Town’s final pre-season friendly at Leyton Orient ended in a 1-1 draw with Lloyd James netting a final moments penalty for the home side to equalise Balint Bajner’s ninth minute opener for the Blues.

Town started with Dean Gerken in goal, Jonny Parr at right-back, Tyrone Mings on the left and skipper Luke Chambers and Christophe Berra at the heart of the defence.

Luke Hyam was at the centre of the midfield alongside Cole Skuse with Elliott Hewitt on the right and Jay Tabb on the left.

New signing Bajner partnered Daryl Murphy up front. The rest of the first team squad were on the bench, aside from Paul Anderson and Tommy Smith, who missed out with niggles, and Paul Taylor.

The home side threatened first in the eighth minute, James striking the top of the bar with a well-struck freekick from 25 yards.

A minute later, Town went in front. Tabb cut in from the left and hit a low shot which O’s keeper Adam Legzdins blocked. The loose ball ran out to Bajner, who deftly stroked home his second goal in a Blue shirt from just inside the box.

Orient striker David Mooney hit shot on the turn which deflected wide, then Mathieu Baudry saw a header flick through to Gerken with the home side having had more of the early opportunities despite Town having taken the lead.

Just before the half hour, Chambers headed a deep Tabb corner from the left over, Town’s best chance since the goal.

Orient, who had continued to have most of the ball and a greater share of the chances, should have got back on terms in the 33rd minute when Romain Vincelot broke into the area on the right, but Gerken spread himself well to deny the former Dagenham and Redbridge man with his toe.

The Blues were forced into a change in the 38th minute when Parr picked up what looked to be either a groin or hamstring injury. Cameron Stewart took over on the right of midfield with Hewitt switching to right-back.

Just before the half-time whistle was sounded by referee Gary Sutton, sub Stewart curled a freekick just wide after Tabb had been fouled.

Orient will have felt themselves unfortunate to be behind at the break, having played more of the better football and having had one or two decent chances, Vincelot in particular will have been rueing not taking his chance. Town, meanwhile, had one serious opportunity which a grateful Bajner took confidently.

Goalscorer Bajner made way at half-time, David McGoldrick taking over alongside Murphy in the attack. The home side made two changes with former Blue Kevin Lisbie coming on up front.

Town started the second half on top but chances were rare, a 55th minute Chambers header from the second of two corners deflected wide off another Blues player.

On 61 McGoldrick superbly played Mings into space down the left but the full-back’s cross was deflected behind his waiting team-mates.

Five minutes later, Bradley Pritchard played in Mooney, who stabbed wide when he should have put his side back on terms.

A Town corner reached Stewart beyond the far post in the 71st minute but the sub’s shot was blocked. Two minutes later Frank Nouble and Anthony Wordsworth took over from Murphy and Hyam.

Eleven minutes from the end, Tabb almost seized on an error in the Orient defence, but keeper Legzdins was off his line quickly to claim. Town’s second new addition Kevin Bru took over from Skuse on 82 with Alex Henshall replacing Tabb.

With six minutes Gerken left palmed Dean Cox’s 30-yard freekick over, then on 87 Town should have extended their lead. McGoldrick cut his way into the area before hitting a shot which Legzdins blocked.

The loose ball fell to Henshall but the keeper managed to get back to save again, the loose ball hitting the now-offside McGoldrick, who moments later made way for Jack Marriott.

In the final minute, Orient equalised from the spot after Henshall was adjudged to have fouled ex-Blue Lisbie. James sent Gerken the wrong way to score. Moments before the whistle sub Bru shot over.

Although the penalty looked harsh and Town had had the better of the second half, a draw was probably a far result with the O’s the better side in the first, despite having found themselves behind to Bajner’s goal.

Town: Gerken, Parr (Stewart 38), Mings, Hyam (Wordsworth 73), Chambers, Berra, Hewitt, Skuse (Bru 82)), Murphy (Nouble 73), Bajner (McGoldrick 46 (Marriott 88)), Tabb (Henshall 82). Subs: Bialkowski, Clarke, Bru, Crowe. Att: 2,052 (Town: 595)

Photo: Action Images

martleshamitfc added 16:58 - Aug 2 so what's the news on Taylor?
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joshITFCporter added 17:00 - Aug 2 unbeaten in preseason, roll on fulham! albeit no strikeforce we have played has been as good as fulhams, our defenders can take pride in conceding just 1 goal all pre-season bajner and henshall look like they are fighting for a place in the starting 11 which is always good to see and McGoldrick getting a half is excellent news, hopefully he will be scoring more beaties come the scum game! COYB!

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76blue added 17:01 - Aug 2 That should damage confidence :/
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Kirbmeister added 17:01 - Aug 2 We've conceded 2 goals.
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joshITFCporter added 17:02 - Aug 2 make that 2 goals in preseason *facepalm*
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roytheboy added 17:05 - Aug 2 Presumably Fulham will be tougher opposition, well done Bajner.
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TractorBoy666 added 17:06 - Aug 2 Not so sure about starting with Tabb and Hewitt on the wings having added two wingers to the squad. However, conceded just the two goals all pre season is delightful and I think our defence is good. Just unsure on the attacking still, but it all depends if at least Stewart or Henshall or Anderson start next weekend, then I think our attack will be fine. I'd start Bajner and Murphy up top next week assuming McGoldrick can't start! Can't wait, COYB..!

