Stevenage’s recent run of away games finished with a 3-0 defeat at Leyton Orient this evening.
In a repeat of last season’s scoreline at the Matchroom Stadium Boro created chances but were unable to score, unlike their hosts who were clinical in front of goal.
Darren Sarll named the same XI that picked up a point at Notts County with the only change coming on the bench where new loan signing Connor Hunte came in for Nathan Kerr.
Stevenage scored early at the weekend and could have opened their account even earlier in this game with two glorious chances inside the opening few minutes.
A good ball from Michael Tonge after two minutes found Jobi McAnuff in space inside the box. His initial prod at goal was kept out by Cisak and Kennedy could only blaze the loose ball over.
If one warning sign wasn’t enough for the hosts, another was to follow seconds later when a ball over the top found Matt Godden. He lifted the ball over Cisak and it looked to be bouncing in, only for a last gasp goal-line clearance from Tom Parkes to deny the striker.
Soon enough though Orient began to find their feet with Andrew Fox having to be alert to block a Harry Cornick effort from 18 yards and the same player then heading over on 11 minutes.
In similar fashion to Saturday, the hosts pushed forward for the remainder of the first half and took the lead 20 minutes in. Dean Cox ran at Henry before delivering a cross for Simpson to volley and Jones to make the initial save. The ball ran loose and Cornick rattled the post but the ball bounced back across goal and Gavin Massey rammed home at the third attempt.
Stevenage could, and perhaps should have pulled level six minutes later when another ball lifted over the top found McAnuff and he dribbled at goal. Rather than shoot he looked to find Godden but the ball was behind him and eventually scrambled away.
To make matters worse Leyton Orient doubled their advantage eight minutes before the break after a spell of sustained pressure. Despite Boro switching to 4-3-3 to combat the hosts’ midfield numbers, Andy Hessenthaler’s men were finding space with Cornick again at the centre of the action. He was given too much time on the right to pick out Dean Cox on the edge of the area and Orient’s talisman headed home powerfully from the edge of the box, via the post.
It nearly became 3-0 before the break when Jones gathered but then dropped a deep cross, but fortunately Massey’s effort was bundled wide.
Stevenage responded with a double-sub at the start of the second half with Rowan Liburd and Dale Gorman replacing Kennedy and Lee. For a time that seemed to stem the Orient flow and on the hour Boro could have pulled one back when Godden knocked down a Gorman cross, but McAnuff could only fire wide.
Connor Hunte came on for his Stevenage debut on 66 minutes, replacing Tom Conlon and looked to help Boro get back on track. Instead it was Leyton Orient who wrapped up all three points with a third with 15 minutes remaining. A counter attack down the Orient right saw sub Jordan Bowery fire in a cross which deflected off a defender into Massey’s path and the striker rifled home his second.
Hunte fired wide at the back post moments later, Gorman fired straight at Cisak with four minutes remaining and Liburd poked wide in injury time as Boro pushed for a consolation but were left frustrated on a disappointing evening for Stevenage.
Next up is a home game against Luton Town this Saturday (3pm) and tickets are now on General Sale in-store or online at www.borotickets.co.uk (for those with existing online purchasing history).
Leyton Orient (4-2-3-1): Cisak, Hunt, Erichot, Parkes, Semedo; Atangana (Weir 51), Kelly, Cornick, Cox (Bowery 65), Massey; Simpson (Palmer 73)
Subs not used: Sargeant, Clohessy, Kennedy, Gnanduillet
Stevenage (4-4-2): Jones; Henry, Wilkinson, Franks, Fox; Conlon (Hunte 66), Tonge, Lee (Gorman 46), McAnuff; Godden, Kennedy (Liburd 46)
Subs not used: Day, Pett, Hyde, Donnellan
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Attendance: 3,779 (304 away)