Pre-season friendly: Greenwich Borough 2 Leyton Orient 2
Paul McCallum scored twice for Leyton Orient last night, but they could only draw 2-2 with Greenwich Borough in their final pre-season outing of the summer.
The Ryman South side, managed by ex-O’s forward Gary Alexander, scored twice in the final 10 minutes to salvage a draw.
Andy Hessenthaler included various first team members in the starting XI at the DGS Marine Stadium.
Charlie Grainger was in goal for the visitors while Alan Dunne was given another opportunity to impress.
Nicky Hunt returned from injury while Reece Brown, still training with the Brisbane Road club, started again.
Josh Doherty played with youngster Josh Koroma involved alongside the likes of Steven Alzate and Henry Ochieng.
Scott Kashket made his first appearance of the summer and partnered McCallum up front while a trialist featured on the left of midfield.
The trialist didn’t last long as he was replaced after 12 minutes by Victor Adeboyejo after suffering a back problem.
Kashket went close to scoring for Orient twice, but couldn’t hit the target with two efforts.
Brown nearly had a moment to forget three minutes before the break when a back pass went just past Grainger’s post.
Adeboyejo tested the Greenwich goalkeeper Craig Holloway a minute later before McCallum headed over as it remained goalless at half-time.
Aron Pollock returned from injury during the interval, replacing Hunt while Dan Happe took Brown’s place.
Holloway saved an effort from Adeboyejo two minutes into the second half before O’s took the lead.
Kashket’s corner found McCallum in the box and the forward powered home a header into the net after 57 minutes.
And seven minutes later the same pair combined again to double Orient’s advantage at DGS Marine Stadium.
Once again it was a Kashket corner which caused Greenwich problems and McCallum headed in his second.
Kashket was replaced by Charley Barker with 20 minutes remaining before O’s pushed for a third.
McCallum nearly completed his hat-trick, but was denied by Holloway before Boro pulled one back in the 81st minute through Mohammed Eisa.
Greenwich, who have former Orient captain John Mackie as their assistant manager, pushed to get back on level terms afterwards.
They were nearly caught out five minutes from time, but once again Holloway denied McCallum with a fine save.
And three minutes before the 90, the hosts equalised when Eisa’s driven cross deflected off an O’s defender and past Grainger.
It finished as a draw at the DGS Marine Stadium and was another good work out for the east Londoners.
Orient supporters got the chance to see some first team players in action and see Alexander and Mackie again. Next up is big League Two opener at Cheltenham Town this weekend.
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