Leyton Orient secured their place in the FA Cup second round with a commanding 5-1 victory over Harborough Town at Brisbane Road on Saturday. Idris El Mizouni scored twice in a one-sided first-round tie that saw the League One side take control early and never look back. The win continues their recent form of three wins and two losses from their last five matches.
Armando Dobra opened the scoring after just six minutes, finishing from close range after a Finley Stevens assist. Aaron Connolly doubled the advantage midway through the first half, heading in from an Gilbert cross. El Mizouni got his first shortly after the break, tapping home from a Somto Boniface pass to make it 3-0.
Harborough Town's Paul Malone pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 69th minute, but Leyton Orient restored their three-goal cushion ten minutes later through substitute Tony Springett. El Mizouni completed his brace deep into added time, again set up by Gilbert, to seal a comprehensive 5-1 win.
Wellens's side dominated the statistics, registering 20 shots to Harborough's seven and enjoying 63% possession. The O's now sit 14th in the League One standings with 17 points from 13 games, a record of five wins, two draws and six losses, and this cup win extends their current winning run to two matches. They are 12 points behind the league leaders, Huddersfield Town.
Wellens named a strong starting eleven, with Baxter in goal and a front four of Dobra, Connolly, Jaze Kabia and El Mizouni. Kabia, the club's top scorer this season with four goals, was replaced in the second half by Dane Scarlett. The manager made five substitutions in total, giving minutes to the likes of Joseph Olowu and Phillip Chinedu, while Ruel Sotiriou and Shaq Forde also came off the bench.
The victory provides a positive platform ahead of a busy period. Leyton Orient have scored 19 goals in the league this season, conceding 14 for a goal difference of plus five, and will look to carry this attacking form into their upcoming League One schedule, which resumes after the cup tie. The focus now shifts quickly to the trip to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday 14 November, who are currently 20th in the table. This follows a league run that saw a 3-0 win over Cambridge United on Saturday 31 October, preceded by a 2-1 loss at Burton Albion on Saturday 24 October and a 1-0 defeat at Reading on Wednesday 21 October.
