Tottenham Hotspur’s first team aren’t the only Spurs who will play in a final next week. Attacking midfielder Jamie Donley and goalkeeper Josh Keeley have progressed to the League One playoff final with Leyton Orient after a dramatic 1-1 (3-3 [1-4]) penalty shootout victory over Stockport County last night at Stockport’s Edgeley Park. Both Keeley and Donley are at Orient this season on loan.
With the score level after the first leg and Orient up 1-0 in the second leg, Keeley got wrong-footed at the near post and let a sloppy deflected goal in for the equalizer. But he came up huge in the shootout. Keeley saved once against Hatters winger Jack Diamond, Stockport put another penalty kick off the post, and Ethan Galbraith slotted home the winner to send the Mighty O’s to Wembley for a chance to promote to the English second division.
Donley’s stats in this match don’t exactly jump off the page, but he was an influential player in this match, putting in a number of dangerous free kicks and getting involved in Orient’s buildup. He’s been one of Orient’s better players this season and should be a starter in the final.
A couple of days ago I wrote that Donley has been attracting interest from West Bromwich Albion for a Championship loan, but if Orient were to be promoted it wouldn’t shock me if both Donley and Keeley extend their stay at Brisbane Road for another year. They’ve both certainly been embraced by the fanbase.
Orient will now face the winner of Charlton Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers, who had a scoreless first leg. The final will take place on Sunday, May 25 at Wembley Stadium.