Orient boss reflects on JPT win

Shaun Batt’s hat-trick sent Orient through to the next round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after a 3-1 win at Gillingham in midweek.

Batt was handed a starting role by boss Russell Slade, who gave Kevin Lisbie a night off and left his fellow five-goal striker David Mooney to rest on the bench.

And the 26-year-old Batt, who joined O’s permanently from Millwall this summer after a successful loan spell last season, repaid the faith shown in him with three well-taken goals.

Slade said: “He worked tirelessly for it and got it inside 65 minutes, so that was fantastic.

“He was only going to stay on for 65-70 minutes and we dragged him off because he got really tired, but it was a fantastic contribution.”

Marvin Bartley and Johnny Gorman also came in alongside Batt and debutant Jayden Stockley, following his deadline day loan move from Bournemouth.

And Slade was impressed with the performance of Bartley in central midfield, adding: “He made some fantastic tackles but he couldn’t complete the 90 minutes and we didn’t want him to cop an injury.”

But the home side had the first chance of the night as Cody McDonald beat Nathan Clarke only to fire wide.

The 19-year-old Stockley was keen to impress in the early stages and Orient, having just missed out on a trip to Wembley last season after losing in the area final to Southend, took the lead when Romain Vincelot was brought down in the box by McDonald and Batt sent Stuart Nelson the wrong way from the penalty spot.

O’s doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time as Moses Odubajo produced a superb run and cross for Batt to volley home his second.

And after Stockley was booked for kicking the ball away, the visitors went 3-0 up just before the hour when his through ball found Batt to beat Leon Legge and slot home.

Gills pulled a goal back when Bradley Dack nodded home at the far post, but there was no denying O’s a seventh win in eight matches this season.

Slade said: “We’ve got two games to play against them in the league and we know what to expect.

“With the momentum we’ve got, the spirit we’ve got and the football we’re playing, we’re looking sharp, looking as if we can get a goal.

“It’s disappointing we’re not playing on Saturday.”

The draw for the next round will be made on Soccer AM on Saturday.