Leyton Orient bolstered their lead at the top of the National League with a deserved 3-0 victory at home to Maidstone United. A first-half goal from Jordan Maguire-Drew set Orient on their way, with Macauley Bonne rounding things off with a brace in the second-half.
The O’s kicked off the tie as they returned to The Breyer Group Stadium, following defeat away to Ebbsfleet United last weekend. Maguire-Drew’s through ball was almost perfect for Bonne, the striker looked to control the pass as he ran in behind, but the ball skimmed inches from his boot.
Maidstone came forward themselves as Jake Robinson found space in behind Orient’s back-line. A strong recovery from Jamie Turley denied the forward a shooting opportunity, as both sides were yet to hit the target.
With 11 minutes played, Simon Walton avoided punishment for a strong challenge on Jobi McAnuff much to the disgust of the home faithful. Despite winning the ball, Walton appeared to wipe out McAnuff’s standing leg with his studs off the ground.
Questions Asked
Justin Edinburgh’s side were fortunate not to fall behind as Michael Phillips squandered a golden opportunity. The Stones countered from a corner, with Phillips fluffing his effort after being played one-on-one with Dean Brill.
Josh Koroma lifted the crowd with a delightful run after 20 minutes. Dribbling down the right, Koroma wrong footed George McLennan, before fizzing a tasty ball across the goal mouth which was slightly ahead of the attacking Joe Widdowson.
Bonne’s first effort came moments after the half-hour mark as he connected with Sam Ling’s cross. Without real pace on the ball, the Zimbabwean struggled to generate enough power to test Ethan Ross in the Maidstone goal.
Highs And Lows
The O’s took the lead after 34 minutes. A long throw from Charlie Lee was flicked down by Turley for Maguire-Drew to lash home his first goal for the club.
Bonne may have doubled the advantage before the half-time whistle. A scrumptious ball from Lee found the 23-year old on the edge of the area, who took the ball down well but blazed an effort over the bar with just the keeper to beat.
Immediately after the restart, Josh Koroma was forced off the field as he pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and was replaced by Matt Harrold.
Bonne Song
Maguire-Drew looked to register his second goal of the evening, firing narrowly over from the edge of the area after 52 minutes.
Orient dominated affairs in the second-half and notched a deserved second after 56 minutes. McAnuff’s corner was headed down by Lee, and fired home by Bonne from a tight angle.
The hosts looked confident as the fans roared their side on. Harrold was denied by Ross a couple of minutes later as Bonne unselfishly set up his strike partner.
Spot On
Elliott Romain tried to pull one back for the visitors, but his low effort from a tight angle was never troubling Brill. Then, Widdowson made a smart block from Dan Meridith’s goal-bound strike.
The O’s looked composed in the closing stages of the game, stringing together pass after pass as they tried to see out the rest of the game. Edinburgh’s men handled the last ten minutes professionally and found their third goal in stoppage time from the penalty spot.
James Brophy was brought down in the box with the referee forced to point to the spot. Bonne made no mistake in rolling the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, helping Orient hit three goals and pick up three vital points.
What’s Next?
Orient host Blyth Spartans next weekend in the FA Trophy Third Round with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 at The Breyer Group Stadium.
Match Stats
ORIENT: Dean Brill, Sam Ling, Dan Happe, Jamie Turley, Joe Widdowson, Jordan Maguire-Drew (James Brophy 73’), Craig Clay, Charlie Lee (Alex Lawless 85’), Jobi McAnuff, Josh Koroma (Matt Harrold 48’), Macauley Bonne.
SUBS: Sam Sargeant, Myles Judd.
GOALS: Maguire-Drew (34’), Bonne (56’)
BOOKED: Turley (37’), Bonne (44’), Clay (58’)
MAIDSTONE: Ethan Ross, Dan Meridith, George McLennan, Will De Havilland, Jack Powell, Dan Wishart, Jake Robinson, Simon Walton, Michael Phillips (Elliott Romain 61’), Josh Taylor, Rob Swaine.
SUBS: Jack Paxman, Jack Richards, Aryan Tajbakhsh, Jarvis Edobor.
GOALS:
BOOKED: Meridith (36’)
REFEREE: Leigh Doughty
ATTENDANCE: 5,488 (449 away)
