Orient edged out as Bolton cash in on keeper mishap to claim opening day spoils

Orient (1) 1 Kelman 38

Bolton Wanderers (1) 2 Charles 8, Adeboyejo 75

Orient fell to an opening day defeat as defensive blunders ushered a mostly even contest Bolton's way.

It was not the debut new keeper Zach Hemming would have chosen. He seemed slow to react to the opening goal and was badly at fault for the Trotters' winner when he spilled a cross into his six-yard box offering sub Victor Adeboyejo a chance to poke into the roof of the net - the striker having been on for barely a minute.

That was rough on the O's, who did well to work their way back into the game after conceding early on and then fashioning some good chances to go in front after levelling through Charlie Kelman.

The east Londoners had a miserable start when they allowed Dion Charles space on the edge of the area to send a low shot into the net via the far post - a flat-footed Hemming perhaps at fault for not getting down quickly enough.

It was not quite the start the summer signing from Middlesbrough would have hoped for and pig-tailed defender Sean Clare - also a newcomer to these parts - didn't help settle his own nerves with a near-suicidal ball across his own box that almost gifted Wanderers a second goal.

Shaken but not stirred, the O's set about repairing the damage and came close to levelling just past the half hour mark when Zech Obiero curled a nice shot onto the crossbar after sidestepping a defender.

It lifted the mood on the pitch and in the stands and before the break, Kelman made it 1-1 after outmuscling defender Jack Iredale and rifling a low crossshot into the bottom corner.

Confidence visibly elevated, Ollie O'Neill chanced his arm with a left footer that didn't go over by much. Memories of a 4-0 drubbing handed out to the Trotters at Brisbane Road three and a half years ago started to come flooding back with the pendulum swing. Could they summon the same delirium? The answer was: Not quite.

Jordan Brown forced a fine save from Nathan Baxter after rising to meet a corner from Obiero to power a header towards the roof of the net and Kelman twice had pops at goal as the O's threatened a winner but Charles missed the clearest opening when he should have put away a cross from the right when totally unmarked - a fresh-air kick the embarrassing outcome.

Kelman same so close to an injury time leveller after Bolton had gone in front for a second time. His rasping drive was brilliantly turned aside by Baxter to complete the day's tale of two keepers.

There should be no gloom after this setback. There is no time for that anyway with games coming thick and fast. Ambitions should remain intact.

Orient did not quite get into the play-off mix last term but were entitled to feel satisfied with their progress in their first season back in the third tier and Richie Wellens signed a new contract. There is every reason to believe the 11th placed finish last term is a solid foundation on which to build.

The O's boss was booked by ref Charles Breakspear in the second half - seemingly for disputing a marginal offside call - but he is a man unlikely to be fazed by such details.

His team have been handed a very challenging start to the campaign though. They might have hoped to catch a Bolton side feeling sorry for themselves after last season's dismal play-off final defeat at the hands of Oxford United at Wembley.

Instead, Ian Evatt's team immediately looked ready to roll sleeves up and battle - putting to the backs of their minds the thought that they might easily have been taking part in the first Championship fixtures of the season at lunchtime.

It doesn't get any easier in the coming weeks. Next weekend Orient face a resurgent Charlton in a derby at the Valley, then take on moneybags Birmingham City back at Brisbane Road - or the Gaughan Group Stadium as it is currently known.

No time to lick wounds, in other words.

O's: (4-2-3-1) Hemming - Clare, Beckles (Cooper 85), Happe, Sweeney (James 77) - Brown, Obiero (Jaiyesimi 85) - O'Neill, Galbraith (Pratley 85), Kelman - Agyei (Perkins 73)

Trotters: (3-5-2) Baxter - Toal, Santos, Iredale (Osei-Tutu 71) - Cogley, Arfield (McAtee 63), Sheehan (Matete 71), Thomason, Schon - Charles (Adeboyejo 74), Collins (Lolos 74)