Notts County bowed out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the First Round stage for the sixth season running on Monday evening, with Notts falling to a 1-0 defeat at home to League One leaders Leyton Orient.

Despite a bright showing from Notts, they were beaten by a header from Orient striker Efe Echanomi two minutes before half-time before a crowd of 900 supporters at Meadow Lane.

Notts handed a debut in goal to Tim Sandercombe, while Spencer Weir-Daley, Lawrie Dudfield, Matt Somner and Gary Silk were handed starts against a strong Orient side including Adam Boyd and Sean Thornton.

The opening fifteen minutes were fairly eventful with little to report in terms of chances from either wise, with Tim Sandercombe in the Notts goal making his first save on the fifteen minute mark with a straightforward save from Charlie Daniels' free-kick from outside the box.

Jay Smith had Notts' first effort on fifteen minutes, but his right-foot shot from the edge of the box lacked power and Morris saved easily in the Orient goal.

The Magpies have produced some good football which was pleasing on the eye early on, yet it was from a set-piece that Notts came closest to opening the scoring on twenty-one minutes. Paul Mayo rose to met a right-wing corner with a towering header which was cleared off the line by Sean Thornton.

Notts goalkeeper Sandercombe showed his bravery on the half-hour mark by quickly running off his line to head away with Echanomi steaming towards goal, but his header only fell to Chambers who volleyed towards goal but Silk cleared off the line and eventually Stephen Hunt cleared the danger.

The League One leaders almost took the lead seven minutes before the interval, but after working the ball onto his right boot with some neat skill from just inside the left-hand edge of the box Sean Thornton curled an effort against Sandercombe's crossbar and away for a goal kick.

Melligan powered an effort towards the top corner two minutes later for Orient from all of thirty yards, but the Notts youngster was equal to the shot, while at the other end Jay Smith's acrobatic effort on the volley from inside the 'd' was straight at Morris in the O's goal.

The O's however took the lead two minutes before the break, with Daniels crossing from the left and Echanomi rose in the six-yard box to power a header beyond Sandercombe who was left with no chance.

Thornton tested Sandercombe's abilities just before the break with a free-kick, which the Notts goalkeeper saved with ease.

Half-Time: Notts County 0-1 Leyton Orient

Neither side made changes at the interval, and Notts almost brought themselves level on fifty-four minutes but after good work by Dudfield his cross towards Weir-Daley at the far post defender Oji cleared away with the nippy frontman ready to pounce for his first Notts goal.

Parkinson replaced Neil MacKenzie early in the second period, which allowed Smith to tuck into the middle and Parkinson slot in on the right wing.

On the turn inside the box Weir-Daley came close to opening his Notts account, but his left-foot effort was tipped away for a corner by Morris which Weir-Daley headed over from Mayo's centre.

Shooting towards the Kop Stand Demetriou provided a tasty cross from the left on the hour, but Mkandawire could only hit the bar from around eight yards out on the volley in what was proving to be an open and even second period.

Thornton rattled the woodwork with a free-kick twenty minutes from time as the O's hit the framework of Notts' goal for the third time.

Hector Sam replaced Lawrie Dudfield in the final twenty minutes in attack to provide Notts with a fresh option up the front, with Notts not looking it out the game by any means.

Somner headed over after a fine cross from Mayo in the final ten minutes, with the Magpies unable to create an clear-cut opportunities to test Morris in the Orient goal until the first minute of injury-time when he made a point-blank save from a few yards out to deny Matt Somner in a goalmouth scramble.

Orient may well be top of League One, but Notts certainly weren't outclassed this evening and that's one of the positives to be taken from the game. Again Paul Mayo and Austin McCann linked up as a pair down the left, while Weir-Daley looked impressive up front as he gained valuable minutes after injury along with Sandercombe who didn't look out of place in goal.

Naturally Steve Thompson will be disappointed his side didn't progress to the next Round, but it wasn't through a lack of trying.

Full Time: Notts County 0-1 Leyton Orient

Notts County: Sandercombe, McCann, Tann, Somner, Smith, MacKenzie (Parkinson 52), Dudfield (Sam 70), Silk, Mayo, Hunt (C), Weir-Daley (Frost 80).
Subs Not Used: Pilkington, R Austin.
Booked: None.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: None.

Leyton Orient: Morris, Daniels, Thelwell (C), Mkandawire, Melligan (Terry 76), Chambers, Thornton, Oji, Boyd, Demetriou, Echanomi.
Subs Not Used: Nelson, Palmer, Sylvester, Kemp.
Booked: None.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Echanomi (43).

Match Referee: Mr G D Horwood

Attendance: 900 (89 Leyton Orient Fans)

nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Spencer Weir-Daley