The Kuflink Stadium has never been a place for the faint-hearted Leyton Orient fan. Two defeats in two seasons (plus two draws in the return fixtures at Brisbane Road) means the O’s, even in their title-winning season, never beat the Fleet in four attempts in National League fixtures.
Either side of those, of course, Orient triumphed in two FA Cup encounters – 2-1 in 1993 and 1-0 in 2021. The latter is our most recent reference point with several players on both sides surviving from that encounter, Dennis Kutrieb’s first experience of the competition proper.
Tonight’s game will be Fleet’s toughest pre-season test, a clash of champions as the League Two title winners – like their hosts – prepare for life in a new division.
Under head coach Richie Wellens, Orient were convincing winners of League Two – and they have already dipped into the transfer market to bolster their side. Striker Dan Agyei comes in from Crewe Alexandra where he partnered the Fleet’s David Amoo last season, while goalkeeper Sol Brynn is on a season-long loan from Middlesbrough. Elsewhere, former Manchester United midfielder Ethan Galbraith joins after his release by the Old Trafford club.
The O’s drew 1-1 with Charlton in a friendly in Spain recently and before that kicked-off pre-season with a 0-0 encounter at Billericay Town. They have another team at Chelmsford City this evening intending to split some of their squad but the stronger lineup is expected to be at the Kuflink Stadium.
Aaron Drinan – who scored the winner in the clubs’ FA Cup encounter two years ago – continues to lead the line alongside joint top scorer and former Hampton and Dover loanee Ruel Sotiriou. Their other top scorer, Paul Smyth, departed for QPR earlier in the close season while defender Shadrach Ogie has today signed for Gillingham. Players’ player of the year Idris El Mizouni has also returned on loan from Ipswich Town.
It’s a side with plenty of former youth internationals while a couple of full internationals also grace Wellens’ squad. And there are a couple of family links with ex-Fleet midfielder Freddy Moncur’s brother George in the squad while young defender Harrison Sodje is related to former Fleet players Akpo and Onome Sodje.
For the Fleet, Josh Wright and Ouss Cissé have worn Orient colours in recent seasons and they will be keen to mix things up against their old club.
The home side, who hope to welcome Billy Clifford back to action, are now into the second half of the pre-season programme with that kick-off date at Rochdale inching ever closer.
You can download an online copy of tonight’s programme from here. Turnstiles open at 6pm.
