Colin West scored the only goal of the game as Leyton Orient knocked Fulham out of the Auto Windscreens Shield at Brisbane Road this evening – although a bad-tempered contest was full of controversy.
The visitors felt that Gary Brazil had scored an equaliser nine minutes before half time when the forward followed up to bury a loose ball after Orient goalkeeper Paul Heald had pushed out a fierce drive from Micky Adams. The linesman’s flag for offisde against the veteran Brazil halted Fulham’s celebrations – but television replays suggested that the experienced forward had been onside.
Fulham were on the defensive at the start of the second half with Robbie Herrera heading an effort from Glenn Cockerill off the line and West seeing his shot blocked from the follow up. A tight contest finished with some serious ill-discipline as Orient defender Kevin Austin was sent off for lashing out at Fulham full back Duncan Jupp, who was booked for his part in the fracas.
LEYTON ORIENT: Heald; Howard, Austin, Hendon, Purse (Bogie 58), Bellamy; Carter, Cockerill, Brooks, Barnett; West (Warren 89).
GOAL: West (6).
SENT OFF: Austin (72).
FULHAM: Stannard; Jupp, Herrera, Moore, Blake; Hurlock, Morgan, Marshall (Hamill 58), Adams; Cusack, Brazil. Subs (not used): Harrison, Angus.
BOOKED: Cusack, Adams, Hurlock, Cusack.
REFEREE: Paul Reijer.
ATTENDANCE: 1,757.
