Carling Cup First Round: Southend United 1 Leyton Orient 1 (aet; Orient win 4-3 on penalties)

Last updated : 10 August 2011 By westfield shrimper

Carling Cup: Competition draw on Thursday

It's the O's who take the game 4-3 on penalties after extra-time!
 
vThe Leyton Orient Crest
 

Just when you thought losing to Orient was a thing of the past, this happens!

Borient down to 10 men on the hour, 24 goal attempts to 9(!), a series of terrific saves by O's keeper Lee Butcher, penalties; we were out of the Carling Cup at the first attempt!

An exchange of shots early on saw a Ryan Hall effort, followed by ex-Blue Alex Revell for the away side, then Neil Harris from 12 yards just over, then Jonathon Tehoue brought the best out of former Orient keeper Glenn Morris.

However, in the 22nd minute the deadlock was broken when Revell sent over a good cross from the right was headed home from 12 yards by Michael Richardson.

The lead was to only last 10 minutes though when from a couple of yards nearer but equally as powerfully Mark Phillips also found the net with a header.

On the stroke of half-time Hall had a trademark 20 yarder Hall deflect wide.

Sadly scoring centre-back Phillips seemed to pick up yet another in his long list of Shrimper injuries when he failed to reappear for the second half allowing Bilel Mohnsi to take his place.

Hall again to strike from long range, straight at the keeper this time.

Then what many felt would be the turning point, Tehoue aimed a head-butt towards Luke Prosser bizarrely followed by a fist waving at veteran centre-back Graham Coughlan; straight red!

Then the Shrimpers really took control, as they had thirty minutes to finish the game off in normal time.

First, Harris half volleyed over the crossbar from 20 yards out; sub Lee Sawyer, on for winger Jemal Johnson, also from 20 yards shot just wide of the right-hand post; Hall, who else, found O's shot stopper Butcher at his best twice within minutes; extra-time beckoned.

And still Butcher held the Shrimpers at bay, a terrific header by Liam Dickinson the pick of the night, but his push around the post of a low, hard effort by Kane Ferdinand was not far behind.

That took the tie to extra time and Blues almost went in front when Liam Dickinson’s firm header from Sean Clohessy’s right wing cross was superbly kept out by Butcher who then also tipped a low drive from Kane Ferdinand around the left post.

As the clock went over the ton mark, another Sean Clohessy cross, another Dickinson header, at last Butcher beaten, but the ball spectacularly volleyed off his own goal-line by defender Ben Chorley.

So the last 15 minutes of extra-time, bring on the calvary, well, Mohsni sent up front, and he was soon in the action, headed over a good cross from Harris.

You couldn't keep Butcher out of it for long, and a decent low volley from Sawyer was kept out to make sure the game went to penalties, and a battered Orient team looked relieved, as well they should for the spot-kicks were to go there way even though the toss sent the teams to the home end.

And here's what happened, look away now Shrimpers fans!

Penalty taken by Liam Dickinson saved by Lee Butcher.

Penalty scored by Elliot Omozusi. Southend 0-1 Leyton Orient on penalties.

Neil Harris scores a penalty. Southend 1-1 Leyton Orient on penalties.

Charlie Daniels scores a penalty. Southend 1-2 Leyton Orient on penalties.

Penalty scored by Sean Clohessy. Southend 2-2 Leyton Orient on penalties.

Penalty scored by Ben Chorley. Southend 2-3 Leyton Orient on penalties.

Power penalty taken by JP Kalala saved by Lee Butcher.

Penalty taken by Michael Richardson saved by Glenn Morris.

Ryan Hall scores a penalty. Southend 3-3 Leyton Orient onpenalties.

Winning penalty scored by old nemesis, who else, Jamie Cureton.

Southend United 3-4 Leyton Orient on penalties.

So the evening belong to keeper Lee Butcher and the ten men of Orient who go through to the second round, but plenty of positives fot Blues boss Paul Sturrock to take into Saturday's trip away to Accrington Stanley.

Though I bet he wished we'd taken the chance of that penalty shoot-out against Raith Rovers in the Scottish tournament!

Then again, knowing the stubbborn Scot, probably not!