Blackpool rock Orient

29 July 2010

ORIENT made their exit from the Joma South West Challenge Cup on Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 by Barclays Premier League side Blackpool.

A last-minute goal denied the O's a chance of a penalty shoot-out and the opportunity to move into the final of the competition.

O's boss Russell Slade was delighted with his side's showing in the competition overall.

"It was an ideal trip for us. Being away really helped the team to bond and we had three games as well."

However, there were some disappointing aspects for Slade.

"We could only use three substitutes in a game, which meant we couldn't give everyone as much pitch-time as we would have liked," he said.

"Last year it was roll on and roll off substitutes, but this time we could only field 14 players."

Slade was also disappointed that his side conceded a last-gasp goal against Blackpool to bow out of the competition.

"I was disappointed with the goal we conceded at the end of the game, because we put a lot of work in and if we had conceded a goal like that in a league game, I'd have gone crazy.

"We gave the ball away sloppily in the last minute and that's killed us, but apart from that it was a decent performance, particularly in the first half.

"We certainly didn't look out of place against top-flight opposition and we created four or five really good chances.

"Blackpool possess good movement and they're on a real high now, so I was pleased with some aspects of our game. The only aspect I wasn't pleased about was the last few minutes."

Blackpool had taken the lead through Francis Jeffers, but Scott McGleish levelled just before the break with his fourth goal of pre-season, only for Ian Evatt to bag a last-gasp winner.

Earlier in the tournament O's came from behind to beat Eastleigh 2-1, with goals from Jimmy Smith and Dean Cox, and cruised past Truro City 4-0 as Alex Revell, George Porter, Ryan Jarvis and Stephen Dawson hit the target.