Football Review | Leyton Orient 4 - 0 Doncaster Rovers

Just what Leyton Orient needed after a poor run in the league

Dom Ballard scored a hat-trick as they swept aside Doncaster in emphatic fashion.

Author | Ajay

Stadium | Brisbane Road

View from behind the goal

Orient made the perfect start, taking the lead inside the opening minute when Ballard capitalised on a loose touch from Connor O'Riordan, drove towards goal and calmly slotted past Ian Lawlor.

Aaron Connolly doubled the advantage midway through the first half, finding space after exchanging passes with Charlie Wellens before striking a precise low shot into the bottom right corner from outside the area.

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The hosts pressed for a third before half-time, with both Connolly and Ballard going close, and it was Ballard who put the game beyond reach three minutes after the restart, rounding Lawlor following a long kick from goalkeeper Killian Cahill.

Cahill then preserved Orient’s commanding lead with a fine save to tip Billy Sharp’s close-range effort over the bar, and the home side added a fourth in the 72nd minute when Ballard completed his hat-trick by turning in Connolly’s low cross.

The only disappointment for Orient came late on as Rarmani Edmonds-Green was carried off on a stretcher.

That left Orient to see out the closing stages, including 10 minutes of added time, with a man down. Apart from one effort that Tom James cleared off the line, the hosts were rarely threatened as they preserved their clean sheet.

Best fan reaction

Views from around the ground

Jonathan, a Leyton Orient season ticket holder, told us: “Brilliant to see Aaron Connolly back among the goals. He was such a promising talent at Brighton, and hopefully he's finding his way again.”

Carl, another Orient fan, added: “The strike partnership of Connolly and Ballard could be the best I’ve seen at Orient in years. Outstanding recruitment from the club. Hopefully the O’s can really hit top gear this autumn, instead of waiting until winter like last season.”