Phoenix from the Ashes

Crewe Alexandra (0) 0 Leyton Orient (1) 2

Nelson; Terry, Thelwell (Capt), Mkandawire, Palmer; JJ Melligan, Chambers, Thornton, Corden; Gray, Boyd.

If last week’s home encounter with the Saddlers, while extending our excellent opening run, yet proved that we are but mortal and will surely meet others of equal or superior capability, then this week’s visit to hitherto unbeaten Crewe, in extending that run yet further, offered solid evidence that there is certainly something exciting in the making here. For, after an extraordinary summer in which, part by design, part by happenstance, we were bereft of an entire squad as a dozen or more players moved on elsewhere, it would seem that a Phoenix has indeed risen from the ashes of the Matchroom Stadium. And where Martin Ling once treated us, in his early days at the helm, to the art of football -- albeit an art which dazzled without always producing results -- we are now seeing the science of football unfolded at first hand, with performance -- nay victory -- crafted on the drawing-board and moulded on the training ground while slick football, when the interests of the master-plan so dictate, is jettisoned for the greater good.

Rarely is a day so perfect. A sea-change in the weather produced a lovely Summer’s day, warm but without the humidity that beset the capital in our absence. Comfortable trains (Virgin) that ran on time; a friendly (for the most part) crowd; interesting and knowledgeable neighbours -- Frederick, I swear you sat behind the Cobra at the valley in 06 -- a perfect playing surface, like a giant snooker table, and made to look even larger by the vast stand which loomed over it on the opposite side of the ground. Another shut-out, and richly deserved by the lynch-pins of our defence. The price of the train fare made good by backing Lincoln to beat Accrington and, to cap it all, the Sham fail to win at home yet again!

That outsize pitch gave the first clue that we had done our homework and were playing to a set of instructions that did not brook of disobedience or flexibility. A glance at the websites or even the programme suggested that Alexandra’s recent losses were a good deal more damaging than our own. Our starting line-up was practically full-strength, captain Purches and Brian Saah the only recent injuries and, with Paul Terry deputising at right full-back, who would notice the difference? By contrast, Crewe were in the throes of losing star Welsh international David Vaughan for a fat sum to Real Sociedad, courtesy Chris Coleman. Chris McCready was out for a month and Nicky Maynard, who broke a fibula against Brighton, for a possible three months. Michael O’Connor failed a fitness test and Lowe and Abby were returning from injury to the bench. On the positive side, it was debut day for Chris Dickson, on loan for a month from the Addicks. He would add skill, and the ability to hold, to their admittedly weak attacking force before being substituted in mid second-half.

All that said, the Railwaymen clearly thought they were worth their four points and third place (on alphabetical order) and started brightly and confidently. Orient kicked off and passed the ball back to Alton Thelwell who gave long and the ball was lost. As against Walsall, the long and hopeless ball would feature large in this game for quite some time, though now perhaps with some discernible, if debatable, purpose. For on a hot day and a large pitch, the conservation of energy was of paramount importance. Endless midfield tussles were clearly not the order of the day, at least not until much later. Crewe return the ball and O’s concede a free-kick in the middle of our half. The ball is chipped into the box, Crewe appear to win the ensuing heading duel but a corner is given on the right which Billy Jones -- our very own Billy Jones – takes left-footed and inswinging. Up go the heads and, in a flash, the ball is in the back of the net. Instant deflation. The moment we had been fearing since that first-half strike at Roots Hall. The goal that would put us behind and chasing the game. But no! Referee Drysdale is pointing vaguely towards the penalty spot. A foul or infringement of some sort. Free-kick Orient. Instant relief. So, as we had thought and hoped, indeed believed, our boys are not so easily beaten at the back. Nelson takes the kick. To Terry who gives a through-ball for Gray to chase but ‘keeper Williams fields easily. Tam Makka is up to head clear the ‘keeper’s kick, finds Corden who welts long and ‘keeper Williams gathers again and kicks long. Aiden Palmer collects and boots long. Lost! Crewe return long and are caught offside, the first of a myriad of such decisions which suggest that their strike-force is as much naïve as under-strength.

