BONNE GIVES O’S THE EDGE
But Cowan’s brave Bucks hand Orient a scare
LEYTON ORIENT 1 AFC Bonne 53 TELFORD UNITED 0
AFC Telford United boss Gavin Cowan was pleased his players have got something to work with in their FA Trophy semi-final second leg at home to Leyton Orient after suffering the narrowest of defeats in east London.
Macauley Bonne made the breakthrough in the 54th minute with a smart finish inside the area, but O’s were unable to find the net again.
It sets up an intriguing second leg in Shropshire this coming weekend where Bucks, who ply their trade in the National League North, will scent the chance of a cup upset against Justin Edinburgh’s O’s, still in the hunt for an FA Trophy/promotion double.
“The message from us for the first leg was ultimately be in the lead or in the tie and we have achieved that because we are still in the tie,” Cowan said.
“Now we will go back to our place and see if we can put them under some pressure and maybe get our fans to bring it home for us.”
Orient will feel they should have a healthier advantage after squandering two excellent chances in the first half.
Bonne headed wide from six-yards in the seventh minute after goalkeeper Andy Wycherley had parried Dale Gorman’s shot straight out to the O’s hitman.
He failed to hit the target from a similar position with 39 minutes on the clock too, in a carbon copy of his first opportunity.
This time, O’s talisman Jobi McAnuff was denied by Wycherley, but again his save came straight for Bonne, yet he fired wide.
At least he made amends nine minutes into the second half when Matt Harrold got on the end of Jamie Turley’s cross and headed down for Bonne to fire home from eight yards.
O’s boss Edinburgh said: “I’m really pleased. I thought our performance was controlled. We knew the opposition would be fired up, but I thought we managed the game very well.
“I suppose we were unfortunate not to get a couple more goals. However, we take a lead into the second leg and we’re delighted with that.”
The closest Orient went to doubling their advantage was when Turley’s header had to be cleared off the line by Shane Sutton with 12 minutes left.
“We will always look at what we could have done better and perhaps the final pass or finish could have been a little better,” Edinburgh concluded.
“But in terms of general play and the way we controlled the game, I thought there were a lot of positives.”
For AFC Telford, they will believe they have more than a chance in the second leg at the New Bucks Head, especially given they created some promising openings in the final exchanges in the capital.
Playmaker Darryl Knights saw a shot squirm beyond Orient stopper Dean Brill on 84 minutes, but only as far as Craig Clay who had got back behind his keeper to clear.
Dangerous forward Daniel Udoh also tested the former Luton Town custodian with four minutes left, but it was a routine save in the end.
Backed by a passionate and vocal travelling support of 492 fans at Brisbane Road, and with more fans at home on Saturday, the Bucks will aim to help their side cause a shock against the leaders of the National League.
Buoyant Cowan added: “On the whole, I thought we defended very resolutely and we showed a lot of courage.
“Ultimately it was mission accomplished for phase one of the tie.”
STAR MAN: Jamie Turley (Leyton Orient) ATT: 3,622 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: David Rock 5/10