Leyton Orient beat Dartford to remain unbeaten in pre-season

Marvin Ekpiteta struck early on for the O’s when he touched home from a free-kick and the win was sealed late on when Sam Ling powered home a header from James Brophy’s corner.

Youngster Ruel Sotiriou started the game up front alongside Matt Harrold while Brendon Shabani also continued to gain minutes in pre-season ahead of the new campaign.

It took only four minutes for the visitors to take the lead as Brophy delivered a free-kick from the right, and Ekpiteta was the first to react to the delivery to hand the O’s an early advantage.

Joe Widdowson then went close shortly after with a driven strike, but Luke Warner-Eley got back excellently for Dartford to clear the shot off the line.

Chances were at a premium for the remainder of the half, but Sotiriou came the closest to doubling the lead when his free-kick from 25-yards flew just over the target.

The hosts made the brighter start to the second period, but a wild effort from Warner-Eley that went way off target was followed by a scuffed effort into the hands of Sam Sargeant to keep the score the same.

Widdowson then had another opportunity for the away side when Harrold played him in following good work by Ling, but the defender failed to find the target.

Brophy was the next to test home keeper Mark Smith, but he was equal to the curling effort and pushed the ball away to safety.

Despite Orient’s superiority, the Darts were doing all they could to get something out of the game and Sargeant was kept busy by efforts from Ben Greenhalgh and Jay Bacon. However, he was equal to both to preserve his clean sheet.

The next goal, though, went they way of the visitors and Brophy was once again the provider as his corner was met perfectly by Ling to leave Smith no chance with a powerful header.

It proved to be the final chance of the game for Orient, and they remain unbeaten in pre-season prior to Tuesday’s trip to Bishop’s Stortford.