Nelson takes the kick in mid-half. It is long and Crewe return long, Nelson leaving the penalty area to deal with the impending threat and hoofing the ball over the FantasticOs stand, reinforcing, in the process, the view that survival and the conservation of energy are indeed the objectives in this early stage. Billy Jones takes the throw for Crewe on the left. Corden intercepts and feeds JJ Melligan, who gives Gray a long ball to chase. Hopeless. Crewe again. Intercepted and passed back to Paul Terry whose long through-ball is taken by Williams. Palmer clears from the goal-kick and Crewe come again, working the ball into the box before Sean Thornton intercepts and clears. Alex again and now Corden clears decks. Throw Crewe which Palmer clears. To Gray and Boyd and Thornton. Back to Corden who gives long for Gray. He holds and returns to Wayne Corden, in to Chambers and back to Corden who gets a cross in. It is headed clear. Sean Thornton collects and tries to make space for a shot but is intercepted. were in the throes of losing star Welsh international David Vaughan for a fat sum to Real Sociedad, courtesy Chris Coleman. Chris McCready was out for a month and Nicky Maynard, who broke a fibula against Five minutes in and pretty nearly all Crewe.

A long clearance which Tam heads clear. Crewe revert. Tam again. To Terry and Thornton and back to Tam who boots long. It is cleared and Crewe are on the break. Paul Terry concedes a throw a yard from the corner flag which Billy Jones takes (the throw, that is). A dangerous cross to the far post which Stuart Nelson manages to hold, just! He kicks long and it is lost. Crewe again. Corden intercepts, finds Gray and on to Boyd who wins a throw. Corden, Chambers, Palmer who gives away a throw. It is long and Crewe are offside again. Nelson takes the free-kick, ten yards shy of the halfway-line. It is long. Boyd fails to hold and Alex have a throw, five yards up from their corner flag. They make ground and Tam concedes another throw in mid-half. Crewe break out and Tam gives away another throw ten yards from the flag. The ball is crossed but, bizarrely, sails out of the ground and Orient have a goal-kick. Hiatus. Ten minutes in. The Cobra reflects that Crewe are easily the better side so far, have played the better football, have had much more of the game. Expectations reduced. We would do well to take a point from this.

From the kick, Terry wins a throw a couple of yards beyond the halfway line. Gray is up for it and nods on to Boyd who weaves his way to the bye-line and puts in a short and deadly cross. There is no-one on the receiving end and the ball is hustled, panic-fashion, off for a corner. Melligan takes and it is high. Orient keep up the pressure but a free-kick is awarded for an infringement, presumably offside, since the linesman’s flag is raised. Alton Thelwell goes up for the kick and Chambers concedes a throw. Billy Jones takes. Chambers intercepts and Terry plays the safe ball back to Nelson. He kicks long, it is cleared but O’s have a free-kick for a foul on JJ Melligan. JJ runs with the ball, exchanges passes with Palmer and with Corden before finding Chambers who is dispossessed. Crewe on the break again. A cross but the flag is up for offside, yet again. Nelson takes the kick, short to Terry who gives long and it is cleared. Chris Dickson breaks down the middle and dribbles with the ball. Thelwell intercepts but concedes a corner on the right which Billy Jones takes, inswinging, again. Stuart Nelson holds at the second attempt, kicks long and the ball is nodded back to ‘keeper Williams. Aiden Palmer intercepts the goal-kick, finds Corden and he Gray who loses the ball. Another long kick is lobbed into the penalty area but Nelson holds. To Terry, on to Boyd and back to Terry who gets the ball into the box. Orient are searching for a scoring chance but, in the process, shunning a number of possible half-chances. Orient again but Williams clears and Crewe work the ball well into the opposing box. Full-back Woodards with a low drive from the edge of the box which whistles a couple of yards wide of Nelson’s left-hand post (as we look). Fifteen minutes in and a little more of the game for Orient.

