Orient avoid massive FA Cup shock by scoring six against Staines Town

Leyton Orient cruised into the second round of the FA Cup after scoring six times against Staines Town at Brisbane Road.

Ollie Palmer and Dean Cox scored twice in the first half against the Ryman Premier side to make the O’s progression all but safe.

And although the Swans pulled one back through Darren Purse, they were never going to be able to seriously trouble the League Two side.

Ian Hendon’s side had to wait a little while in the second period to score again, but John Marquis and Sean Clohessy found the net – both for the first time for the club - in the final five minutes.

That ensured Orient progressed to the next round of the competition and in a fitting end to the match, the Staines players were applauded off the pitch by all those in attendance.

Hendon showed the non-league opposition a lot of respect by naming a strong side despite making five changes.

Connor Essam was ruled out through injury so Alan Dunne replaced him while Frazer Shaw came back into the team for the first time since September 29 due to Adam Chicksen returning to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Lloyd James, Cox and Blair Turgott were all included as the O’s lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with James and Jack Payne together in central midfield.

It was the first time they had started a match alongside each other and with Jay Simpson and Palmer up top, it showed Orient weren’t taken the Swans lightly.

On the bench for the east Londoners were youngsters Charlie Grainger, Harry Lee, Freddy Moncur and Scott Kashket as well as regulars Sammy Moore and John Marquis.

Staines were captained by Darren Purse, who started his career at Brisbane Road, and up front had Pat Cox – a forward who had already scored eight goals in the competition this season.

Hendon played alongside Purse for the O’s and the head coach was also familiar with Ahmed Abdulla having worked with the midfielder at West Ham.

A mere 81 places separated the teams prior to kick-off and after a minute’s silence in honour of Remembrance Sunday, the hosts got proceeding underway.

The Swans began brightly and enjoyed lots of possession but it was the east Londoners that created the first real chance of the match and for the first time in a while, they took it!

Cox controlled the ball and ran at the away defence, Shaw bombed forward from left-back and brilliantly overlapped.

Although his first cross was blocked, he kept his composure and chipped towards the back post where Palmer crashed in a header from close range to give Orient the lead after just eight minutes.

It was exactly what they needed after the disappointment of last weekend where Accrington Stanley earned a 1-0 victory in east London.

Just four minutes later and the hosts doubled their lead with Shaw once again involved.

Payne and Cox linked up and the former passed out to Shaw, in space down the left hand side and he looked up before picking out a man in the box.

That person was Cox and he effortlessly slotted into the bottom corner to put the O’s two nil up and make a cup shock unlikely.

A minute later and any possible upset was virtually over when Palmer got his second of the game.

Turgott brought the ball forward and unleashed an effort from 20-yards-out which Staines goalkeeper Jack Turner should have gathered.

Unfortunately for the visitors he didn’t and his parry fell perfectly for Palmer to tap in his second of the afternoon.

The Ryman Premier outfit did create a good opportunity in the 19th minute when Luke Wanadio crossed into the box and Ashley Lodge sneaked in at the back post.

He could only slice his effort wide but it gave a reminder of what the non-league side could do and the ability of Wanadio.

Four minutes after chance and Staines created another one from their second corner of the match. Jack Bennett took it and confusion arose in the Orient box.

Alex Cisak tried to punch away the first centre, but didn’t get it far enough and when the ball came back in he tried again.

His contact wasn’t great, though, and the ball came out to Purse who lobbed it back into the empty net to score against his former club.

The O’s supporters showed their appreciation towards their former player by applauding the goal and it gave the Swans a little bit of hope.

Any hope of a comeback was gone in the 33rd minute, however, when Shaw won the home side a free kick around 30-yards-out.

Cox stepped up and curled the effort into the top corner to get his second of the game and make it 4-1 to Hendon’s men.

Orient continued the pressure with Shaw and Cox linking up brilliantly before Purse blocked the cross from the full-back for a corner.

From the resulting set piece, Dunne had an effort curled wide after a deflection as the east Londoners searched for their fifth goal.

Two minutes before the break Cox nearly completed his hat-trick when Simpson dribbled into the box before passing to James.

He back heeled back to Cox, but his half volley was blocked by Purse and two minute of stoppage time were added on at Brisbane Road.

Simpson had another shot at goal shortly afterwards which flew over the crossbar with his determination to get on the scoresheet clear to see.

That was the final chance of note before the half time interval, though, with O’s going into the break with the second round of the FA Cup within touching distance.

A remembrance service took place at half time and the whole Orient team were wearing black armbands with a poppy on them to show their respects.

The home side began the second period brightly with James heading wide from close range before Palmer fired a long range effort just wide.

Moments later he had another shot from outside the box and this time he tested Staines custodian Turner, who pushed behind.

Simpson should have got himself on the scoresheet six minutes into the half when Palmer headed down for Cox.

His effort was scuffed but came perfectly for Orient’s top goalscorer, he tried to compose himself but lost his footing.

It came out to Payne and he threaded a pass out to Cox again, but he curled over the crossbar and the chance was gone.

The next opportunity came to Simpson, after Palmer played him through, but instead of taking the ball around the Staines goalkeeper he tried to play it under him and it was blocked.

Freddy Moncur was introduced in the 63rd minute for his home debut after that - replacing Payne, who had needed treatment minutes early after suffering a blow.

He might have scored two minutes later when Palmer got to the byline and cut back for the youngsters, but he couldn’t get his foot wrapped around the ball properly.

Orient continued pressing to get their fifth goal and Simpson played in Turgott in the 68th minute. He ran through, showed good strength, had his effort saved by Swans stopper Turner.

Scott Kashket came on for Simpson after that piece of play with the game beginning to peter out by this point, but the Staines supporters in fine voice – like they had been all match.

Marquis replaced Palmer afterwards, denying the forward a hat-trick as the encounter entered the final 15 minutes.

The O’s pushed to get a fifth in the latter stages and finally did a minute from time with two of the substitutes combining to good effect.

Kashket picked up the ball in midfield and threaded a lovely pass to Marquis, he controlled and slotted into the corner to score his first for the club.

It was the icing on the cake for Hendon and co and four minutes of stoppage time were added on after that.

Marquis nearly got his second goal three minutes into those after Turgott beat his marker and crossed into the box. Turner, in the Staines goal, managed to brilliantly blocked his effort and it remained 5-1.

Orient had time for one more chance and did add a sixth when Turgott played Clohessy through on goal and he managed to find the net to score his first goal for the O’s.

The full time whistle followed moments later to confirm the east Londoners passage into the next round of the competition. The draw will take place on Monday night.

Leyton Orient: Cisak, Clohessy, Baudry, Dunne, Shaw, Turgott, James, Payne (Moncur 63), Cox, Simpson (Kashket 69), Palmer (Marquis 76).

Unused substitutes: Grainger, Moore, Lee.

Staines Town: Turner, Felix, Bennett, Brewer (Boayke 72), Purse, Gough, Wanadio, Abdulla (Vancooten 90), Cox, Hutchinson (Kalu 46), Lodge.

Unused substitutes: Churchill, McAllister, Thomas, Smith.

Attendance: 2,282 (346 Staines Town supporters).