Colchester United 1 Leyton Orient 2 ORIENT booked their place in the second round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night as Adrian Patulea and JJ Melligan netted the all-important goals. It was Orient s second successive away win, as they followed up Saturda

Colchester United 1 Leyton Orient 2

ORIENT booked their place in the second round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday night as Adrian Patulea and JJ Melligan netted the all-important goals.

It was Orient's second successive away win, as they followed up Saturday's victory at Bristol Rovers with an identical 2-1 win.

In the end, it was a comfortable win, against a Colchester side who hit seven past Norwich at the weekend, as United's reply came deep into stoppage time.

O's boss Geraint Williams made four changes to Saturday's starting 11 and striker Patulea, who was given the selection nod, could not have dreamed of making such an impact.

The forward, signed from Lincoln in the summer, scored with his very first touch after 79 seconds to put O's in control, when he sent a header crashing into the net following a cross from resurgent star-of-the-show JJ Melligan.

After the game, the O's boss said: "Everyone that came in played well. I don't know whether it shows we have sufficient depth in the squad, but making the changes certainly didn't hurt us."

Glenn Morris took over in goal, while Spurs loanee Andros Townsend played wide left, with striker James Scowcroft partnering Patulea up front, as Jamies Jones, Sean Thornton, Scott McGleish and Ryan Jarvis dropped to the bench.

The only disappointment for Williams was that Simon Hackney cut the deficit in the 94th minute.

"We'd have liked clean sheets in the two games, especially tonight, as I thought we defended well," said Williams, following his winning return to the Essex club he once managed.

"So we were disappointed to concede right at the end, even though it was a good free-kick. We aim to keep clean sheets, but apart from that, it's been a very good start.

"Colchester's front two are going to be very dangerous in this league. They have two decent wingers as well, and you can see how they created so many chances against Norwich on Saturday."

There was also praise for Melligan, who has netted in both Orient games to date. He fired into the corner on 63 minutes to increase Orient's lead, following good work from Jason Demetriou.

Leyton Orient: Morris 7, Purches 7, Mkandawire 8, Chorley 7, Daniels 7, N Melligan 8, Demetriou 7, Smith 7, Townsend 7 (Thornton 60 mins), Scowcroft 7 (McGleish 76 mins), Patulea (Jarvis (83 mins). Subs: Jones, Ashworth, Cave-Brown, Pires.

Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire) 6.

Orient bookings: Mkandawire, Morris, Smith.

Attendance 3,308.