Efe hits winner as Notts Exit JPT

Last updated : 04 September 2007 By Gary Moss
Echanomi, 21, headed home a 43rd Jason Demetriou cross as Orient dumped County out in the first round of the cup.

In an uneventful game, the League One side ran out narrow winners against
Demetriou...Crossed for winner
a slightly under-strengthed Magpies side.

Boss Steve Thompson handed first team places to keeper Tim Sandercombe and Spencer Weir-Daley as Notts reverted to a prefered 4-4-2 formation.

Top scorer Richard Bucther missed out with Neil MacKenzie back in the side.

It was the visitors who started the brighter. Tamika Mkandawire headed narrowly wide on four minutes from an inswigning Sean Thornton corner.

Notts were caught asleep early on leaving Mkandawire a free header, with County lucky to still be on level terms.

It wasn't long until the game truned scrappy.

Long ball football failed to provide either side with a breakthrough as half-time approched.

With the inerval drawing close, The O's sparked life into the game. On 39 minutes, Thornton took a looping ball down well before seeing his effort from 12-yards come crashing back off the crossbar.

Orient were still on the prowl, John Melligan's right-footed shot just a minute later produced the first save of the game for youngster Sandercombe.

Two minutes before the break and the League One leaders finally found a an opener.

Demtriou evaded everyone with his cross but Echanomi latched on well, directing his header into the bottom left corner past the helpess Sandercombe.

Thornton...Struck the crossbar twice
The away side were probably just worthy of their lead going into the break.

Just eleven seconds into the seocnd half and Orient were looking for a second to kill the match.

Demetriou dragged wide after drifting in from the left-hand side. Notts were still in the game by a whisker.

Notts mounted their first serious effort on 50 minutes. Jay Smith whipped in right footed free-kick, but MacKenzie could only fire wide from inside the box.

MacKenzie was then replaced by Andy Parkinson as Thommo tried to shake-up his toothless side.

Weir-Daley came close, seeing his 58th minute strike tipped just over the bar as the forward threatened for the first time.

Notts' timid fight back was short-lived, as Thornton this time from the right hit the woodwork once more with just over twenty minutes left on the clock.

Hector Sam stepped in to replace the quiet Lawrie Dudfield as the time ticked away for the hosts.

The Magpies still didn't look like scoring as Orient were happy to run down the clock.

Weir-Daley made way for Stef Frost with ten minutes to go as the game
Somner...Denied late on
turned into little more than an exhibition.

County's Matt Somner nearly provided another late equaliser but he saw his close range header well parried by O's keeper Glenn Morris.

It was to be the last action of this dull first round tie.

Notts again suffered an opening round 1-0 home defeat in the Johnstine Paint Trophy, but the news will no doubt come as some joy to the Magpie fans, in hope of concentrating solely on their league form from now on.

Both sides were never really fired up for this one but the marginally stronger Orient progress to the second round, one step closer to a day out at Wembley.

Notts created little and can have no complaints of their early exit.

Man-of-Match: Sean Thornton (Orient)