Terry to Thornton who gives wide but the ball is lost for a throw. A through-ball is given but the Railwaymen are offside again. Nelson takes the free-kick in mid-half. Boyd is up with his head but concedes a goal-kick. In the lull, we note that Nelson is shouting encouragement to the rest of the side, all very positive and reminiscent of Glyn Garner. The long goal-kick finds Tam under pressure but he heads back successfully to Nelson. Long ball. Gray up, Boyd up but cleared. Crewe away. A cross. Tam up for it, Thelwell up for it. Nelson intervenes. Adam Chambers picks up the loose ball and goes on a run, beating three men and making the box before seeing his shot deflected for a corner on the right which Thornton takes. Orient are up in force but Williams holds and a big clearance sets Crewe away again, only for the offside flag to arrest progress once again. Williams holds the long free-kick and returns the ball. Thelwell and Thornton intercept and pass back to Nelson. Thelwell to Boyd and back again. A through-ball which is intercepted, though only at the last-ditch. Crewe attack again but Thelwell intervenes again and passes back to Nelson who kicks long. It is headed clear but only to Paul Terry who picks out Adam Boyd. Back to Terry, to Thornton and Boyd again who loses the ball to the voiced annoyance of the FantasticOs. Crewe come away and Thelwell concedes a free-kick on the halfway line. Palmer clears the kick, finds Gray who goes on a run but is dispossessed and the ball is passed back to Williams. Twenty minutes gone and pretty even now.

Tam heads the long kick wide. Corden on to Gray and a cross which Chambers almost meets but is penalised for handball. Crewe break away from the free-kick but Adam Chambers is back to dispossess and give to Melligan, Terry, Thornton. Chambers, Terry, Boyd. Lost again. Terry, Thornton, Chambers who goes on a run but is tackled. Thornton recovers. Boyd, Thornton and through to Gray and Melligan who crosses but the ball is cleared. Terry recovers, to Chambers and Melligan who makes a run and is floored on the edge of the box. Nothing is given and the ball is cleared. Throw to Orient midway into our half. To Gray and Boyd who gives it away. Tam intervenes to recover and finds JJ who breaks and crosses to the far post where Williams holds. If only he had pulled the cross back a few yards! Corden intercepts the clearance and feeds Thornton, to Terry and Melligan who crosses again to the far post where Williams fields easily again. When will he learn? Throw to Crewe on the halfway line. A through-ball. Offside -- again!! Nelson takes the kick in mid-territory. Gray gathers and runs with the ball, feeding Melligan who passes inside to Thornton. He chips into the box but Williams holds comfortably. Tam and Alton Thelwell each head clear the long kick but Crewe come again, only to be deemed offside yet again in the penalty area. Tam goes down in the tackle and appears to have twisted his ankle. A couple of minutes’ delay while physio Lewis Manning applies the cold sponge and Tam is helped off for the statutory minute or maybe more. Thornton, Chambers, Terry. Thornton, Chambers, Melligan; Chambers and Thornton swap passes -- Orient are playing real football again! -- on to Boyd and out to Melligan and Chambers who wins a corner. Excellent. Much better. Looking more confident. Tam returns. Sighs of relief. Thornton and Thelwell are up for the corner but the latter’s header passes three yards wide of the left-hand post (as we look, again). Now Corden from the goal-kick finds Thornton. To Gray and Boyd who holds the ball up before returning to Gray. It is lost but Corden recovers and crosses. Boyd is up for the cross but Williams holds. Half an hour gone.

Crewe attack again and look offside but nothing is given. However, Nelson fields comfortably. Terry wins a throw a couple of yards shy of the halfway line. Melligan sets Boyd free. To Chambers, Melligan, Thornton and back to Chambers who lays off to Palmer and Corden. The cross is headed clear and Orient attack again, Chambers feeding Melligan wide. JJ makes ground and crosses again to the far post. We hold up our hands in horror. Williams’ ball again! But no! The ball is swerving in late towards the near post. It’s under the bar and, all too late, Williams makes a desperate attempt to tip it over, only to help it under the bar and into the net. 1 – 0 and from the most unexpected of sources! Joy from the Fantasticos and Melligan returns, milking the crowd’s applause on the way for his account-opening strike. As the players re-assemble, words are exchanged between a grinning Thornton and a happy Melligan. Could it be? That the boys have been practising this ploy? That the Master Thornton has been teaching the “young” JJ the art of the swerve? That those wasted far post crosses were merely sighters or even decoys for the real thing. We doubt it. But then… so much of this wonderful win was crafted on the training–ground. Who knows?

