Leyton Orient were eliminated from the London Senior Cup at the quarter-final stage as Welling United progressed with a 2-1 win.
Orient made 11 changes to the starting XI that beat Maidstone United at the weekend, with 17-year-old Jayden Sweeney coming in at left-back and a trialist partnering Mason Hall at the heart of defence.
Dale Gorman spurned two early chances for Orient, but Welling slowly edged into the game and took the lead when Jack Barham raced in behind the O’s defence, cut inside and arrowed an effort into the bottom right corner.
Orient had numerous chances to equalise after the break, but frustration was setting in and it grew when Welling doubled their lead with only 16 minutes remaining as Danny Mills headed in from close range.
Only four minutes later, however, the O’s gave themselves a chance when Ruel Sotiriou finished from close range from James Brophy’s delivery.
Sotiriou went close again in stoppage time, but Welling did enough to hold on to the win and will go through to the semi-final to face Harrow Borough.
Orient return to action on Saturday, February 2 when they host Blyth Spartans in the FA Trophy.
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