Dean Cox and Paul McCallum enjoy great night at Woking as Leyton Orient earn second pre-season victory

Leyton Orient's Dean Cox celebrates after finding the net (pic: Simon O'Connor). (Image: Simon O'Connor Photography)

Dean Cox and Paul McCallum had a night to remember as they helped Leyton Orient earn a 2-0 pre-season victory at National League outfit Woking.

The duo, who missed most of last season after both suffering cruciate knee ligament damage, found the net in the second half at Kingfield Stadium.

Although it is still early days and too much shouldn’t be expected from them yet, it is great news for the O’s that they were back in the goals.

Jay Simpson and Ollie Palmer were left out of the squad completely at Kingfield Stadium by Andy Hessenthaler.

He played Alex Cisak in goal from the off while Nicky Hunt and Tom Parkes were at the centre of defence.

Sean Clohessy and Callum Kennedy lined up at right-back and left-back respectively with Sammy Moore and Robbie Weir, captain, alongside each other in midfield.

Sandro Semedo continued on the left with Gavin Massey on the opposite flank and Josh Koroma partnered Jordan Bowery up front.

Both teams, playing in 28 degrees, started slowly, but the game burst into life with 11 minutes on the clock.

Dennon Lewis did well on the right and skipped past Kennedy before cutting back towards Delano Sam-Yorke.

Moore intercepted the ball before finding Semedo and he embarked on what is fast becoming a trademark burst into the opposition’s half.

Unfortunately the Portuguese winger took too long with his final pass and instead of teeing up Bowery, found Koroma, but the youngster had strayed offside.

Five minutes later and the National League side nearly took the lead when the ball was played forward to Sam-Yorke and he shot first time.

Clohessy had tracked his run impressively, however, and slide in to ensure Cisak wasn’t called into action.

Sam-Yorke was looking sharp and flicked the ball past Hunt soon after and opened up his body to shoot.

Cisak got down easy to save before Jake Caprice showed great pace for Woking, but Kennedy got back to clear for a corner and a drinks break was taken after Ismail Yakubu had headed well wide.

With half an hour played the O’s created the best opportunity of the match when Koroma made some space and his deflected effort was excellent pushed behind by Brandon Hall.

Although the east Londoners enjoyed a vast amount of possession, they were struggling with the final pass and it remained goalless until half time.

Only Clohessy, Kennedy, Hunt and Koroma continued after the break with Hessenthaler making seven changes. Charlie Grainger went in goal with Yvan Erichot at the heart of defence

Liam Kelly was in the centre of midfield, and wearing the captain’s armband, alongside Nigel Atangana while Dean Cox was on the left.

Koroma moved out to the right side with Paul McCallum and Armand Gnanduillet up front together.

The forward duo linked up well after 11 minutes when the French striker showed good strength and brought the ball forward.

Gnanduillet passed into McCallum and he cut back, but dragged his effort well wide from 20 yards.

Five minutes later and Clohessy got forward after smart play by Koroma and crossed into the box.

But Gnanduillet, unmarked on the penalty spot, headed wide and Hessenthaler called for him to hit the target afterwards.

Josh Doherty, Freddy Moncur and a Trialist were introduced in the 64th minute with Kennedy, Clohessy and Koroma making way.

A couple of minutes later and one of the substitutes for Orient played a part in creating the opening goal of the match.

Moncur controlled neatly outside the box and threaded a pass forward to Cox. He took a touch before finding the corner to score his first goal since November 7.

It was a wonderful moment for the O’s number seven and fully deserved after working so hard to come back from cruciate knee ligament damage.

Woking should have equalised less than a minute afterwards, though, when Charlie Penny was played through, but he fired wide with only Grainger to beat.

Orient took great confidence from their opener and Moncur, McCallum and Cox linked up before Gnanduillet volleyed over.

Parkes was introduced again with 17 minutes left as Hunt made way and two minutes later the O’s scored again.

They broke forward well with Cox and he played a perfect through ball to McCallum, and the forward made no mistake and fired home.

It was his first goal for nearly a year, since netting at Newport County on August 22, and would have delighted Hessenthaler.

With 11 minutes remaining they came close to adding a third when Moncur was initially played through, but crowded out.

The youngster remained composed, however, found McCallum and he teed up Gnanduillet, but Hall saved in the Cards goal.

It was nearly 3-0 in the 89th minute when Kelly crossed in for McCallum, but he headed against the crossbar from close range.

But in the end it didn’t matter as Orient got back to winning ways and Hessenthaler would have been thrilled to see two of his main men back in the goals.

Woking: Hall, Caprice, Yakubu (Onovwigun 57), Saah, Gordon (Smith-Joseph 75), Lewis (Kretzschmar 68), Murtagh (Carter 75), Saraiva (Penny 57), Ralph (Banya 68), Ansah (Kandi 57), Sam-Yorke (Jones 57).

Unused substitutes: Poke, Ugwu.

Leyton Orient: Cisak (Grainger 46), Clohessy (Trialist 64), Hunt, Parkes (Erichot 46), Kennedy (Doherty 64), Massey (Gnanduillet 46), Moore (Atangana 46), Weir (Kelly 46), Semedo (Cox 46), Koroma (Moncur 64), Bowery (McCallum 46).

Attendance: 441.