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Ebbsfleet United 2 Leyton Orient 1 match report

Ebbsfleet put non-league giants Leyton Orient to the sword in front of the BT Sport cameras on Saturday night.

Andy Drury and Danny Kedwell scored the goals which lifted Fleet to 11th in the National League while the O's, who three years ago were playing in League 1, are just three points above the relegation zone.

Fleet's new main stand was open to hospitality guests for the first time and the majority of the 2,021 crowd went away from the Kuflink Stadium very happy.

Danny Kedwell wheels away after making it 2-0 Picture: Andy Payton
Danny Kedwell wheels away after making it 2-0 Picture: Andy Payton

Both teams came into the game on the back of FA Cup defeats to League 1 opposition; Orient 2-1 at Gillingham and Fleet 6-2 at home to Doncaster.

Chris Bush was sent off in that game so Jack Connors took his place at left-back while fit-again Drury was preferred to Jack Powell in the Fleet midfield. Bradley Bubb, having ruptured his Achilles in April, made the bench for the first time this season.

Leyton Orient arrived without a league win in 10 matches - a barren streak going all the way back to September 2. Top scorer Macauley Bonne missed the game due to international duty with Zimbabwe and boss Steve Davis made five changes, including the return of loan players Mark Ellis and James Brophy.

The home side were ahead in the sixth minute with a goal of real quality.

Myles Weston pinged the ball into Drury's feet, he slipped Luke Coulson through with a clever first-time pass and then got into the six-yard box to convert Coulson's low centre from a yard or so out.

The goal, however, seemed to spark Orient into life and they were the better side for much of the first half.

Luke Coulson can't quite get on the end of this cross Picture: Andy Payton
Luke Coulson can't quite get on the end of this cross Picture: Andy Payton

Jake Caprice picked out Matt Harrold with an excellent cross from the right but his header was superbly pushed against the post by Nathan Ashmore. In came James Dayton for the rebound but Kenny Clark got back to clear off the line.

The visitors continued to press and Dean Rance threw himself in front of a Dayton shot before Ashmore arched his back to tip a Harrold header over the bar.

Between those chances, Fleet broke to good effect and Weston's low cross from the right almost fell for Drury at the back post.

Ebbsfleet's defence was under siege for a while but they rode out the storm and began to see more of the ball as the half wore on.

Orient failed to clear a Weston cross but Drury's volley from outside the area looped over the bar.

Five minutes before the break, though, Fleet found their clinical edge to make it 2-0. Connors' ball down the line released Weston and his cross was powered into the net by the head of Kedwell.

Ebbsfleet celebrate their second goal Picture: Andy Payton
Ebbsfleet celebrate their second goal Picture: Andy Payton

The goal immediately brought angry shouts of "Davis out" from the away end and Coulson had a long-range strike saved by Charlie Grainger as Ebbsfleet pressed for a third.

Orient changed personnel and formation at half-time but Fleet stood strong in defence and continued to threaten on the counter-attack. Anthony Cook, a good outlet down the left, beat two men on one rapid break and went down in the box but referee Adrian Quelch was unmoved by his appeals for a penalty.

Harrold hooked the ball across goal but red shirts were quickly in the way to block.

Ebbsfleet, urged on by a noisy home crowd, began to build up a head of steam. Weston had a low cross hacked off the line and then forced Grainger to push his header round the post.

Orient were running out of ideas and only a brilliant recovery tackle by Mark Ellis denied Coulson a third Fleet goal as he surged into the box.

Coulson and Cook both went close late on as the O's faded badly, although Dayton did pull a goal back three minutes from time with a fine shot which flew inside the right-hand post.

There were hearts in mouths when David Mooney pulled the trigger in stoppage-time but his weak shot was straight at Ashmore.

Ebbsfleet: Ashmore, Magri, Mambo, Clark, Connors, Rance, Drury, Cook, Coulson (Powell 87mins), Weston (Shields 86mins), Kedwell. Subs not used: McCoy, Miles, Bubb.

Leyton Orient: Grainger, Caprice (Judd 79mins), Lawless (McAnuff 64mins), Sendle-White, Mooney, Brophy, Harrold, Happe (Boco 46mins), Dayton, Ellis, Westbrooke. Subs not used: Sargeant, Clay.

Attendance: 2,021.

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