Leyton Orient match cut short due to medical emergency

O’s were leading 1-0 thanks to an early Joe Pigott goal, when play was halted six minutes from time.

And after a lengthy delay while a supporter received treatment, an announcement shortly before 10.30pm confirmed the match would not be restarted.

This evening’s match will not be restarted due to the ongoing medical emergency in the East Stand.

All of our hopes are prayers are with the supporter and his loved ones at this incredibly distressing time.

— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) October 3, 2023

Richie Wellens had made five changes to his starting line-up from the weekend’s defeat at lowly Fleetwood, with Ed Turns, Dan Happe, Max Sanders, Jordan Brown and Rob Hunt coming in.

And Sol Brynn made a sharp early save from Sean Roughan’s header, before Brown blocked a goalbound effort O’Connor.

Sanders was denied by Lukas Jensen at the other end, while Idris El Mizouni volleyed over from a Pigott cross.

But O’s took the lead on 11 minutes when Ruel Sotiriou kept possession well and fired across the six-yard box for Pigott to find the net.

Theo Archibald and Sanders continued to look lively against their former club, with Pigott seeing a header from a free-kick held by Jensen on 39 minutes.

Hakeeb Adelukan fired over as the Imps looked to respond before the break, with Reeco Hackett-Fairchild heading a great chance wide in stoppage time.

Brynn made a vital save with his feet soon after the restart to deny Lincoln a leveller, before Jensen’s fantastic stop denied Brown.

Sanders and Brown then combined well to set up Pigott, but he fired over Jensen’s crossbar.

And Sotiriou had an effort touched out by Roughan, but O’s were denied a corner as a goal kick was awarded instead.

Sotiriou and Sanders made way for Aaron Drinan and Darren Pratley midway through the half, with El Mizouni seeing a header from Archibald’s curling cross saved by Jensen on 78 minutes.

But play was then held up due to a medical emergency among home supporters in the crowd with the players were taken from the field and the match eventually called off.

Leyton Orient: Brynn, Turns, Happe (James 79(, Brown, Pigott (Graham 77), Sotiriou (Drinan 67), Archibald, Cooper, El Mizouni, Sanders (Pratley 67), Hunt. Unused subs: Howes, Sweeney, Moncur.

Attendance: 8,101 (including 592 Lincoln fans).