An inexperienced QPR Reserve side, with Andrew Howell the only senior professional involved, lost 1-0 to Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.

Sean Thornton, one of seven first team regulars featuring in the O's line-up, bagged the only goal of the game midway through the first half, as the R's succumbed to a narrow defeat in the Pontins Holiday's Combination League.

Rangers trailed 1-0 at the end of a keenly contested first period. After Angelo Balanta fired wide in the early exchanges, it was Orient who opened the scoring in the 24th minute.

R's custodian Reece Crowther, making his first start of the season for the second string, darted from his line and sent Raphael Silvester sprawling to ground.

Referee Andy Halliday had little alternative but to point to the spot and Thornton, who was orchestrating proceedings from the middle of the park, coolly slotted home, sending Crowther the wrong way.

Orient should have made it two on the stroke of half-time, but Jack Page got his effort horribly wrong, as he fired high and wide after being teed up on the edge of the penalty box.

Crowther made way for Chris Goodchild at the break, with the R's keeper seemingly still struggling with a leg injury sustained in the spot-kick incident in the first half.

Rangers improved in the second period and Romone Rose squandered three good opportunities to put the R's on terms, seeing two efforts saved and one fade wide of the post.

Lee Brown also saw an effort saved by O's custodian Glenn Morris, while Balanta's tireless performance was a constant thorn in the O's defence.

QPR Reserves: Crowther (Goodchild 46), Coyne, Ford, Howell, Brown, Davenport, O'Brien (Vanterpool 60), Arthur, Balanta, German (Folkes 66), Rose.

Subs: Morgan, Wright.