August 2018
League 1 – Exeter v Orient (Away)
A fairly even start, each team sharing possession and chances. 0-0 at Half-Time.
A quality save from our on-loan Goalkeeper to deny the Home side an opener early in the 2nd Half. We then go on and score the 1st goal, coming by way of a wonderful Free Kick.
We continued to stretch Exeter’s defence throughout the closing stages. Long-balls were to order of the day as the home side became more desperate. We just about deal with the threat to start our League campaign with a nice Away win.
Final Score: Exeter 0-1 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)
League Cup, 1st Round – Orient v Southend (Home)
Another decent start, pushing high up and attempting to create chances in our 1st competitive Home match. A corner and headed-effort provides our opener on 37 minutes – no less than our play to this point has deserved.
From the resulting kick-off, Southend equalise, some of our defenders still celebrating it would seem.
Early in the 2nd Half, Southend rocket a shot off the crossbar to set hearts racing. We respond in kind soon after, our woodwork rattler by way of a direct Free Kick.
Both sides search for the goal to separate themselves, and it eventually comes our way. Another header form a corner, this time from new Centre-back Dougie Miller at the 83 minute-mark.
Final Score: Orient 2-1 Southend (screenshot below; click to enlarge)
The 2nd Round has drawn us against Birmingham at St. Andrews – some reward…
League 1 – Orient v Oxford (Home)
A flying start, as winger Omoijuanfo leaps highest to meet a cross and steer it home after 13 minutes. The score stays this way into the break.
The 2nd Half begins with a spell of dominance, the best portion of which results in a Free Kick striking the angle where crossbar meets post. A wayward pass is exploited by the visitors on 57 minutes and the scores are leveled.
We soon regain the lead, 10 minutes later in fact – our 1st-Half goal-scorer turns provider for striker Luke Williams to side his effort into the net. Once again Oxford draw level, and unlucky deflection beating the young GK.
The Assistant’s flag spares our blushes as Oxford put away a chance late on. Overall an entertaining match, if not the most productive for us.
Final Score: Orient 2-2 Oxford (screenshot below; click to enlarge)
League 1 – Barnsley v Orient (Away)
We make another good start, forcing a good early save from Barnsley’s ‘keeper, but the resulting corner comes to nought. Not a great deal of chances for either team through the rest of the half. 0-0 at Half-Time.
Young striker Featherstone blazes well over after cutting inside early in the 2nd-Half. Luke Williams finishes off a sweeping Counter-Attack after 53 minutes to give us the lead.
Defender Gasparotto is quickest to react to a deflected shot 73 minutes in, making the score 2-0. The post denies Barnsley a late consolation and retains our Clean Sheet.
Final Score: Barnsley 0-2 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)
League 1 – Orient v Portsmouth (Home)
A nice early goal for us, again Left-flanker Omoijuanfo nodding home from close range. He adds his 2nd with another mighty header just a few minutes later.
Not wanting to be greedy, Omoijuanfo turns provider for our 3rd, finding Jimmy Smith at the back post for a side-foot finish, just 24 minutes on the clock.
Young striker Mernagh gets his tally off to a start with his 1st goal on the season and our 4th of the match.
Pompey ruin our hopes of another Clean Sheet, afforded too much room in the box to finish at the near post – 78 minutes gone. We kept creating further chances, but the Final whistle sounds with us 3 goals to the good.
Final Score: Orient 4-1 Portsmouth (screenshot below; click to enlarge)
League Cup, 2nd Round – Birmingham v Orient (Away)
Not a great start, conceding an early penalty which is duly dispatched. 1-0.
Birmingham create multiple chances for the rest of the half and we have a few of our own, but no addition to the scoreline.
A more open 2nd Half leads to more opportunities for both sides. We take our chance with 10 minutes of Regular time left, equaliser by way of Luke Williams. Extra-Time awaits.
A flying save from Birmingham’s Goalkeeper early in Extra Time denies Williams his 2nd. A double save from our own ‘keeper holds the scores. The match would go to Penalties.
Birmingham miss their 2nd spot-kick, blazed well over. Our 2nd kick-taker does likewise.
Birmingham then miss their next kick, wide left; and we take the lead. The 5th penalty is blasted high and wide, and we are through to the next round of this competition.
An incredible victory away from home against tough opposition.
Final Score: Birmingham 1-1 Orient after Extra Time. Orient win on penalties 3-2. (screenshot below; click to enlarge)
3rd Round draws us Away at Championship outfit Blackpool.
League Table
Below is a shot of the League 1 table as it stands after the opening month of August. Here’s hoping we can continue the good start.
Next month, Next blog
September rolls on and it is a busy one. 6x League matches – Away at Southend, Wycombe and Colchester; Home vs Hartlepool, Wrexham and Nottingham Forest.
As well as this, still involved in 2x Cup Competitions – Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, South 1st Round hosting Gillingham; League Cup 3rd Round at Blackpool.
On the International front, Iraq have 2x Friendly matches – hosting both North Korea and Vietnam.
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