Thirty-three minutes. Perfect timing. Orient win a free-kick on the halfway line. Tam to Boydy to Aiden who gives it away. It is returned long and Tam clears to Sean Thornton who is floored. Free-kick Orient five yards adrift of the halfway line. Long and into the box. Gray is penalised and Crewe have the free-kick which Williams takes. Tam heads back to Nelson who rolls to Paul Terry. Is this the next sign of the game plan. One up and possession becomes the bye-word. Make them chase it and open them up. Terry to Melligan, back to Terry, on to Thornton, back to Terry and given away. Crewe break into the box but Stuart Nelson fields comfortably. Boyd nods his kick onto Gray inside the box. He gives wide to Boyd who crosses but the cross is cleared. Schumacher fouls Adam Chambers but goes unremarked. Moments later the game is halted as Schumacher is injured and requires treatment. On resumption, Gray kicks from the halfway line back to Williams who kicks long. Palmer wins a goal-kick for the O’s. It is long and cleared. O’s have a throw twelve yards adrift of the halfway line. Palmer gives to Gray. The ball is cleared. Throw O’s again. Now ten yards shy. Gray is up for it but it is cleared and Tam clears the clearance. Crewe come again but Tam dispossesses and finds Corden who beats two and passes to Adam Chambers, he to Terry who gives long but Adam Boyd is offside and the kick is passed back to Williams. Five minutes left.

From the clearance, Alton Thelwell misses with his head and makes amends with a foul, giving Crewe a free-kick some ten yards outside the penalty area. Billy Jones delivers a low drive which Nelson goes down to hold well. A long clearance offers Alex a throw midway into their half. Thelwell intercepts as Crewe attack and finds Chambers, he to Gray who is dispossessed. Tam gets in the tackle but Crewe advance again and Aiden Palmer concedes a corner. Alton Thelwell heads clear to Sean Thornton, on to Gray wide left and back to Thornton. Crewe clear but Paul Terry intercepts and shoots from thirty-five yards. Williams fumbles but holds at the second attempt. Crewe break away and Aiden Palmer interrupts their progress. To Terry and Thornton, Boyd, Terry, Chambers, Palmer, Chambers, Thornton, possession stuff this, running down the clock. Thornton to Terry who gives long and the ball is passed back to Williams, hassled by Adam Boyd in the process. Orient again. Thornton to Terry to Boydy in the box and another fine possession move which ends with a cross from Chambers which Corden narrowly fails to connect with. Half-time is blown and the Cobra never noticed the fourth official’s board, though knowledgeable neighbours assure that a minute or two were added.

Crewe kick-off the second half and the long ball persists, Nelson fielding and returning a long ball. It is cleared. Paul Terry returns long. Billy Jones gives back long. Adam Chambers gives away a throw three yards shy of the halfway line. Terry clears. Boyd to Gray. Thornton, Gray and Thornton concedes a throw in mid-half which Crewe hustle back to Williams with Chambers in pursuit. Another fine move from the Orient. Crewe clear. Thelwell to Terry to Melligan who runs with it and wins a throw a yard from the corner flag. Terry to Boyd whose cross is cleared. Thornton returns and Gray goes up but Williams holds. Now Terry gives a throw five yards shy of the halfway line on the right. A crossfield ball which Palmer clears to Corden and Gray, Chambers and Thornton who gives long and the ball is passed back to Williams. Thelwell is up for the clearance and finds Chambers. To Gray and Thornton and lost. The Railwaymen break out with a long ball but offside is called yet again and Nelson fields the loose ball. Corden, Thornton, Melligan who gives it away. Chambers recovers. Throw to Crewe two yards inside the halfway line. The ball is crossed and Nelson holds. Crewe return. Melligan intercepts. Terry gives long. Gray is up and finds Boyd who returns the ball to Gray. His cross is cleared. Palmer concedes a throw in mid-territory. Corden clears. Crewe come again. Chambers clears. Crewe again. Nelson clears long. O’s win a corner which Sean Thornton takes on the right. He finds the penalty spot. Alton Thelwell is there and gets up to head just two yards wide of the left-hand post. From the goal-kick, Palmer does well to clear under pressure. Crewe come again down the left. Tam clears. Thelwell clears. Corden clears. Orient on the attack. Chambers bustles through. Corden’s shot from twenty-five yards is tipped over the bar by Williams. Ten minutes in.

