Hammer Tunji Akinola played the full 90 minutes of a first-round clash at Breyer Group Stadium, as Leyton Orient went down 2-1 to fellow League Two club Newport County.
Newport struck twice from long-range through Ash Baker and Jamie Devitt, either side of Hector Kyprianou’s well-taken volley, to eliminate Akinola and Ross Embleton’s side from the competition.
The young centre back Akinola is flying high in League two during his loan stint with Leyton Orient with two man of the match awards this season.
The 21-year-old defender has joined the O’s on a season-long loan from West Ham’s Academy, where he has been since he was eight.
He has made over 50 appearances for the Hammers’ Under-23 side and is tipped as one could be likely to make the breakthrough to the senior squad next season.
The Official Leyton Orient Supporters Club voted Akinola their man of the match for his performances during a 1-1 draw with Exeter City and the match against Tranmere Rovers.
Orient fans describe Akinola as a solid defender adding that he appears to be getting better every game he plays for the O’s
The defender who can play centre back, right back or left-back has been playing the right-back role for Orient
The young defender is considered a promising prospect in defence with Angelo Ogbonna at 32 and Craig Dawson at 30 David Moyes is keen to have more young centre backs could make the step up when given their chance.