So Close: Ian Ross Hit The Post Early On For Notts

Notts County's interest in the FA Cup for the campaign came to an end on Saturday afternoon as Steve Thompson's men bowed out of the competition at the First Round stage with a 2-1 defeat at League One outfit Leyton Orient.

Orient got the ball rolling on twelve minutes when former Mansfield winger Wayne Corden thundered home a right-foot drive from inside the penalty area, but it was Notts who had looked stronger in the very early stages and could have taken the lead had Ian Ross' drive from long-range not hit the post.

But, Corden's strike livened the home side into action and had it not been for some good defending and also a number of misses by Jabo Ibehre it could have been worse for Notts.

Junior Mendes and Mike Edwards went close to getting Notts back on level terms, but just before the hour Justin Miller rose to meet an Orient corner to double the home side's lead. Lawrie Dudfield pulled a goal back in injury time with a composed finish, but despite late pressure Notts weren't able to force a replay.

Notts began with just one change to the side which faced Wycombe in the Carling Cup in midweek with Kevin Pilkington returning in goal in place of Saul Deeney to make his first Cup appearance of the campaign.

Dan Gleeson was back after his back injury which forced him out of the games with Boston and Wycombe in the last week, but had to be content with a place on the bench with Gary Silk once again starting at full-back.

Orient too made just one change compared to their last fixture with Craig Easton in for ex-West Brom midfielder Adam Chambers who was serving a one match ban.

Notts almost got a dream start on two minutes when the O's failed to clear a Somner throw into the box and the ball fell to Ian Ross on the edge of the box who hit a well struck first-time volley across Garner, but his effort struck the post and rebounded to safety and evaded Jason Lee as he looked to get on the end of the rebound.

It would have been the perfect start for Notts who looked in good form in the early stages, with Steve Thompson's boys enjoying plenty of success down the right with Pipe and Silk linking up well.

Ibehre headed Orient's first chance wide on six minutes, with Tudor's cross from the right glanced wide of Pilkington's right-hand post. He got away down the right a few minutes later to deliver another telling cross, but Easton was just off target this time by heading over after getting free in the box.

Pilkington's first save was an easy one on nine, with Lockwood's long-range effort easily saved with the shot straight at goal, but on twelve minutes he was beaten by a former team-mate of his at Mansfield a few years ago.

Barnard evaded the offside trap to get away down the right and had bags of time to eye up his cross which he delivered to the far post where Alexander laid the ball into Corden's path with a controlled touch, and Corden did the rest with a thumping right-foot shot beyond Pilkington.

He scored in the meeting between the two last season at Meadow Lane with a superb strike, and he demonstrated his shooting abilities again with a cracking finish.

Orient applied pressure following the goal, but no further shots but they certainly looked lively going forward and clearly buoyed by the goal which helped them forget their League troubles for a week.

Notts had their first real chance since the first minute just before the half-hour mark after some fine work by Andy Parkinson down the left. He was handed a one-on-one situation against Miller and he rose to the challenge by skinning the full-back and advancing into the box. He picked out Mendes with his left-foot with a delicate cross, but stretching Mendes could only guide the ball over the bar.

He fired over minutes later after a good break by Notts, with the signs showing a possible way back into things.

However Orient should have gone 2-0 ahead on thirty-eight. A swift break saw Alexander release Ibehre on goal after shrugging off the attentions of White, but after neatly rounding Pilkington he looked odds on to roll the ball home. But, White got back to take the ball off the striker's foot for a corner.

The former Orient defender did well to get back and clear, but the striker should really have tucked the ball away. He was on target against Notts in last season's 1-0 win over Gudjon Thordarson's side, and it certainly was a great chance for the O's to have some breathing space.

He was almost punished by the man who made that challenge two minutes later, but from an Ian Ross corner White could only head just over from six-yards out after losing his marker. Lockwood almost sliced home an own goal on forty minutes, but under pressure from Pipe the ball landed on the roof of the net from around eight yards out.

Only a minute of time was added on at the end of the first period, and it was the home side who went in a goal to the good following Corden's early strike.

Half Time: Leyton Orient 1-0 Notts County

No changes were made by either side at the break, and as the temperature dropped it was Notts who had the first chance of the half with Pipe meeting a throw-in from Somner with a firm header, but Garner saved easily.

Ibehre had a fantastic chance once again to make it 2-0 five minutes into the second period, but after beating White to the ball and running clear on goal and once again going around Pilkington he took his time lining his shot up and with the goal gaping Silk did well to get and make a fine clearance off the striker's foot.

A set-piece almost produced a Notts equaliser two minutes later with Lee meeting Ross' corner to head towards goal and Mike Edwards got a deft flick-on header on the ball which guided it only inches over from a few yards out. The defender in all fairness certainly didn't know how much time he had, and did well to instinctively guide the ball towards goal.

Ibehre was doing everything but score for the O's and after again getting clear following Thelwell's ball forward he chose not to round the advancing Pilkington and instead poke an effort first time at goal, but it was inches wide much to the striker's frustration.

Orient extended their lead twelve minutes into the second period with Justin Miller the man on target with a towering header from around six yards out. The ball was met with real power by the full-back following Lockwood's delivery from the right-hand side. Pilkington was given no chance, and Barnard should have made it 3-0 on the hour but he was just off target from six yards following Alexander's ball in from the right.

The home side were playing with confidence and Ibehre had another great chance to net after good work by Corden, but he blasted wide from twelve yards when well placed. Jason Lee was replaced by Lawrie Dudfield in a straight swap up front as Steve Thompson looked for a different option in attack while Silk was replaced by Dan Gleeson.

Late Goal: Lawrie Dudfield Netted A Late Goal

Another miss by Ibehre from a header after Corden delivered from the cross almost had the home side three goals ahead, while Andy Parkinson almost cut the deficit with a powerful drive from long-range which went into the side netting at Garner's near post.

Mendes met a Pipe cross from the right on seventy-three with a firm header which Garner grabbed at the second attempt, and it seemed Notts close to hitting the back of the net. However, it wasn't forthcoming and when Dudfield did find the net with seven to go his effort was ruled out by the Assistant Referee's flag for offside.

With five minutes added on Dudfield finally got his goal, running onto a ball forward which was flicked on by N'Toya and he tucked the ball away to gove Notts late hope. It was his fourth of the season, and it was well taken by the striker.