Leyton Orient given free pass after pre-season losses

The League One club sent squads to two fixtures and lost 2-0 at Chelmsford City and 3-2 at Ebbsfleet United.

And Wellens saw Dominic Poleon put Fleet ahead on 12 minutes, with Shaq Coulthirst doubling the advantage before the half-hour mark.

Poleon made it 3-0 on 36 minutes, but O’s hit back in the closing stages as Ruel Sotiriou latched onto a fine through ball to finish with a composed strike.

And Sotiriou then forced a mistake from the Ebbsfleet defence before teeing up Jephte Tanga in front of an empty net.

“I’m pleased with the second half, we looked levels above them, which we are, levels above them,” Wellens told the club website.

“But when you get that situation that we’re very fatigued, and you obviously split the teams up, two games tonight so everybody gets 90 minutes, you give the players a free pass on that one.

“But it won’t happen again.”

O’s are set to hold a behind-closed-doors match on Saturday, before visiting Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday (July 25, 7.45pm).

And they travel to Colchester United (July 29) and Bishop’s Stortford (August 1) to complete their pre-season campaign, before the League One season starts at Charlton Athletic on August 5.

Orient (v Ebbsfleet): Brynn, James, Beckles, Happe, Sweeney, Galbraith, El Mizouni, Agyei, Sotiriou, Trialist, Drinan. Subs: Phillips, Bullas, Makal, Tanga, Koroma, Kwatchey.

Orient (v Chelmsford): Howes, Hunt, Brown, Light, Sodje, Pratley, Sanders, Archibald, Moncur, Obiero, Trialist. Subs: Byrne, Uko, St Louis, Agyemang, Avgoustidis, Imasuen, Pegrum.

*Defender Shadrach Ogie has left Leyton Orient and joined League Two side Gillingham for an undisclosed fee.

The academy graduate made 58 appearances for the first team and will link up with former O’s boss Kenny Jackett, who is Director of Football at Priestfield.

A club statement said: “Everyone at Leyton Orient Football Club would like to thank Shadrach for his efforts and commitment shown whilst at the club, and wish him all the very best for the future.”