ORIENT did everything right except score a goal in this very entertaining cup tie.
The O's spent much of it on the front foot, looked the superior side, and took Premier League Stoke City to extra time in this Carling Cup round two clash.
But it was there that a slice of top drawer class undid plucky Orient.
Dave Kitson supplied the killer touch, when he sent a 30 yard shot into the top corner, past sub keeper Glenn Morris.
It was Kitson's first goal for Stoke.
It was so much less than Geraint Williams' team deserved for their efforts. They were never outclassed.
Kitson's volley from 30 yards was the moment of quality Stoke needed to break Orient's resilience.
Referee Mike Russell supplied many talking points. He waved away two strong Orient appeals for penalties.
Despite the result, there is so much good Orient can take to their League One campaign from this display.
The 2,742 fans who braved the Wednesday night drizzle were treated to a gripping clash.
Ryan Jarvis, starting up front with Adrian Patulea, looked sharp and was a threat for the entire game.
Jason Demetriou and Andros Townsend were full of running, deft touches, and penetrative passing.
At times, the Premier League boys looked flat-footed by comparison and overly reliant on Kitson to make things happen.
There was also the return of Adam Chambers to action, in extra time, to buoy fans ahead of Saturday's league match with Carlisle.
On 22 minutes, Andros Townsend drifted in from the left wing and fired a shot which Steve Simonsen in goal collected.
Referee Mike Russell waved away appeals for a penalty on 35 minutes when Patulea was floored in the box by Tom Soares.
Townsend linked up with Demetriou on 38 minutes and then drew a roar from the crowd with a cross-cum-shot that flashed across the face of the Stoke goal.
Patulea hassled and harried all the time, until he made way for Chambers.
Just before the break in normal time, he had a golden chance of his own when Charlie Daniels free kick came to him through a maze of bodies.
Five yards out and the goal gaping, it went straight through his legs.
Stoke was always a threat.
On 70 minutes, Danny Pugh fired low across Orient's goal, as Orient's defending got more desperate.
In the 84th minute as extra-time loomed, sub keeper Glenn Morris', who replaced injured Jamie Jones on 33 minutes, displayed his long-running problem with crosses. Kitson hit a goal-bound header after Morris failed to make a cross his.
But somehow, JJ Melligan stopped the ball on the line with his head and turned it onto the bar. It bounced down and off his head again, then out of play.
Into extra time, Orient were still right in it.
Three minutes in, Townsend blazed over the bar when the goal was there for the taking.
Straight afterwards, it was the cruellest of blows which sent Orient out of the competition.
Referee Mike Russell left to a chorus of booes from the home fans.
Orient's players can leave with their heads held high.
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