Leyton Orient 3 (Wareham 5, 10, James 90+1) Sutton United 1(Kouassi 12)
Sutton were beaten inside 90 minutes in the Papa Johns Trophy for the first time as Leyton Orient maintained their own chance of progress, flying out of the blocks with two goals in the first ten minutes and then, after U's had been unable to build on Kylian Kouassi's immediate response, clinching things in stoppage time through a Tom James free kick after Craig Eastmond had been sent off for a second bookable offence.
There were numerous changes for both sides from the teams that had played in the EFL on Saturday, Orient making eight changes and Matt Gray using a number of players missing from the first team starting line-up recently, and with U's giving a first start to Aaron Pierre and with Jon Barden at left back the defence had an unfamiliar look and was under pressure from the start. Orient went in front when Ruel Sotiriou ran on to Jayden Wareham's flick and burst in to the penalty area before returning the ball to Wareham, who scored with ease, and the second came when Theo Archibald guided the ball in to Wareham's path, and the Chelsea loanee stepped inside two challenges before again shooting low in to the net.
U's responded immediately when Shad Ogie tried to cut out a pass from Ali Smith that goalkeeper Sam Sargeant thought would be coming through to him, but could only divert the ball to Kouassi whose first time shot beat the out of position keeper. However Orient remained on top and U's were grateful to Brad House for a good save to tip over Archibald's 25 yard shot before Craig Clay saw a shot from similar distance take a deflection and clip the crossbar. Sotiriou saw another shot deflected wide while Ogie just failed to direct a header from Clay's cross, and House did well to block a Wareham shot before making a good save from Aaron Drinan just before half time. U's had their moments, Harry Beautyman heading over from Joe Kizzi's cross, but will have felt pleased to reach half time just one behind.
Sutton brought Eastmond on for Beautyman at half time, and U's captain picked up a quick booking for a foul on Jayden Sweeney but U's had far more of the second period and Kouassi had a goalbound shot deflected over by Tom James after a free kick had fallen at his feet. There was still a threat from Orient when they attacked, the impressive Archibald again taking up a good position to collect a crossfield pass, and from his pass Sotiriou forced the ball past House but Coby Rowe was back to clear off the line.
U's still had their chances, with Eastmond just wide from a free kick and Omar Bugiel, one of three substitutes brought on with twenty minutes left, sending a shot from outside the penalty area just past the post, but with the game going in to stoppage time Eastmond was shown a second yellow card for halting Paul Smyth's run just outside the penalty area, and James added to the punishment with a well struck free kick that put the game beyond U's reach.
Leyton Orient: S Sargeant, S Duke-McKenna(sub I El Mizouni 22), J Sweeney, S Ogie, D Pratley(sub T James H-T), J Brown, J Wareham, C Clay, A Drinan(sub C Kelman 70), R Sotiriou(sub P Smyth 70), T Archibald. Subs n/u R Byrne, C Wood, Z Obiero. Booked: Sotiriou, James, Sargeant
Sutton: B House, J Kizzi, J Barden, C Rowe, A Pierre(sub L John 71), L Gambin(sub O Bugiel 71), J Neufville, A Smith, K Kouassi, H Beautyman(sub C Eastmond H-T), C Kendall(sub D Wilson 71). Subs n/u J Rose, C Dundas. Booked: Eastmond, Barden. Sent Off: Eastmond (foul-second bookable offence)
Referee: Sam Allison
Attendance: 1,073 (161 away)