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muccletonjoe added 17:10 - Aug 2 2 minutes for jack Marriott , bajner straight in front of a town academy prospect and will probably keep him out of the team . and before the bozos on here tell me he has scored in the last two games , Marriott has also found the net in pre season. why has he been given the elbow ?
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bluemagic74 added 17:13 - Aug 2 Look forward 2 next week now and hope 4 a better result, great. 2 see didz get almost 45 and well done Mr Bajner hope your goals form carry into season ahead next week. Roll on next Saturday. COYB UP THE TOWN....@
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bluefeast added 17:13 - Aug 2 I thought MM would of picked his preferred 11 for this game apart from those injured. I fail to see picking our to ball winers in centre mid and tabb wide will create anything at championship level. We must have better available. Seems strange to pick the weaker links of last season in this game. Roll on Fulham , good time to play them i reckon ,loads of signing that dont yet gell will be decent for us ,providing we are able to retain the ball , so no hot potatoes please Mick.

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floridaboy added 17:15 - Aug 2 We will go nowhere if MM persists with Skuse and Hyam in the middle of the park. Offer us absolutely NOTHING! Surely he has to play either Wordsworth or Bru alongside Skuse. Oh forgot he has to play Hyam because he is 'one of our own'
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battyblue added 17:15 - Aug 2 Jack Marriott got a good run out then not impressed to be honest was hoping for better but Mick stuck with his old favorites again wheres the ambition this was a pre season friendly to try some flair but no to much to expect guess this the norm for another season but sincerely hope not
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blueboy1981 added 17:20 - Aug 2 Hoping for MUCH - but expecting less than that. Same old traits - different season that's all. Like I've said many times - FLAIR is not in MM's Dictionary - and worse still, I'm still waiting to be proved wrong, which some continuously tell me I am.
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Warkys_Tash added 17:21 - Aug 2 Taylor hardly played all pre-season yet Mick said a few weeks ago, he was 'flying'... Mmmm, I reckon he will be 'flying' off somewhere else by 31st Aug..
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DurhamTownFan added 17:26 - Aug 2 I see it as mm giving one last look at fringe players. From what we've seen in preseason it sounds like henshall and Stewart/Anderson should be first picks. I really think tabb and Hewitt played as a last chance to show some chance to play regularly. On Marriott/Bajner: Bajner now has 2 in 2 so difficult to argue. He's spent last year in German equivalent of league 1 while Marriott was playing non league. It's a very long season, and I'm sure it's more like Marriott vs Nouble for fourth spot, as for me Bajner looks a surety to be third choice

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blueboy1981 added 17:27 - Aug 2 Battyblue - AMBITION ?? ........... the only ambition within the Club these days sits with a few of us - thank goodness it's not quite dead - as yet !! Watch for the minus button punchers - but it's TRUE.
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irishtim added 17:31 - Aug 2 Blueboy what will you say if we go up?
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itfcbam added 17:33 - Aug 2 So bloody negative on here! We haven't lost all pre season yet people are still moaning! Whilst I would love us to win the league lets be realistic, we are in the lower to middle tier in this league financially so have to be so shrewed in our dealings. Even teams like Derby, Forest are ahead of us financially due to bigger crowds. The play offs are acheivable but going to be very tough, which is a testament to the job MM is doing. Its gonna be hard but lets be positive (for a change)

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runningout added 17:37 - Aug 2 Midfield still can do better.. Tabb should be working his socks off, with composure!.. Taylor the same, if he ever plays for us again..
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muzzyitfc added 17:42 - Aug 2 That'll be Taylor going back to posh then. He do alright with Agado up front there.
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oscarwhiting added 17:42 - Aug 2 Has no one realised that when hyam wasn't playing everyone was really unhappy. Now he's playing every week and everyone is still complaining. Anyway, haven't seen any pre season games so can't really comment on performances. But why do we have 2 new wingers that we have signed but we decide to play two players out of position instead. Personally I would go for this line up for next week: Gerks Parr Berra chambers mings Anderson Wordsworth hyam henshal Banjner Murphy But have a feeling it will be: Gerks Chambers Berra smith parr/mings Anderson skuse hyam hunt Nouble Murphy Very exited for the new season. COYB

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J4ck22 added 17:44 - Aug 2 It's a friendly for god sake...
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Bluetone added 17:52 - Aug 2 So are we to look forward to a season of doing the "dirty stuff" playing not to lose and hoping to sneak 1 - 0.? Certainly looks like it. Anyone wanting to see the traditional Town style of yesteryear of a passing game played with flare well while we have McCarthy here you're not going to see it.
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martleshamitfc added 17:56 - Aug 2 oscarwhiting - Hunt is injured and hasn't played yet so won't appear next week. But probably not far off with your other predictions (unfortunately)!
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blueboy1981 added 18:01 - Aug 2 irishtim ................ absolutely ecstatic to be honest ..... maybe more so than some of you. That's why I am so fed up of having been in the Championship for so, so long ....... after being as close to the Club in the successful days i.e (78/81) .... as indeed of today. We need to get, at least some, of all that back ....... and see the place 'rocking' again. If we go up this season ......... I'll be the first to congratulate ALL concerned ..... again FACT.

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