LEYTON ORIENT 2, STOCKPORT COUNTY 2
Stockport County’s first third-tier play-offs appearance for 31 years saw them share four goals in a pulsating first-leg tie at in-form Leyton Orient.
Leading Orient scorer Charlie Kelman put the hosts ahead in controversial circumstances just ahead of the half-hour before an Ollie Norwood penalty and a Fraser Horsfall header turned the scoreline on its head only for Kelman then to convert the game’s second penalty and his second goal a couple of minutes from time.
The match was the sixth consecutive one in which the Hatters had recovered from going a goal down to avoid defeat and extended their run of unbeaten games to nine.
The Hatters took to the field on a gloriously sunny early afternoon for the lunchtime kick-off in East London showing one change from their starting line-up at Wycombe a week previously. Horsfall returned to the defence replacing Callum Connolly who was named among the substitutes and, in doing so, was reunited with the captain’s armband.
The County bench also included welcome returns to the matchday squad for club skipper Lewis Bate and for Callum Camps who had been sidelined with their respective injuries since late March and early April.
The hosting O’s, who had ended the regular League One campaign in sixth place, three positions and eight points behind County, but with a run of six straight wins that saw them clinch the last remaining play-offs spot on the final day, also made a single tweak to their team from the regular campaign’s final day, bringing in Azeem Abdulai for the injured Jordan Brown.
The contest’s opening chance fell to the Hatters before four minutes were on the clock as Kyle Wootton latched on to Brad Hills’ through ball down the right and unleashed an angled shot that home goalkeeper Josh Keeley did well to parry.
Shortly afterwards, the hosts earned the inaugural corner and their first scoring opportunity. Randell Williams delivered from the right and found Brandon Cooper whose downward header bounced in the six-yard box and over the County crossbar.
Just after the quarter-hour, Will Collar dived to head Norwood’s cross from the right beyond the near post and, a couple of minutes beyond the first half’s mid-point, Owen Moxon stung Keeley’s hands with a well-executed low drive from outside the area.
Keeley again came to Orient’s rescue when he used his legs to keep out Jayden Fevrier’s shot from the right but, as the half-hour approached, the next chance was unexpectedly and controversially to see the O’s go ahead.
The goal arrived not only against the run of play but also despite the scorer clearly being in an offside position as Jamie Donley’s original free kick into the County box was only partially cleared before the ball was recycled by Sean Clare and flicked on by captain Omar Beckles to Kelman who converted from close range.
The buoyed-up hosts went close seven minutes ahead of the break when Donley drilled narrowly shy of the right post and, at the other end, Moxon tried his luck with another shot that struck the face of defender Rarmani Edmonds-Green.
Both sides created chances in the first couple of minutes after the resumption with Dan Agyei denied by Ethan Pye’s sliding block after being played through on goal and Moxon clipping the top of the Orient bar following good work to his left by Tanto Olaofe.
Ten minutes later, referee Ben Speedie pointed to the spot for handball by Edmonds-Green and Norwood stepped up to blast home past Keeley his third penalty in four games to restore parity.
And, half a dozen minutes later, the Hatters went in front, as a Norwood free kick was floated from the right towards the far post where Horsfall rose to head home his fourth goal of the season in all competitions.
Corey Addai saved an effort from Clare, and Horsfall, while under pressure from Kelman, applied a crucial touch to a dangerous right-sided Tom James cross, as the hosts sought to get themselves back on terms.
Two minutes from time, they were able to do so courtesy of the game’s second penalty which was awarded after substitute Ollie O’Neill’s shot had struck Horsfall’s outstretched arm. Kelman sent Addai the wrong way to notch up his brace and equalise.
Further chances went the way of the hosts with Addai saving from Donley, Beckles volleying over and O’Neill seeing another of his efforts blocked before six relatively uneventful minutes of added time and the final whistle, to leave the prospect of an intriguing second leg at Edgeley Park on Wednesday night.
Goals: Kelman (29, 88 pen) for Orient. Norwood (59 pen), Horsfall (65) for Stockport.
Stockport (3-4-1-2): Addai; Hills (Rydel 82), Horsfall, Pye; Fevrier (Bate 82), Norwood, Moxon (Camps 90+1), Touray; Collar (Connolly 82); Wootton, Olaofe (Bailey, 90+1). Subs (unused): Wogan, Andrésson.
Attendance: 8,571 (1,214 visitors).
Report: Gareth Evans.