Cambridge United suffered their first Sky Bet League One defeat of the season on the road as Leyton Orient ran out 3-0 winners at the BetWright Stadium…
On a real off-day for the U’s, they became undone prior to the break when Rarmani Edmonds-Green volleyed in the opener before turning provider for Jaze Kabia, with Aaron Connolly putting the game to bed on the hour as the visitors were unable to respond and for the first time this campaign failed to find the net in a match.
Making the trip to the capital aiming to preserve their form away from home, United had lost one in 12 but were out to gain a first win in four to claw their way back into the play-offs. After surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth last time out, the O’s had appeared steadier – only Bradford City had kept more clean sheets than their five – but with one victory from five they looked to go back to basics.
Four days on from picking up a creditable draw at Sheffield Wednesday, Neil Harris opted with two changes to his starting XI as Shane McLoughlin and Isaac Heath made way for Zak Bradshaw and Sullay Kaikai.
During a lively start where the visitors looked to find their rhythm, Ben Knight was released down the right and scampered into space before finding an unmarked George Hoddle by the penalty area, but a handball cancelled out the attempt.
With Richie Wellens’ side unable to progress the ball up to the pitch due to the nature of Cambridge’s press, they looked to capitalise once more on the 13th minute when Liam Bennett’s first-time cross from the right found Louis Appere who escaped his marker and picked out a header from 12 yards but he couldn’t test Nathan Baxter as it sailed over the crossbar.
Remaining in the ascendency, the U’s continued to probe in the air as Knight’s corner was won by Cathal Heffernan but the defender was unable to keep his header down from close range.
Although the side in red and white stripes gradually upped the gears and caused a scare on 26 when Connolly fired a free-kick from a dangerous position over the wall and Jake Eastwood’s crossbar, United countered and orchestrated their best opportunity of the day when Knight teed up Bradshaw who was racing into the box, who rifled a venomous shot which was tipped onto the crossbar with the resulting corner headed wide by Heffernan.
On the half hour mark, the deadlock was broken by the O’s as Alex Gilbert’s corner was not cleared and floated low to Edmonds-Green who got a clean volley to the ball which tapped against the near post and in.
The opener had deflated the visitors, who picked up a couple of bookings as the first half petered out. In response, they made a switch to their formation at the break as Callum Perry came off for Shayne Lavery.
Excellent endeavour from Bradshaw saw him dispossess the ball on the outskirts of the penalty area who drilled into the six-yard box where Baxter spilled and Appere lunged in with his knee but couldn’t direct it home.
On the 49th minute, Orient gained further control by doubling their advantage when Somto Boniface recycled with a deep cross to Edmonds-Green, who flicked to Kabia in acres of space from yards out who tapped in.
United looked to restore parity as Bennett picked out a speculative attempt from 25 yards straight at goal, but the game was all but killed off on the hour when the ball was given away to Connolly inside his own half of the pitch, who dismantled the defence on the break with pace and drilled into the far corner.
As the clock ticked down, Harris introduced Heath and Ra’ees Bangura-Williams to the pitch, with the former getting on the end of Sam Curtis’ cross, but he headed wide of Baxter’s right post.
Ultimately, the clinical hosts had remained largely untested, becoming the first side to keep a clean sheet against United this season in the third tier, who succumbed to a tough afternoon where they couldn’t quite get going.
Up next, the U’s conclude their Jersey Mike’s Trophy group on Tuesday evening (3rd November) as they welcome Brighton & Hove Albion’s U21 group to the Cledara Abbey – be sure to back the boys.
Leyton Orient: Baxter, Stevens, Edmonds-Green (Olowu, 55’), Gilchrist, Boniface (Wellens, 78’), Gilbert, El Mizouni, Connolly (Springett, 78’), Dobra (Hayden, 72’), O’Neill, Kabia (Scarlett, 72’)
Subs Not Used: Phillips, Akhamrich
Goalscorers: Edmonds-Green (31’), Kabia (49’), Connolly (61’)
Bookings: El Mizouni
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Heffernan, Watts, Perry (Lavery, 46’), Bennett (Curtis, 83’), Hoddle (Moxon, 55’), Mpanzu, Bradshaw, Knight (Bangura-Williams, 65’), Kaikai, Appere (Heath, 65’)
Subs Not Used: Breeze, Bauer
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Mpanzu, Bradshaw, Watts
Referee: George Laflin