It was a chilly afternoon at Brisbane Road, but the action on the pitch between Leyton Orient and Reading in EFL League One was anything but cold. Both sides came into the January 17, 2026 clash with plenty to prove. For Leyton Orient, the match offered a chance to climb away from the lower reaches of the table, while Reading were eager to shake off the rust after a 17-day break and build on their recent form under manager Leam Richardson. By the final whistle, it was the home fans who left with smiles, thanks to a dazzling hat-trick from Dom Ballard that sealed a 3-1 victory for the O’s and left the Royals searching for answers.
Reading’s lineup was unchanged from their previous outing, a decision Richardson made despite the lengthy layoff. The starting eleven—Pereira in goal, with Dorsett, Marriott, Savage, Wing, Kyerewaa, O’Connor, Yiadom, Ritchie, Doyle, and Burns—was trusted to deliver, with new loan signing Will Keane and returning winger Paddy Lane among the substitutes. Lane’s inclusion was a particular point of interest, having been sidelined since November with an injury. Richardson had commented just days prior, "He’s pushing hard. So fingers crossed Paddy’s day by day. Obviously he’s been out for some time now so we’ve got to be careful with him. We’ve got to manage him so we’ll see."
On the Leyton Orient side, head coach Richie Wellens made two changes from the previous week’s draw against Cardiff City. Charlie Wellens returned to the starting lineup, while new loan signing Ajay Mattews made his debut. The O’s were looking to inject fresh energy and perhaps a bit of unpredictability into their play.
The match began at a frantic pace. In just the fifth minute, Reading’s goalkeeper Joel Pereira failed to claim a cross, leading to a nervy moment as the ball found the back of the net—only for the assistant referee’s flag to rule it out for offside. The early scare set the tone for a first half filled with half-chances and defensive lapses. In the 27th minute, Pereira again misjudged a ball, but was bailed out by the quick thinking of Finley Burns, who bravely intervened to prevent an Orient breakthrough. The hosts, meanwhile, nearly took the lead through Charlie Wellens, whose one-on-one chance was fired just wide after a clever setup from Tom James.
Reading’s Andy Yiadom was the first player to see yellow, booked in the sixth minute for a professional foul as he tried to halt an Orient attack outside the area. Yiadom had a golden opportunity to make amends in the 29th minute when he found acres of space in the box, but his shot sailed wide after some intricate build-up play. At the other end, Sean Clare headed wide for the O’s following a well-worked corner, and Reading’s defense continued to look shaky on set pieces.
As the first half wore on, Leyton Orient’s persistence paid off. Just before the break, Dom Ballard received a clever assist from Ollie O’Neill, cutting inside from the left and firing a low shot into the bottom-right corner for his 13th league goal of the season. Ballard’s opener was a hammer blow for Reading, who had held their own but failed to capitalize on their limited chances. The halftime whistle blew with the hosts holding a 1-0 advantage.
Whatever Richardson said at halftime seemed to light a fire under his side. The Royals came out with renewed purpose and leveled the score in the 55th minute. Kamari Doyle, who had shown flashes of creativity throughout the match, threaded a perfectly weighted ball through the Orient defense. Jack Marriott sprinted onto it, took a deft first touch, and rifled a left-footed shot into the center of the goal. It was a well-taken goal and a reminder of Marriott’s poacher’s instincts, even on a day when service to him was in short supply.
But Reading’s joy was short-lived. Barely ten minutes later, Leyton Orient restored their lead. Theo Archibald whipped in a dangerous cross from the right, and Ballard—showing his predatory instincts—rose highest to nod a close-range header into the roof of the net. The Reading defense, already under scrutiny for their marking and organization, could only watch as Ballard wheeled away in celebration.
Reading tried to respond, but their attacking play was disjointed and lacked cutting edge. Substitutions followed, with Will Keane and Paddy Lane coming on in hopes of sparking a late comeback. Lane, making his first appearance since November, had a chance to deliver a cross from the left but found no takers in the box.
As the clock ticked down, Ballard put the result beyond doubt and completed his hat-trick in style. In the 85th minute, O’Neill again played provider, flicking a header into Ballard’s path. The striker made no mistake, smashing a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the top-left corner. The home crowd erupted, knowing they’d witnessed a special performance from their young forward.
Reading’s defensive frailties were on display throughout. Pereira, despite a couple of sharp saves, struggled with his command of the area. Burns and O’Connor each had moments of quality—Burns with a crucial block and O’Connor with a quick-thinking free-kick that led to Reading’s goal—but both were culpable for lapses that allowed Orient to capitalize. Dorsett, too, had a tough day, beaten by Ballard for the third goal and fortunate not to concede again when Ballard struck the post in stoppage time.
Midfielders Lewis Wing and Charlie Savage were largely anonymous, failing to provide the defensive cover or attacking impetus their side needed. Doyle was perhaps the pick of the bunch, creating both of Reading’s best chances, but he was substituted in the 73rd minute to the confusion of many. Ritchie, Kyerewaa, and the substitutes Fraser, Ehibhatiomhan, and Keane all struggled to make an impact, as did Lane in his brief cameo.
After the match, Reading manager Leam Richardson admitted his side had been second best: "We were outfought at Leyton Orient." Meanwhile, an elated Richie Wellens praised his players: "A thoroughly deserved 3 points." The win lifted Leyton Orient to 16th place in the league, just six points off the play-off spots—a remarkable turnaround given their recent struggles.
For Reading, the defeat was a sobering reminder of the work still to be done. The Royals lacked cohesion, especially at the back, and will need to regroup quickly if they are to mount a challenge in the second half of the season. With the likes of Lane returning from injury and new signings bedding in, fans will hope brighter days are ahead. But on this January afternoon, it was Ballard and Leyton Orient who stole the show, leaving Reading to lick their wounds and look forward to their next opportunity.