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