Published for Ilford Recorder on http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/content/LeytonOrient/story.aspx?brand=RECOnline&category=spLeytonOrientFC&tBrand=reconline&tCategory=spLeytonOrientFC&itemid=WeED29%20Jul%202010%2010:19:27:580
Also published for Leyton Orient FC on http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsFeatures/0,,10439~2105767,00.html
ORIENT earned a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur XI, despite at one stage holding a two-goal half-time lead in a tightly-fought contest.
After sustaining early Tottenham pressure, Orient took the advantage. Scott McGleish's goal-bound effort was handled on the line, before a confident Ben Chorley slotted home the resulting penalty.
The hosts then doubled their lead as an impressive Matthew Spring provided a defence-splitting pass to McGleish who calmly chipped the ball past David Button in goal.
Orient had four more chances to add to their led, yet the woodwork denied them each time.
The visitors proved tougher opposition in the second-half, creating several half-chances.
Spurs had the first chance, as a clever through ball by Dean Parrett found Harry Kane, forcing O's keeper Jamie Jones to extinguish the threat.
Good skill from in-form Jonathan Obika on the byline split the O's defence, before his cut-back to Ryan Mason beat Jones.
Orient soon conceded again, as Obika's deft flick-on from a deep Nathan Byrne cross fooled substitute goalie Lee Butcher, landing in the bottom corner of the net.
The match's last chance fell to O's captain Stephen Dawson, who's cross-shot required quick reflexes from sub keeper Oscar Jansson to push the ball onto the bar.
Both teams battled hard, but as the final whistle blew both had to settle for the draw - a fair reflection on an evenly-fought contest at the Matchroom Stadium.
Orient managed Russell Slade said: "It was a good workout, players got decent pitch-time. For players like Jonathan Téhoué to get 45-minutes is good."
"I think we're well prepared for the coming season. We need to maintain a focus and a certain level of performance going into the next few weeks."
Téhoué added: "We could have created a bigger goal margin in the first half, we did really well. I think as a team we are close to being match-ready."
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