Orient dug deep and rode their luck in this first round Carling Cup clash away at Colchester Utd, but produced the moments of quality to move into round two.

It is two wins from two games in this new season now.

At full time, boss Geraint Williams had plenty to cheer on this first return to his old stamping ground.

Adrian Patulea made a dream start in his first competitive match since arriving at Brisbane Road.

The 24 year-old Romanian fired Orient ahead with only 90 seconds gone, when he rose at the far post and headed home JJ Melligan's deep cross from the right.

His effort left U's keeper Mark Cousins helpless. Earlier in the phase, the Romanian hitman had been shoved, but the referee played advantage.

Patulea's goal was one of his very first touches in anger for Orient. It came came so early as to catch out a few straggling spectators.

The U's spent extended periods inside Orient's final third but could not break through. Twice, goal-bound strikes were cleared off the line.

The clash ended badly for the U's when Clive Platt was sent off after he clashed off the ball with Ben Chorley as the U's prepared a free kick.

When he eventually could, Simon Hackney scored with his shot, but the strike will be cold comfort to the host's at their Weston Homes Community Stadium home.

Hackney was the U's most threatening player throughout.

Boss Geraint Williams gave young Andros Townsend his debut on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

He added speed on the left wing and his presence meant Jason Demetriou could play in the middle of the pitch. The 18 year-old struck a rasping shot that test Cousins early on.

Glenn Morris deputised in goal for Jamie Jones and produced a finger tip save early on to nudge over Simon Hackney's cross-cum-shot.

James Scowcroft and Patulea started up front. The game ended with Jarvis and Scott McGleish leading the line. By then the damage had been done.

The U's threatened through Kevin Lisbie. He glanced a header wide of the far post from a Hackney corner close to half time.

The first half was an evenly balanced affair as the host's began to impose themselves after their early shock.

At the very end of the first 45 minutes, Melligan almost doubled Orient's lead. His header was cleared cleared by new U's signing Magnus Okuonghae.

Colchester started the second half strongly.

Two minutes in, Lesbie dragged his shot wide past the far post after Ashley Vincent had churned up the right flank. It was his third good chance.

Just moments before, Patulea had squandered a great chance when he opted to try and turn inside his marker instead of shooting at goal from eight yards out.

Orient doubled their advantage on 63 minutes. Demetriou set up Melligan when he drove at the heart of the U's defence before laying off to the winger out wide on the right.

The Irishman fired his shot past Cousin and low into the far corner.

Scott McGleish replaced Scowcroft on 76 minutes and his persistence in chasing down a long ball was almost rewarded when he hassled Cousins into spilling an elementary catch.

The U's piled on the pressure as full time loomed but only rarely converted it into penetration.

Dean Hammond saw his goal-bound header cleared off the line on 85 minutes.

Hackney's extra time consolation will not bother Orient, who now progress into round two of the Carling Cup and have cause to be optimistic ahead of the visit of Oldham on Saturday.

Morris, Purches, Chorley, Mkandawire, Melligan, Demetriou, Daniels, Smith, Scowcroft, (McGleish 76) Patulea (Jarvis 82), Townsend (Thornton 60).

Attendance: 3,308