Jamie Turley’s header six minutes from time saw Leyton Orient progress to the fourth round of the FA Trophy with a 1-0 win over Blyth Spartans.

A much-changed O’s side, including Myles Judd, Jayden Sweeney, Dale Gorman, Alex Lawless, James Brophy, James Alabi and Matt Harrold, were pushed all the way by their National League North opponents until new signing Turley powered in a header from a free-kick.

Orient got the game underway and registered the first chance of the game as Jordan Maguire-Drew broke down the left-wing and cut in on his right foot, but Blyth keeper Peter Jameson was equal to the effort.

The visitors responded with a chance of their own inside the opening ten minutes, but Dan Maguire’s effort took a deflection and comfortably went over Dean Brill’s crossbar.

Despite this effort, Orient were certainly having the better chances midway through the first half, and just before the 20-minute mark, Maguire-Drew’s corner went all the way through to Alex Lawless at the back post, but Jameson did well to block his effort.

The O’s number ten was heavily involved on their next flurry forward, skilfully passing his marker but seeing his effort pose no threat to Jameson, who held onto the ball.

Dale Gorman was the next to come close when he received James Brophy’s pass 25-yards from goal, but after setting himself his shot ended up inches high of the target.

Another golden opportunity passed by the hosts before the break as Maguire-Drew’s set piece fell right to James Alabi in the centre of the box, but the forward couldn’t direct his header towards goal.

Early in the second half, Maguire-Drew swung another good delivery into the box, but it somehow avoided all the red shirts until coming to Dan Happe at the far post, but his shot flew off target.

The visitors were by no means out of the game, despite the relentless pressure from Justin Edinburgh’s side, and they registered another decent effort on goal in the 70th minute when Maguire dragged his shot across goal when under pressure from Turley.

Having prevented a goal at one end, the chance to be the match winner at the other presented itself to Turley, and he duly obliged when he got his head to Dale Gorman’s wide free-kick and crashed a header into the net to finally break the deadlock.

Blyth threatened to take the game to a replay late on but were prevented when Brill pulled off a wonderful save before Turley threw himself in front of the rebound to preserve the O’s clean sheet.

The victory sees Orient reach the stage where they were knocked out last year and they will find out their opponents for the fourth round today at 12.15pm, live on talkSPORT 2.