November Reign

November 2018

League 1 – Orient v Gillingham (Home)

We dominated this one from the off, but it takes us 30 minutes to take the lead via Luke Williams. A few minutes later, Jimmy Smith doubles our lead; winning an aerial challenge and nodding home.

A potential 3rd goal for us just before Half-Time is ruled-out for offside, though replays suggest it was a poor decision by the officials.

Continue to create chances in the 2nd-Half, Ambalu striking the post with 65 minutes on the clock. Gillingham go on to pull a goal back 5 minutes later and a solid game is looking more fragile.

Cuthbert eventually eases collective minds with his header just before Full-Time.

Final Score: Orient 3-1 Gillingham (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League 1 – Rochdale v Orient (Away)

A smothering save at the feet of Scott Cuthbert prevents us from taking the lead 20 minutes in. Ojamaa breaks the deadlock soon after, slotting home as Rochdale’s ‘keeper parries an earlier shot.

Luke Williams was forced to leave the field with an injury, Joel Ambalu his direct replacement up-front.

An Own-Goal 10 minutes into the 2nd-Half increases the buffer to 2. Late on, Cuthbert wastes a free header at the far post – way over the bar. As time ticks into that which has been “Added-On”, Rochdale claw one back.

We do enough to secure the points away from Home, even if our performance wasn’t all that convincing.

Final Score: Rochdale 1-2 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, South Quarter Final – Luton v Orient (Away)

Ambalu nets for us 14 minutes into this tie. This comes before a very tight 1st-Half, neither team able to gain the ascendency.

Luton look to have equalised early in the 2nd-Half, but for an offside flag. A cracking strike from Jim Mernagh rifles off the bar to deny us a 2nd goal on 50 minutes. Luton do equalise soon after from a corner.

We keep wasting half-chances as the match wears on. Ambalu celebrates his 2nd after 75 minutes, but is rudely interrupted by the Assistant and his offside flag.

The scores finish level after 90 minutes, and with no Extra-Time we move straight to penalties.

Both sides score their first 2 efforts, but our own Sidebottom blasts his kick well over. That was all the motivation Luton needed as they score their remaining 2 penalties to send us out of the competition.

Final Score: Luton 1-1 Orient (Luton win 5-4 on penalties)

(screenshot below; click to enlarge)

FA Cup, 1st Round – Kettering v Orient (Away)

A good counter-attack early on results in our opening goal, a bobbling cross turned in by Omoijuanfo. Kettering then equalise, an incisive breakaway and finish.

A penalty is awarded to us 29 minutes in, calmly put away by young striker Mernagh to restore our lead. Our 3rd goal comes via midfielder Nash in his first match back from suspension.

Young flanker Sidebottom scores his very first goal for Orient early in the 2nd-Half to bring the score to 4-1. At the 65 minute-mark Ojamaa pounces on a deflected save to notch up our 5th.

10 minutes from time, Kettering score their 2nd, a scorcher from distance. Overall, a solid hit-out and through to Round 2 of the Cup.

Final Score: Kettering 2-5 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

We have drawn Blue Square Premier side Eastbourne Boro for the 2nd Round.

League 1 – Orient v Tranmere (Home)

A good start, scoring within 5 minutes care of a deflection. Mernagh later streaks away, ignoring support inside him but slotting home past an onrushing ‘keeper. 2-0. He nips in again with 30 minutes on the clock, beating the ‘keeper to the ball and rounding him before nestling the ball in the gaping net.

Omoijuanfo beats the hapless GK in the 64th minute, but does not beat the crossbar. Mernagh then completed his hat-trick, tucking away his own rebounded shot from close-range. A quality display from the entire team.

Final Score: Orient 4-0 Tranmere (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League Table

Below is the League as it stands at the end of November

Hot and Cold

October 2018

League 1 – Coventry v Orient (Away)

A fast start here, pressing forward from the kickoff and scoring with a headed effort. Coventry equalise in short-order, scoring from the next restart.

We have a goal ruled-out for offside midway through the First Half, and the sides enter the change rooms as they began – drawn.

A free-flowing 2nd Half provides chances for both teams. Deep into Injury Time a cross to the back stick is nodded wide by Coventry’s striker, with the goal at his mercy.

While both goals were scored in the first 5 minutes, the match provided entertainment throughout.

Final Score: Coventry 1-1 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, South 2nd Round – Brentford v Orient (Away)

A nervy start sees Brentford hit the post inside 3 minutes. We go ahead on 12 minutes as Left-flanker Molyneux slides in to meet a cross.

Brentford equalise soon after, a nice finish from a tight angle. Half-Time, score at 1-1.