Ene-to-end play for a while. Crewe make a double substitution in an attempt to shake things up. Shaun Miller replaces Dickson, perhaps tiring, and Ryan Lowe replaces Eugen Bopp. Palmer wins a throw, ten yards on from the flag. Crewe resurge. A thru-ball but offside is flagged yet again. Nelson takes the kick. Melligan gives away and Crewe return. Thelwell heads clear. Corden, Chambers, lost. A superb through-ball from the Alex midfield but Stuart Nelson anticipates superbly and wins the race. Sean Thornton concedes a free-kick and Crewe come again, Orient under pressure. Melligan back to tackle and clear to to Gray, wide right. Crewe clear. Terry heads back to Melligan and Orient play around again. Boyd continues to look somewhat lazy and makes little effort to challenge for a 50/50 ball. The homesters are penalised for handball and Orient have a free-kick in the centre circle. Thelwell is up for the kick but Williams fields and gives long, Tam clearing. Crewe again. A big cross which Nelson goes down well to hold, showing good anticipation again. Crewe again and now Aiden Palmer tackles. Crewe return long but, once again, offside is signalled and Orient have a free-kick which Nelson welts long, conceding the throw a yard from the corner flag. This prompts the thought, not for the first time in the game, that the pre-planning, like a game of chess or Rugby, can sometimes take the form of gaining territory. The line-out by another name. And that is exactly what Nelson achieved with his long and accurate kick. Crewe clear the threat and Tom Pope is through, Nelson advancing to smother the attack. Tam clears, Corden works on but Boyd inexplicably gives the ball away. Thelwell, again in the breach, concedes a corner. Terry heads clear, Crewe come again. Chambers heads out. A long cross which Palmer clears. Crewe again. Chambers clears again. A cross but the attack peters out with a goal-kick to Orient. The moment has passed. Gray nods on the goal-kick but only for a goal-kick at the other end. Tam heads away but Crewe come again and the ball rebounds off Palmer for a corner on the right. Billy Jones again. The ball is headed goalwards but Stuart Nelson holds brilliantly at the far post. A long kick which Gray nods on but no-one is around to receive. Crewe again and Paul Terry now passes back to Nelson.

Twenty-five minutes in and Boyd now produces a moment of brilliance to find Wayne Gray who wins a corner on the right. Thornton takes. Thelwell is up for it, Tam goes up for it, Thelwell again and a free-kick is given at the edge of the box. Thornton takes, finds Gray, back to Thornton whose shot is blocked. News travels fast! Alexandra clear and break out with a through-ball. Offside, yet again!! Free-kick Orient, mid-half. Nelson long. Boyd up. To Chambers. Thornton, Terry, Melligan, Boyd and a throw to Crewe fifteen yards up from their corner flag. The ball is cleared but Crewe are penalised for a foul and O’s have a free-kick, ten yards the other side of the halfway line. Target line-out again. Brilliant. Throw Crewe, seven yards up from the flag. Terry heads back. Another throw to Crewe now in mid-half. The homesters clear decks but are caught offside again!! Orient free-kick, middle of our territory. Nelson kicks for touch again and Crewe have a throw in mid-half on the right. The ball is passed back, across the box, out wide left and given long. Crewe win another throw on the halfway line. Fifteen minutes left. Still feeling good, if not totally re-assured.

A long throw and a good build-up by the Railwaymen who work the ball into the box but Thelwell is fouled in the tackle and Orient have a free-kick on the edge of the box which Nelson gives long. It is headed back for an Orient throw five yards short of the halfway line in visiting territory. Crewe intercept. Palmer clears to Corden, to Palmer and back to Corden who gives down the left line to the holding Boyd. In to Thornton, Palmer, Thornton, Palmer, Boyd who is dispossessed. Crewe clear and break away. A cross from the right. Tam clears. Crewe again. A huge cross from the right. Another from the left. Thelwell clears, Thornton clears. Crewe again. Long, but too long and Orient have a goal-kick. Alex attack again down the right. A good move down the middle which Nelson again anticipates brilliantly and comes out to smother. He kicks long. It is lost and Crewe come again. Chambers intercepts and runs with the ball. Boyd crosses and Melligan’s shot hits the goal’s rooftop netting, causing consternation among the elderly. Ten minutes left.

