Second half goals from Macauley Bonne and James Brophy saw Orient overturn a 2-1 deficit to win 3-2 against Eastleigh and reclaim top spot in the National League.
Head Coach Justin Edinburgh made two changes to the side who began the 2-2 draw with Halifax Town on Saturday.
Marvin Ekpiteta and Sam Ling returned from suspension and injury respectively, with Charlie Lee and Jay Simpson making way as the O’s reverted to three at the back.
Play-off hopefuls Eastleigh got the game underway on a chilly evening under the lights in E10, kicking from left to right in their all-blue strip.
Goal Fest
Orient almost came unstuck inside three minutes when Jack McKnight’s corner was met by former O’s striker Paul McCallum, whose header was superbly flicked off the line by Brophy at the front post.
However, McCallum wasn’t to be denied with five minutes on the clock. A deep cross from the right found the ex-Orient man, whose looping header evaded Dean Brill and dropped into the far corner which he respectfully opted not to celebrate.
Apprehension was rife amongst the home support, but nerves were eased when Orient levelled the contest with ten minutes played. Ling’s monstrous throw-in was flicked on by Bonne to Josh Koroma who coolly guided the ball home from close-range.
As optimism swirled around the stadium, the O’s were brought back down to earth when McCallum headed Eastleigh in-front once more. A cross from the left picked out McCallum who guided the ball across goal and into the far corner to restore the Spitfires’ lead.
Uphill Battle
It was a frantic opening half an hour of football, but Orient were on the back foot and nerves were beginning to jangle. To make matters worse, it was former employee McCallum who came back to haunt his former employers.
In their search for an equaliser, the O’s went close when Koroma’s dipping free-kick forced visiting goalkeeper Luke Southwood into a smart save down to his right. Then, Alex Lawless received the game’s first booking after bringing down McKnight as he looked to counter.
Although, Lawless went down inconspicuously off the ball following a clash of heads. After receiving treatment, the midfielder was unable to continue so James Dayton was introduced in an enforced change for the O’s.
At the break, the O’s had work to do and would be disappointed to have fallen behind twice inside the opening half an hour. Half-time would give them a chance to re-group before a massive second half that might have huge implications on their title charge.
Tables Turned
Orient got the game restarted and were quick to net an equaliser on 56 minutes. A swift counter attack saw Joe Widdowson pick the ball up on the left, his low cross found Bonne who controlled before releasing a shot on the turn which nestled into the bottom corner.
On the hour mark, Orient succeeded in turning the tie on its head. Dayton’s reverse ball slipped nicely into the path of Ling, who put the ball on a plate for Brophy to tuck home from close-range sending the O’s faithful into raptures.
Against the run of play, Eastleigh could have levelled the tie once again. A cross from the right ran all the way to Michael Green on the left edge of the box, whose first time effort whistled narrowly wide of Brill’s near post.
Superbly, a combination of Bonne and Koroma kept the ball in the corner while the defence resisted Eastleigh’s final attempts to snatch a point. The referee’s whistle sparked joyous scenes amongst players, staff and supporters as the O’s title charge got back on track.
Match Stats
ORIENT: Brill, Ling (Harrold 80’), Widdowson, Lawless (Dayton 40’), Coulson (C), Clay, Bonne, Happe, Brophy, Koroma, Ekpiteta.
SUBS: Sargeant, Maguire-Drew, Simpson.
BOOKED: Lawless (36’)
GOALS: Koroma (10’), Bonne (56’), Brophy (60’)
EASTLEIGH: Southwood, Hare, Green, Hobson, McKnight (Gobern 72’), McCallum, Boyce (C), Miley (Yeates 82’), Williamson (Zebroski 82’), Jones, Matthews.
SUBS: Flitney, Dennett.
BOOKED: McKnight (67’), Zebroski (86’), Jones (90+1)
GOALS: McCallum (5’, 21’)
REFEREE: Christopher Pollard
ATTENDANCE: 5203 (159 away)
