Leyton Orient’s Richie Wellens frustrated by friendly defeat

Leyton Orient head coach Richie Wellens cut a frustrated figure after his side’s pre-season friendly defeat at Colchester United.

O’s fell to a 2-1 loss against the League Two outfit at their JobServe Community Stadium, after seeing Theo Archibald sent off for two bookings in quick succession.

And they have just a trip to National League North side Bishop’s Stortford for their final warm-up match on Tuesday, before starting the League One campaign at Charlton Athletic on August 5.

“They were excellent, their application was very, very good, play forward, pass forward, run forward,” Wellens told the club website.

“And we wanted to play slow and really lethargic.

“The pitch is what it is, but we conceded from two set-plays, which are not good enough.”

The hosts began brightly with Noah Chilvers forcing Sol Brynn into a save in the third minute.

Brynn parried Junior Tchamadeu’s well-struck effort soon after but was beaten on 10 minutes when Tom Dallison headed a corner goalwards and Rob Hunt could only deflect it into his own net.

Hunt deflected a Tchamadeu cross onto his own crossbar moments later, as Wellen’s frustrations grew on the touchline.

And things got worse just before the hour when substitute Archibald was dismissed by referee David Rock, leaving O’s down to 10 men.

Colchester doubled their advantage a minute later as captain Connor Hall converted from a Chilvers set-piece.

But the visitors were given a lifeline when Ruel Sotiriou was fouled in the box by Hall and Charlie Pegrum converted the penalty.

The hosts were awarded a spot-kick of their own eight minutes from time when Samson Tovide was fouled by Harrison Sodje, but saw his effort saved by Brynn.

Zech Obiero and Ethan Galbraith had late chances to level for O’s but Owen Goodman kept both out as Colchester held on.

Orient: Brynn, James, Beckles, Happe, Hunt, Pratley, El Mizouni, Moncur, Sotiriou, Piggott. Subs: Sodje, Sweeney, Galbraith, Brown, Pegrum, Harvest, Tanga, Obiero, Archibald, Drinan.

*Orient will play a pre-season friendly against Heart of Midlothian on July 13, 2024 to mark the Scottish club’s 150-year anniversary.

A bond was forged between the two clubs during World War One, with both suffering great losses at the Battle of the Somme.