A goal-kick which Tam heads back. It is cleared. Terry heads away. Crewe break suddenly. Now they are not offside! The defence is beaten for speed. Nelson advances to narrow the angle but one knows instinctively that he can be chipped by anyone worth their salt. And, almost out of nowhere, or so it seems, comes JJ Melligan, at great speed to save the day with a superb tackle, perfectly fair, from behind to concede a corner. A wonderful piece of teamsmanship which speaks volumes for the emotional cohesion of this side. Mettle re-inforced, Nelson is up in fine style for the corner, finding Boyd with the kick. He beats one opponent and slips inside to Thornton who crosses back to Chambers. In a remarkable carbon copy of last week’s incident against Walsall, Adam beats one man and gets into the box for a shot on goal, only to be brought down by Gary Roberts. Boydy immediately seizes the ball while Adam receives attention. We learn later that this, too, is part of the grand plan and not merely a piece of strong-headedness by our fallen penalty-king. Adam hits the ball hard, to the left of Williams as we look (i.e to Williams’ right) and at about head height. The ball is nestling in the back of the net before you can draw breath. The Fantasticos are ecstatic. How many occasions can we all remember in the past where dreaded hubris has reared her ugly head, we have chanted our superiority, only to be brought to heel by the god Nemesis in awful fashion before the game is out. Not this time. We knew they would not pull back two goals in eight minutes, less still three. This side of ours was too good for that. We knew, too, that Huddersfield would not be winning by three or more. And so, spontaneously, and with every justification, the chant rang out “We are top of the League, say, we are top of the League!” The players responded magnificently. Five minutes of pure possession football to secure the points.

Terry to Melligan. Cleared long and offside, of course! Free-kick Orient. To Gray, Boyd, Melligan, Thornton, Gray, Thornton again, Chambers and Corden wide. Chambers, Corden, Chambers, Palmer and Thornton who holds the ball up. Crewe clear into the box where it is gobbled up by the O’s defence. Four minutes are added, fairly, it must be said, by another very good referee. Orient break. Thornton holds, runs, shoots. His shot is tipped over for a corner on the right which Thornton takes, giving an opportunity for another demonstration of keep-ball with Wayne Gray. But when Crewe clear, it is well within this new Orient’s capability to hold out and the whistle comes in due time to deliver a fourth successive win and a very happy return journey.

Strangely the players wander around the pitch for a while in a daze. Dean Smith tries to organise a warm-down but without success and, eventually, someone points out that there are a few hundred other heroes to whom their attention must turn for a while. To their credit, several minutes are spent applauding the crowd and receiving due plaudits for a wonderful, if carefully crafted victory. Churlish to look for a m-o-m after such a great team effort. Nelson perhaps for the shut-out. Chambers for his everlasting effort and runs into the box. Melligan for the goal. But, if you really want an award, then give it jointly to Tam Makka and Alton Thelwell for an immense contribution at the heart of the defence in which they put no more than one foot wrong the entire game. The possibilities for this combination were evident in the pre-season games. Those possibilities are now full-fledged fact for all to behold. Together with Stuart Nelson, it will surely give us a very firm foundation for the future.

And what of the future? Those expectations? Well, actually, the expectations are now raised. We will actually go into games now looking for a win. And that is no bad thing, raising, as it will our self-belief, players and support alike. Sure, we will come a cropper at some stage and, as we all know, the higher we climb, the harder we fall. But the difference now is that that fall, when it occurs, no longer matters. The Cobra is convinced, on recent and growing evidence, that this side will brush aside adversity when it comes (absit, that is, a crop of injuries) and simply move on to the next game, learning, hopefully, from any mistakes made on the way. There could be a wonderful future in store. Certainly, it was a superb afternoon out and one can conclude, without fear of contradiction, that a Phoenix has truly risen from the ashes!!

COBRA