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Ebbsfleet 3 Leyton Orient 2
Jamie Forshaw took the plaudits after his double strike saw Ebbsfleet spring a surprise against League 1 Leyton Orient on Tuesday.
The Fleet twice came from behind before Forshaw’s second-half winner sealed a heart-warming display from Liam Daish’s side.
Daish (pictured) used 18 players in total but it was Forshaw who stole the show with an excellent performance down the right wing.
Orient dominated early on against the Fleet’s 4-5-1 formation and took a 15th-minute lead when Jason Demetriou scored from close range.
Ebbsfleet levelled in the 36th minute when Forshaw took one touch and fired in a brilliant left-foot shot from 25 yards.
Striker Scott McLeish restored Orient’s lead six minutes later but, on the stroke of half-time, youngster Michael West capitalised on a defensive error to round keeper Glenn Morris and score.
The contest was settled six minutes into the second half when Forshaw linked up well with striker James Lindie before scoring at the second attempt after Morris blocked his initial shot.
Orient failed to force Fleet keeper Lance Cronin into a serious save after the break as Ebbsfleet’s team of rookies, which also included Cronin, Darius Charles and Dean Pooley, gained in confidence.
Fleet boss Liam Daish said: "The lads have all got a good appreciation of the game. They have decent backgrounds and their hunger and athleticism will hopefully be key factors for us.
"You can see that we can break very quickly and have a turn of pace."