Colchester United 0 Leyton Orient 1

Last updated : 08 November 2008 By Footymad Previewer
Leyton Orient won this battle of the League One clubs thanks to a late strike from Jason Demetriou.

The O's fully deserved this FA Cup first round victory after they created by far the better chances, although they left it until the 80th minute to avoid a replay.

Flying winger Demetriou turned on the edge of the box, benefiting from the ball ricocheting Kemal Izzet, and he gave keeper Mark Cousins no chance with a low drive which ended in the bottom far corner of the net.

Just a minute before Demetriou's matchwinner, hosts Colchester had spurned a great chance to break the deadlock themselves.

Substitute Scott Vernon had only been on the pitch for a minute when he was presented with a gilt-edged opportunity from a pinpoint cross by Mark Yeates. However, an unmarked Vernon headed straight at keeper Glenn Morris from point-blank range, allowing the O's custodian to block.

Paul Lambert's men were made to pay as the visitors went straight down the other end to score the winner and so make it three years on the trot that the U's have lost in the first round of the FA Cup.

In a first half of very few chances, it was Orient who always looked the more likely to score and striker Adam Boyd should have hit the target with a flying header that whistled wide.

The first goal on target did not arrive until early in the second half when Colchester winger Yeates saw his 20-yard shot fly through a crowded box and be well saved by Morris.

After that though, it was the Londoners in charge. Star man Adam Chambers made some great runs from midfield and he was twice denied by the excellent Cousins, who was making his first appearance in the FA Cup and his full home debut.

Once Demetriou had scored, the O's could have added to their tally and defender Brian Saah nearly squeezed home a corner only to be denied at point-blank range by Cousins.

Colchester never really threatened a late equaliser.