COOL KOROMA FLATTENS FYLDE

AFC FYLDE 1 Rowe 20 LEYTON ORIENT 3 Bonne 5, Koroma 43, 51

AFINE brace from Josh Koroma inspired Leyton Orient to an impressive victory over fellow promotion chasers AFC Fylde at Mill Farm.

The East Londoners were clinical as Koroma’s brace added to Macauley Bonne’s early strike, earlier cancelled out by AFC Fylde’s top scorer Danny Rowe.

Fylde made two changes to the side that had beaten Gateshead on Tuesday night with Serhat Tasdemir and Luke Burke replacing Gime Toure and Arlen Birch. Dale Gorman and Joe Widdowson returned for Leyton Orient replacing Myles Judd and James Brophy.

The visitors took the lead just four minutes in. Koroma pushed Jordan Tunnicliffe off the ball and squared for Bonne to fire past Jay Lynch from 12 yards.

Orient were forced into an early change as Charlie Lee went off injured and was replaced by James Brophy who impressed down the left wing.

The Coasters grew into the game and were level on 20 minutes. Ryan Croasdale found Rowe in space 25 yards out and the prolific frontman made no mistake firing past keeper Dean Brill into the bottom left corner.

New Fylde signing Nick Haughton showed his ability in twice dropping the shoulder and testing Brill from range.

Orient regained the lead just two minutes before the break with a piece of magic from Koroma. The young winger burst through two Fylde defenders before curling the ball past Lynch into the top right corner to the delight of the near 400 travelling supporters.

Fylde started the second half brighter but it was Orient who would extend their lead. Tunnicliffe misjudged the bounce of the ball and Bonne slipped in Koroma who was allowed to run at goal and wrong foot Lynch with a strike into the near left corner.

Fylde continued to search for a way back into the game, but Orient remained disciplined at the back and frustrated the hosts. Brill was forced into a smart save to deny a shot on the turn from Tasdemir.

Toure and Joe Cardle came on for the Coasters in the final half hour and whilst both had some success down the right side neither could test Brill.

Orient continued to frustrate and could have had a fourth in added time. Koroma unleashing another powerful effort but this time Lynch was able to parry the ball away for a corner.

Orient move up to second in the table with Fylde slip one place to sixth.