Gillingham 1 - 1 Leyton Orient
Puma Youth Alliance South East Conference

ORIENT'S youth team warmed up for their FA Youth Cup second round tie at Wycombe Wanderers by drawing 1-1 at Gillingham on Saturday.

Youth team manager Kevin Nugent rested many of his scholars ahead of the cup game, but the under-16s who came into the side did him proud with a battling performance.

Gillingham took the lead, but Orient kept plugging away and they were rewarded late on when Harry Beautyman found a leveller.

Nugent said: "There were six under-16s in the starting line-up and they all came out of the game with a lot of credit.

"It was a real test for them and they showed real character to come back from a goal down against a tough Gillingham side.

"The point was well deserved for a good performance."

The O's came into the game having won their two previous fixtures, but it looked for a while as if their good run was coming to an end when Adam Burchell netted from close range.

But the visitors' heads didn't drop and Beautyman ensured a share of the spoils when he converted sub Harry Baker's cross ten minutes from time.

Orient: Daniel Bygrave; Brandon Martin, Steven O'Hara, George Artemi, Ryan Nelson; Christian Bulembi, Callum Compton, Harry Beautyman, Ope Aramona; Jake Argent (Harry Baker 70), Falola Fahinty (Adam Marsh 75)