FA Cup first round: Oldham Athletic 1 Leyton Orient 0

Leyton Orient fell at the first hurdle in the FA Cup as Gary Jones’ first half free-kick proved enough for the hosts to secure victory.

In a match devoid of goalscoring opportunities, Jones slotted the 20-yard set piece past Woods, but the O’s only really tested home goalkeeper Paul Rachubka on one occasion throughout the 90 minutes as they slipped to defeat.

Manager Mauro Milanese made four changes from the side which drew 2-2 at home to Coventry City last week with Shane Lowry coming back in to the side along with Shaun Batt, Bradley Pritchard and Chris Dagnall.

The Cup tie got off to a very slow start with little created in the opening stages.

O’s did have the first chance of the encounter on 11 minutes when Cox played the ball inside for an unmarked Josh Wright but the midfielder drilled his effort straight at former O’s loan goalkeeper Paul Rachubka.

Dominic Poleon seemed to be the main threat for the Latics up top as he firstly headed an effort wide, and then saw an effort deflected over the bar by Orient skipper Nathan Clarke.

It was Rachubka who had the first real save of either goalkeeper on 34 minutes when Shaun Batt pulled the ball back for an unmarked Dean Cox in the box but the American keeper superbly tipped the effort over the bar.

But just four minutes later the hosts were in front when Scott Cuthbert gave away a free-kick just outside the box for a foul on skipper Liam Kelly.

And Mike Jones stepped up and slotted past Gary Woods who was rooted to the spot and the O’s went in at half time behind.

Jones blazed an early second half chance over after finding plenty of room at the back post before Batt and Dagnall linked up well, but the former’s shot was easily held by Rachubka.

The O’s struggled initially to force regularly pressure on Lee Johnson’s side, but skipper Clarke went close twice in a matter of minutes.

He firstly nodded the ball back into the box and Genserix Kusunga almost bundled the ball over his own line, before he then headed in Cox’s corner, however, the effort was ruled out for a foul on Rachubka.

O’s went three at the back for the closing stages as Gary Sawyer came on for Mathieu Baudry, but that failed to have the desired impact.

Dean Cox warmed the hands of Rachubka as the game entered the final few minutes as he tried his luck from range, and Bradley Pritchard spurned the best chance as Sawyer’s ball in was only cleared straight to the Zimbabwe international, but he fluffed the chance wide.

Oldham Athletic: Rachubka, Mills, Kelly, Jones, Poleon (Dayton 74), Philliskirk, Forte, Winchester, J Wilson, B Wilson, Kusunga.

Unused substitutes: Etheridge, Dieng, Lockwood, Mellor, Truelove, Tuohy.

Leyton Orient: Woods, Cuthbert, Baudry (Sawyer 82), Clarke, Lowry, Cox, Pritchard, Wright, Batt (Bartley 58), Dagnall, Simpson.

Unused substitutes: Legzdins, Omozusi, Lee, Kashket, Adeboyejo.

Attendance: 3,034 (129 Leyton Orient fans)