Leyton Orient won their first League One match of the season against a sub-par Reading side at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

A game lacking any real quality or cutting edge, all that could separate the sides was an error by young goalkeeper Coniah Boyce-Clarke, called into the team to replace the injured Joel Pereira.

Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Chem Campbell was given a debut, coming in from the start and replacing Adrian Akande on the wing.

Once the referee adjusted his technology and after a short delay, the game got off to an end-to-end and frantic start. The Royals looked up for it and it took less than 10 minutes for Zach Hemming to be forced into action, catching Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s close-range header after Charlie Savage swung a cross into the box.

Five minutes later, Lewis Wing nearly converted a trademark free-kick, forcing Hemming to dive across his goal line to tip the ball away. However, that was as good as it got for the hosts in the first half as Richie Wellens’ side firmly controlled the remaining half hour. Dan Happe fizzed an effort over the crossbar from the edge of the box and Boyce-Clarke was forced into a strong save minutes later as Kelman fired on target.

Unfortunately, the save counted for nothing as the Jamaica international allowed the same forward to get on the scoresheet in frustrating circumstances. Facing away from goal, the striker spun past Tyler Bindon and got a shot off, which looked to have been weak enough to be dealt with. Evading the young goalkeeper, Kelman’s shot squirmed into the back of the net and gave the O’s a deserved lead in fortuitous circumstances.

One had hoped going behind would be the shock to the system required to kick the hosts into gear, but it was not to be in the first period as booes rang out around the SCL Stadium upon the blowing of the whistle.

Reading needed to improve in the second half, and they certainly did. While Orient did a good job at keeping chances to a premium, the Royals peppered the goal much more than they had in a lacklustre first half. The biggest chance fell to debutant Campbell, who want sent free behind the defence, cut back into the box and looked to curl one into the bottom corner.

Hemming was up to the task and kept his goal safe, helped by a few of his defenders throwing their bodies on the line in an ensuing goalmouth scramble. Michael Craig hit the post with a thunderous effort and Ehibhatiomhan found himself with in the occasional piece of space to get an effort off.

Jeriel Dorsett flicked a long throw goalbound by Hemming remained unfazed as the minutes ticked by and it became apart that it was ‘one of those days’ for an underbaked Royals outfit.

After two successive 2-0 home victories, the defeat marked the first on home soil since March and was not a welcome return from the international break.

With a clear week, Ruben Selles’ side return to action at Bolton Wanderers next Saturday.