Leyton Orient |
2-1 |
Bromley |
Mike 13, Crowther 63 |
|
Boyle 6 |
The FA Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON
First Round Proper
7pm, Tuesday 3 November 2009
Matchroom Stadium, Leyton Orient FC
Andy Edwards’ Leyton Orient side came from behind to beat Bromley’s battling youngsters at Brisbane Road last night, securing a Second Round tie at Swindon Town.
Bromley had already accounted for Eastbourne Town, East Grinstead and Chatham in their run through to this season’s Competition Proper and they made a confident start against the O’s, taking the lead after just six minutes.
With plenty of vocal support from the West Stand, the only stand opened for this fixture, Bromley attacked with purpose from the start. Ryan Boyle, an excellent midfielder throughout, twice had his shirt tugged from behind as he advanced into the box from Andrew Williams’ astute pass. He kept his focus to steer the ball past Jack Giddens’ left hand and into the far corner of the goal.
But Orient weren’t intimidated and hit back strongly, levelling the scores within seven minutes. Centre-back Cestor Mike, who had already distinguished himself with some good interceptions both on the ground and in the air, leapt to direct skipper Harry Beautyman’s left-wing corner goalwards with his forehead. Despite a clutch of defenders on the line, the ball ended up in the net.
Jack Rankin, not particularly tall for a goalkeeper, kept Bromley in the game in that first half with inspired stops from Beautyman and Louis Crowther. Half-time arrived at 1-1, with Orient starting to turn the screw. Rankin brilliantly flipped over a rising shot from Jake Argent before Crowther scored what turned out to be the clinching goal on 63 minutes. A right-wing corner from Michael Richardson, a substitute for Musa Manneh, was headed out to a point just inside the box and the O’s No.9 volleyed high into the net, leaving Rankin with no time to react.
Bromley used all their substitutes as they pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing minutes. Free-kicks were thumped in and blocked and Rowan Liburd couldn’t quite climb high enough to properly direct a header at the far post. In the end the professional club deserved their victory but plucky Bromley had given them a good game.