All to play for as Kelman double keeps Orient's hopes of Wembley London showdown alive

Picture: @capitalfootball

League One Play-Off 1st Leg

Leyton Orient 2, Stockport County 2

Justice of sorts was achieved at Brisbane Road where Leyton Orient failed to fully capitalise on an advantage presented to them by the first, and extremely controversial, of Charlie Kelman's two goals.

The division's Golden Boot winner was a good two yards offside when he gave the  Londoners a 31st minute lead in the first leg of their playoff semi-final. Stockport County's  protests were mild considering the awful decision that conspired to put them in arrears.

Kelman found himself well beyond the last visiting defender when he latched onto Jamie Donley's free kick that had been flicked on by Sean Clare and Orient skipper Omar Beckles. 

He had no trouble slipping it beyond the long reach of giant Jamaican, Corey Addai in County's  goal. "We would rather get a genuine goal," admitted  Orient manager Richie Wellens while his opposite number Dave Challinor fumed: "It was the worst decision I've seen in 15 years of management."

County hit back with two swift goals after the interval before Kelman rescued Orient by taking his tally for the season to 23 goals with an 88th minute penalty after Fraser Horsfall's hand had  got in the way of an intended clearance.

Orient could have won it two minutes later had Beckles not blazed wastefully over but that would have been more than his side merited. Even though they were second best for long periods in a rugged, ragged contest, Orient should not be too alarmed at their prospects on Wednesday in the second leg at Edgeley Park which happened to be the scene of a 4-1 win for them last September.

But this time they will doubtless have a plan to curb County's superior football, not least the tantalising Jayden Fevrier. The recalled winger was much too fast for Randell Williams who was forced to resort to illegal means to keep tabs on him.

Six minutes after County's 58th minute equaliser from a penalty dispatched by Ollie Norwood following a handling 

offence by Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Williams fouled Fevrier once too often. For that he was booked and replaced once Norwood's free kick had been met by Horsfall's thumping header at the far post.

In truth, County deserved to hold on thereafter but it was not to be. 

An all-London play-off final is still very much a possibility then, with South London rivals Charlton taking on Wycombe Wanderers in the other semi-final.

Orient: (3-1-4-2): Keeley- Edmonds-Green, Beckles, Cooper (James 65) - Clare - Galbraith, Donley, 

Abdulai (O'Neill), Williams, Currie 65) - Agyei, Kelman 

County: (3-5-2): Addai - Hills, Horsfall, Pye- Fevrier (Bate 82), Collar (Connolly 82), Norwood, 

Moxon (Camps 90), Norwood, Touray - Wooton, Olaofe (Bailey 90)