Brentford again are denied by the post on 65 minutes luckily for us. 85 minutes in, and Jack Baldwin flies into the box to steer home from 6 yards. A tight match and one we are glad to come away with a pass to the next round of competition.

Final Score: Brentford 1-2 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

We have been drawn against League 2 outfit Luton for the South Quarter-Final.

League 1 – Barnet v Orient (Away)

We controlled the 1st-Half well, creating a few nice chances while restricting the Home side for large portions. The pressure applied results in us being the lucky recipients of an Own-Goal just before the break.

Another Own-Goal early in the 2nd-Half extends our lead. The first goal via one of our on players comes om 78 minutes, newly-subbed Jim Mernagh striking into the top corner.

Final Score: Barnet 0-3 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League 1 – Orient v Plymouth (Home)

This match sees the return of previously injured duo Henrik Ojamaa and Franklin Omoijuanfo.

Not the start we were aiming for, going behind after 12 minutes. Right Full-back Tavernier guides his header into the net 5 minutes later for our equaliser. We then have a goal ruled-out for a foul.

Jimmy Smith tucks home his 50th Orient League-goal just before Half-Time to give us the lead. Centre-back Cuthbert then rises well to meet a Free Kick and chalk up our 3rd. Half-Time and we are up 3-1.

We continued to carve out chances in the 2nd-Half, Ojamaa hitting the crossbar on one occasion.

Overall a good result, and a quality return for Left-winger Omoijuanfo as he provided 2 assists.

Final Score: Orient 3-1 Plymouth (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League 1 – Orient v Doncaster (Home)

Another horrendous start at Home, behind after 4 minutes as a corner is powered into the goal. Ojamaa answers for us on 12 minutes with the equaliser, his 25th League-goal for us.

An Own-Goal just before Half-Time gives us the lead.

65 minutes in and Ojamaa nets his 2nd goal, a powerful volley. Later on, a delightful low-cross from the left leaves Luke Williams with a simple tap-in.

Final Score: Orient 4-1 Doncaster (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League 1 – Torquay v Orient (Away)

We are beginning matches poorly of late and we again concede in under 10 minutes here. Down by 2 with just 12 minutes played; truly awful.

A few minutes later, a straight-Red card is shown to midfielder Nash to put us not only behind on the scoreboard, but on the team sheet as well. A horrible challenge, and we can have no complaints.

Ojamaa is in the right place to claw one back for us, just before my Half-Time spray. But that doesn’t come before Torquay restore their 2-goal lead. Half-Time and we are facing a massive task, down 1-3 and with 10 men.

I left the team with no doubt I expected a marked improvement in the 2nd Half. As they returned to the pitch, I’m sure my words were left ringing in their ears, and the instruction to “shoot on sight” couldn’t have been clearer.

The wise words may have had an effect, Ambalu steering home early in the 2nd Half to close the gap to 1. Ojamaa capitalises on a defensive mistake to level the scores, 60 minutes gone.

Cuthbert heads in from a corner son after to give our 10-men the lead. Omoijuanfo has a goal ruled-out for offside, however he does manage to get his name on the score-sheet via a direct Free Kick on 76 minutes.

An absolutely stunning turn-around, but we certainly made it difficult for ourselves.

Final Score: Torquay 3-5 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

Manager of the Month

Won the October Manager of the Month award, chalking up 4 wins and a draw from the 5 League matches played.

League Table

Below is the League Table as it stands at the end of October

Between Iraq and a Hard Place

September 2018

League 1 – Southend v Orient (Away)

A poor start, conceding in under 5 minutes after getting sliced open by one-touch passing. The post comes to our rescue  minutes later, still a 1-goal mountain to climb.

An offside flag saves us from shipping another goal just before Half Time.

We equalise in the 2nd Half, Summer signing Joel Ambalu racing away to smash the ball home.

To be fair, I am happy with a draw here as Southend had by far the better chances.

Final Score: Southend 1-1 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, South 1st Round – Orient v Gillingham (Home)

A quality start as we score with our very 1st shot, 48 seconds in. Young winger Thurgood slides in 5 minutes later to bag his 1st ever goal for the club. 2-0 now.

Gillingham get one back from a corner, a powerful headed effort at the 37 minute-mark. Midfielder Nash scores a belter just a few minutes later to restore our 2-goal lead.

The 2nd Half saw us continue to create chances, some of which were ruled out for offside, but no further addition to the scoreline.

Final Score: Orient 3-1 Gillingham (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

We have been drawn against League 2 outfit Brentford for the South 2nd Round of competition.

League 1 – Orient v Hartlepool (Home)

An injury to 1 of our central midfielders 2 minutes into this match forces an early substitution.

