Leyton Orient win on emotional Football League return

Posted Sunday, August 04, 2019 by PA

Leyton Orient marked their return to the Football League with a 1-0 victory against nine-man Cheltenham on an emotional afternoon at the Breyer Group Stadium.

Still coming to terms with the death of former manager Justin Edinburgh, the home support was lifted when Josh Wright scored in the 68th minute.

The midfielder, Edinburgh’s last signing, seized onto a Connor Wilkinson header to scramble the ball home from close range.

Within two minutes, Cheltenham were down to nine men. Referee Gary Salisbury, who had booked Luke Varney for diving in the penalty area after just seven minutes under a challenge from Dean Brill, produced the yellow card once again when the Robins striker went in heavily on Marvin Ekpiteta.

And before the game restarted, Rohan Ince was shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language.

With their two-man advantage, Orient maintained persistent pressure and Robins keeper Scott Flinders produced wonderful saves to deny Josh Coulson and Lee Angol.

Earlier, the O’s lost the services of keeper Brill who aggravated a shoulder injury in saving a Will Boyle header in the 12th minute and was replaced by 21 year-old Sam Sargeant.