Hunt gets the first - and the last

The glory was Leyton's. That's small consolation for a cup defeat but the brilliant fight-back of these skilled Londoners certainly delighted the sporting Anfield fans - if not quite as much as that finish which stamped Liverpool as being as great at the end as they are at the start.

It was during time allowed for injuries that Liverpool managed to scrape into the fourth round.

Bert Slater made some magnificent saves in the Liverpool goal as Ken Facey adopted a forward urge in the Sorrell manner.

Liverpool almost missed their way, for they had all the encouragement in the world to make this a comfortable win.

They were a goal up in 45 seconds.

Ever dangerous

Alan A'Court, beautifully fed by Jimmy Harrower, forced back Groombridge into conceding a corner. A'Court landed the ball right at the head of Roger Hunt, who scored with a magnificent header.

Early in the second half Dave Hickson, who had been so good early on, missed a schoolgirl's chance from Tommy Leishman's hooked pass. A'Court, Melia and Harrower missed chances, too.

Orient drew level in 62 minutes when Terry McDonald tried an angled shot which the diving Slater punched out - but only towards Ken Foster who gleefully slammed it into the net.

It became Liverpool's turn to make mistakes but they were confident they had a penalty when Hickson and Sid Bishop went down in a heap.

Orient players thought it was a penalty, too - but the award was a free-kick to Orient.

Slater denied Leyton a leading goal as they crammed on all sail.

But the ever-dangerous Hunt, possibly the best forward on the field, was always looking for the half-chance every Liverpool player wanted to create.

The referee was watch-glancing when Dick White moved up past three players to find A'Court at outside right. The ball was pushed inside for Hunt to crack it into a corner of the net.

So a game which could so easily have gone Leyton's way opened on a high note and finished in a crescendo.

Copyright - The Sunday Express