Spurs hit back to hold lively O's

29 July 2010

Leyton Orient 2 Tottenham Hotspur XI 2

ORIENT earned a draw with Tottenham Hotspur XI on Wednesday night, despite letting two-goal half-time lead slip in a tightly-fought contest, writes James Hartnett.

After sustaining early Tottenham pressure, Orient took the lead. Scott McGleish's goal-bound effort was handled on the line, before a confident Ben Chorley slotted home the resulting penalty.

The hosts then doubled their lead as an impressive Matthew Spring provided a defence-splitting pass to McGleish who calmly chipped the ball past David Button in goal.

Orient had four more chances to add to their led, yet the woodwork denied them each time.

The visitors proved tougher opposition in the second-half, creating several half-chances.

Spurs had the first chance, as a clever through ball by Dean Parrett found Harry Kane, forcing O's keeper Jamie Jones to extinguish the threat.

Good skill from in-form Jonathan Obika on the byline split the O's defence, before his cut-back to Ryan Mason beat Jones.

Orient soon conceded again, as Obika's deft flick-on from a deep Nathan Byrne cross fooled substitute keeper Lee Butcher, landing in the bottom corner of the net.

The match's last chance fell to O's captain Stephen Dawson, who's cross-shot required quick reflexes from Button to push the ball onto the bar.

Both teams battled hard, but as the final whistle blew both had to settle for the draw - a fair reflection on an evenly-fought contest at the Matchroom Stadium.

Orient managed Russell Slade said: "It was a good workout, players got decent pitch-time. For players like Jonathan Tehoue to get 45-minutes is good."

"I think we're well prepared for the coming season. We need to maintain a focus and a certain level of performance going into the next few weeks."

Tehoue added: "We could have created a bigger goal margin in the first half, we did really well. I think as a team we are close to being match-ready.