Harry Baker, Jack Page, Solomon Shields, Loick Pires; Bradley Gray (Adam Bolle 86), Adam Marsh (Henry Atu 67)
Subs: (not used) Scott Grange, Harry Beautyman