Royals suffer first home defeat to The O's.
Kelman's first half effort was enough to claim all three points in RG2.
After a short delay due to technical issues for the officials, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan kicked us off shooting towards the Eamonn Dolan Stand.
Both teams probed patiently in the early stages of the half with the only opportunity falling to Kelvin who stretched to force a close range header on target - however drawing a comfortable save from Hemming in the Orient goal.
On thirteen minutes, Ben Elliott's surging run drew a foul from The Orient defender roughly 25 yards from goal. Today's skipper, Lewis Wing, stepped up and curled the resulting free kick towards the top corner however Hemming was quickly across to parry the ball round for a corner. The Orient keeper then rose above the crowd to claim Wing's cross from the corner.
On 22 minutes, after The Royals failed to clear, the visitors had their first sight on goal as Galbraith fired high and wide after the ball fell kindly for him on the edge of the box. Orient then had another half-opportunity as Happe headed over from inside the six-yard box.
Moments later the best chance of the opening quarter fell to Orient, as the ball was cut back to Charlie Kelman inside the box however Boyce-Clarke acrobatically tipped the ball over the bar.
The visitors continued to press, and the deadline was broken on the 27th minute. As a ricochet fell again to Kelman, this time outside the box, with his low drive squirming under Boyce-Clarke in The Royals goal.
It was Orient who remained on top for the remaining minutes of the half, but The Royals back line stood firm to deny any further goal scoring opportunities. After 1 minute of additional time, the referee blew for the half time whistle.
Half-time: Reading 0-1 Leyton Orient
After a much-needed half time break, The Royals came back to the field hoping for a more profitable second half as they kicked towards a vocal-as-ever Club1871.
Neither side particularly asserted their dominance early in the half, however the visitors had the first sight on goal on 52 minutes as Galbraith fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box. This sprung The Royals into life as a jinxing run from Kelvin on left forced him to the edge of the box, but his powerful shot was well blocked by the Orient defender.
Moments later The Royals best chance of the game fell to debutant Chem Campbell. Having been slid in by Ben Elliott, our number 20 feinted to shoot - sending the Orient defender flying and leaving himself with only Hemming in goal to beat. The Orient goalkeeper however stood firm, denying Campbell's effort as a flood of red shirts ran back to then block Savage's rebound effort and eventually clear the ball to safety.
The Royals continued to press and on 59 minutes some neat play found Michael Craig on the corner of the box who unleashed a powerful strike on goal only for it to hit the outside of the 'keepers near post.
Shortly later Rubén opted for a double substitution as Campbell and Savage made way for Adrian Akande and Harvey Knibbs who made his return from injury. Knibbs was quickly in the action as his persistence almost forced a scramble in the visitor's box, only for the referee to award a foul.
The game remained even for the subsequent 20 minutes or so. With the only glimpse of a breakthrough being Jeriel Dorsett forcing a powerful header on goal from a looping cross on 83 minutes, which was routinely saved by the keeper.
As the game moved towards the closing stages, some neat passing seemed to have found an opening for The Royals. Wing's looping pass from the edge of the box found Sam Smith in space, with his acrobatic effort forcing a save from Hemming only for the action to be called offside before we could pounce on the rebound.
The remaining moments were one-way traffic as The Royals tried to force their way to an equaliser - but after seven minutes of additional time, our boys couldn't find a way through.
Full-time: Reading 0-1 Leyton Orient
Reading: Boyce-Clarke, Dorsett (Garcia 87’), Elliott, Craig (Abrefa 82’), Savage (Knibbs 61’), Ehibhatiomhan (Wareham 82’), Smith, Campbell (Akande 61’), Bindon, Mbengue, Wing
Subs: Button, Dean
Leyton Orient: Hemming, James, Happe (Simpson 69’), Agyei (Perkins 66’), Brown (Ball 73’), Currie, Beckles, O’Neil (Graham 74’), Galbraith, Kelman, Clare
Unused subs: Howes, Donley, Pratley
Goals: Kelman (27’)
Yellows: James (8’), Galbraith (41’), Hemming (45+1’), Happe (47’), O’Neil (64’)