Both sides creating half-chances throughout the First 45 minutes but scores remain locked at Nil as the Half-Time whistle sounds.

Some fine passing play leads to our opener, 60 minutes on the clock and scored by Omoijuanfo. This would prove to be all that separates the 2 sides in an edgy encounter.

Final Score: Orient 1-0 Hartlepool (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League 1 – Wycombe v Orient (Away)

Not a good start, shipping a goal after just 9 minutes. We hit back a few minutes after though, a Free Kick nestling in the top corner.

An Own-Goal midway through the 2nd Half outs us behind again, before a golden chance to equalise for a second time is blasted well over the bar, time quickly running out.

The match ends, and we unfortunately chalk up our first loss in the young League campaign.

Final Score: Wycombe 2-1 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League 1 – Colchester v Orient (Away)

A cracking shot from way out gets us ahead on 24 minutes. Despite further efforts, the score doesn’t change as the First Half comes to a close.

A corner 54 minutes in nets our 2nd goal, and Ambalu provides a quality finish for our 3rd.

Final Score: Colchester 0-3 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

International Friendly – Iraq v North Korea (Home)

A quality headed-goal gets us off the mark on 18 minutes. Despite carving out multiple chances, we allow North Korea to equalise 10 minutes from the Final whistle.

A pretty poor result considering the amount of possession we retained throughout the match.

Final Score: Iraq 1-1 North Korea (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League 1 – Orient v Wrexham (Home)

We begin the match by holding the ball well, but finding it hard to break down the Visitor’s defences. That is until a jinking run down the left and a scything ball inside to Luke Williams leads to our opener on 32 minutes.

Williams pops up again in the 2nd Half to latch onto a lofted through-ball to net his and Orient’s 2nd goal of the match. Wrexham sneak one past us on 66 minutes to ensure we didn’t take the 3 points as a given. They later have a potential equaliser ruled-out as being offside.

Left-back Molyneux eases the Home-crowd’s nerves, expertly steering his shot into the net from a tough angle 5 minutes from Full Time.

Final Score: Orient 3-1 Wrexham (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

International Friendly – Iraq v Vietnam (Home)

A surprisingly even opening to this match, each team creating good chances. Vietnam take the lead though after 13 minutes, a deflection from one of our defenders steering the ball past a hapless GK.

We equalise with 26 minutes gone, a well-worked passing move opening space for striker Ali to finish.

10 minutes into the 2nd Half and Vietnam again take the lead, despite our domination. The pre-match underdogs strike again, this time from a corner after 68 minutes to out the result beyond too much doubt.

Worrying signs before the West Asian Championship tournament.

Final Score: Iraq 1-3 Vietnam (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

League Cup, 3rd Round – Blackpool v Orient (Away)

A dodgy goal after 13 minutes gives the Home side the advantage – deflections galore as the 6 yard box resembled a pinball machine.

Poor marking from a 24th minute Free Kick results in Blackpool’s 2nd goal.

A quality save from the 2nd Half restart keeps the deficit at just 2. 70 minutes gone, and we pull a goal back – our first effort on target.

Despite the late goal, we never looked to trouble Blackpool all that much and have to bid farewell to our League Cup run.

Final Score: Blackpool 2-1 Orient (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

West Asian Football Championship – Iraq v Syria

We conceded a penalty 18 minutes in – and it is duly dispatched to have us behind from the off. Syria go on to make it 2-0 in their favour just before Half-Time, turning our Centre-back inside-out before slotting away from close in.

We are showing nothing in the way of attack and can barely contain the opposition in defence. Beginning to think about resigning from the Iraqi post.

Striker Ali breaks away clinically in the 83rd minute to score for us; before a stunning strike from outside the box well and truly wraps this one up for Syria with only minutes to play.

Final Score: Iraq 1-3 Syria (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

Immediately following this match, I tendered my resignation as Manager of Iraq.

League 1 – Orient v Nottingham Forest (Home)

Another dodgy deflection comes to haunt us, Forest with the lead after 23 minutes. We equalise a few minutes later with a lovely side-foot effort from midfielder Jimmy Smith.

Forest again take the lead, tidy one-time passing unlocking our defence for an easy finish. They score again almost straight from the restart, and we are sinking without trace at Home.

Just to ensure complete embarrassment, Nottingham Forest score yet again 10 minutes from Full Time. A truly awful display from my Orient side, and one I will not look to have repeated.

Final Score: Orient 1-4 Nottingham Forest (screenshot below; click to enlarge)

Next month, Next blog

October holds 5x League matches for us – Away vs. Coventry, Barnet and Torquay; Home against Plymouth and Doncaster.

We also have the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, South 2nd Round match, Away at Brentford.