Orient eased any fears of immediate relegation back to the National League with a resounding 3-0 win against Stevenage on Saturday. Young forward Ruel Sotiriou notched either side of Ouss Cissé’s first goal for the club on what proved to be a relatively comfortable day for the O’s at the Lamex Stadium.
Ross Embleton made just one change from the mid-week defeat to Crewe with Lawrence Vigouroux replacing Sam Sargeant in between the sticks.
This was Vigouroux’s first appearance for the club after making the switch from CD Everton in Chile just under a month ago and he had to be called into action early on as the home side made a lively start. The former Swindon man getting down well to turn Charlie Carter’s effort round the post.
Super Sotiriou
After weathering the initial storm from the home side, the O’s began to grow into the game, and they were ahead in the 19th minute. Sotiriou finding space on the right-hand side of the box and rifling a shot underneath Paul Farman to spark jubilant scenes among the 1300+ fans situated in the away end.
Stevenage responded well to that early setback though and managed to force Vigouroux into a couple of smart saves prior to the break.
It was more of the same following the interval with the Boro forcing the early pressure via a number of set-pieces in dangerous positions. However, the O’s defence remained resolute and efficiently dealt with the barrage of deliveries into their penalty area.
Double Trouble
Just before the hour mark, Orient had their own set-piece in a threatening position, Josh Wright stepped up and swung the ball in from the left-hand side. His effort looked as if it was about to evade everyone and nestle into the bottom corner, until Cissé stepped in and prodded home virtually on the goal-line to make absolutely sure and double his side’s lead.
Managed by experienced campaigner Graham Westley, Stevenage came into this one with just one win in their last 15 league games and it was clear that Cissé’s goal was a hammer blow to their confidence.
Smelling blood, the O’s continued to push forward and the third came just three minutes later. Sotiriou picked the ball up on the right-hand side around 30 yards from goal and drove forwards, eventually unleashing an accurate strike into the bottom corner with his weaker left foot to put the result beyond any doubt.
The Cyprus U21 international is beginning to make a real name for himself in E10 with that effort making it five league goals in just seven appearances this season.
Oh Danny boy
Ten minutes later, Embleton handed a debut to new forward Danny Johnson. The 26 year old, who signed from Dundee in the week, coming on in place of Jordan Maguire-Drew.
With the result put to bed and spurred on by the sold out away end, the visitors began to enjoy themselves out on the difficult Lamex surface. Cissé audaciously backheeling the ball through an unsuspecting Stevenage players legs brought cries of “It’s just like watching Brazil” from the O’s faithful.
Shortly afterwards, a slick passing move involving Johnson, Wright and newly introduced substitute, Lee Angol, almost resulted in the latter bagging what would have been a superbly worked fourth.
However, Orient had to settle for just the three goals in an assured performance which saw them move 12 points clear of the one relegation spot in League Two at the expense of the EFL’s basement side.
Orient: Vigouroux, Marsh, Ekpiteta, Happe, Brophy, Cisse, Wright, Clay (Kyprianou 81”), Maguire-Drew (Johnson 71”), Sotiriou (Angol 78”), Wilkinson
Subs: Sargeant, Widdowson, Coulson, Harrold
Goals: Sotiriou 19”, 62”, Cisse 59”
Bookings: Clay 33”, Brophy 47” Wilkinson 90”
Stevenage: Farman, Vancooten (Leesley 67”), Cuthbert (Jackson 73”), Digby, Nugent, Lakin, Dabo, Carter, Parrett, Cassidy, Parkhouse (Kemp 58”)
Subs: Bastien, Soares, Iontton, Denton
Bookings: Parrett 58”, Cassidy 67”
Referee: Graham Salisbury Attendance: 4.357