On and up the Learning Curve

Leyton Orient (0) 2 Northampton Town (2) 2

Nelson; Purches (capt) (sub Demetriou 12), Thelwell, Mkandawire, Palmer; JJ Melligan, Chambers, Terry, Corden (sub Echanomi 82); Gray, Boyd.

A new term is upon us and, for those with schools to consider, from whatever perspective, it will be a simple matter to see this group of young men as a new class, fresh in its composition, with the tutor having selected his charges well. Three or four key pupils are left behind from the previous year’s disappointing class and three or four of the brightest youngsters have been taken in from the juniors. The class has blended well, the class has bonded well and showed great enthusiasm from the outset. Gone are the apologetics of yesteryear. Room now only for challenges and these to be surmounted, each as they come, as lessons are learnt and experience gained, both corporate and individually.

The Master spoke of the bigger picture -- look beyond today’s encounter and ask where shall we be at the end of the academic year -- and, while lauding the performance in Wales on Tuesday, that of netminder Stuart Nelson, in particular, he cautioned that, if he were finicky, then he would concede that the opposition Bluebirds were able to get to see Stuart rather too easily. As for new blood, he admitted that the quality player much sought did not turn up before the end of August and, in addition to recent acquisition Sam Oji (on loan), one or two other loanees might help to strengthen the squad until December. Thereafter, a left-back and a striker will be pursued. And that without denigrating the performance of Aiden Palmer or Efe Echanomi. They are simply the positions where we are most needing cover.

The Professor had fled the shores of Brighton, where the World Moustache and Beard Championships were taking place (why do all weird occurrences occur in Brighton?), to bring his own unique brand of Sino-itic facial hair to bear on the Gallery instead. Also in attendance was Sean Thornton learning, for the first time, that the real penalty that comes from a red card, is the pain of having to small talk (?smooth talk) the inquisitive Gallery faithful. Strangely, no-one asked the obvious question. Could the Class survive while its principle playmaker sat the game out in the Stand? Perhaps fear of the obvious answer provoked that reticence. In the event, Paul Terry would prove, as we already suspected, that, while he is a perfectly adequate member of the side, he cannot fully compensate for the absence of Sean Thornton.

Orient kicked off and kicked South, again!! It is worth a mention at this juncture that the Curse of the South End, if such it ever was, has effectively been laid by the opening of the North Stand, our lads now able to play “into” their own fans in either half. Incidentally, the denizens of that new North End are beginning to fashion an identity of their own, with chants emanating afresh from its depths as once only the South Stand could boast. A lethargic start by our lads, though Boyd is soon nodding on a long Nelson goal-kick, albeit with no-one to receive in the channel. Yet seconds later a similar Mark Bunn confection creates a chance on the edge of the box but this is blazed over the bar to our early relief. Poul Hubertz, 6ft 5in., quickly proves a difficult streak of Danish bacon to handle and wins a throw on the right (East side). The ball is crossed, Alton Thelwell heads clear. Cobblers return down the left. Andy Holt crosses. Thelwell again clears. Town return. Offside. Free-kick Orient which Nelson takes. Rolled to Terry who is fouled and O’s have a free-kick on the edge of the centre-circle. Bradley Johnson is spoken to by Referee Andre Marriner, lending credence to the views that Town may prove to be somewhat more niggling than usual, also that our resident referee’s pre-match recollection that we have previously had a tough time at Marriner’s hands, may yet prove wide of the mark.

Five minutes gone and a promising Orient move peters out in a goal-kick. Northampton down the left. Purches concedes a throw ten yards in from the flag. It is long. Corden, the industrious Corden, heads clear. Cobblers again down the right. Jason Crowe crosses. Tam heads clear. Visitors again down the right and Aiden Palmer gives away a corner under pressure. It is low and Aiden clears only to see a strong drive returned from the edge of the box which whistles three yards wide of Nelson’s left-hand post (as we look). From the kick, Gray nods on to Boyd who gets in a cross from down the right channel. It is deflected and ‘keeper Bunn spills but the ball is cleared for a throw to the Orient on the left. Palmer infield to Terry who holds and is fouled. One of his stronger cards this, the ability to win free-kicks. The free-kick is five yards outside the penalty area. Corden into the box, an ambitious overhead kick from Boyd and it is cleared. Northampton break down the left and cross. Tam clears well and Town win a free-kick. Terry heads clear. They return. JJ Melligan hoofs clear. Cobblers again. Palmer is beaten. Ian Henderson shoots but over the bar. Now JJ down the left flank. He is brought down on the edge of the box but Referee Marriner sees no evil. Cobblers down their right. Chambers dispossesses and breaks forward but holds too long and his fine through ball finds Boyd offside. To the surprise of many, Captain Purches is taken off with an injury and Jason Demetriou replaces him, with the armband passing to the capable Alton Thelwell. The kick is long and Chambers and Terry clear for a throw to Town on the left some ten yards or more from the flag. Holt crosses and the ball is deflected off Terry for a corner. The corner is whipped in and the tall Poul Hubertz stoops to nod in from a melee at the near post. Achilles Heel! The near post. Captain gone. One behind. And chasing the game in more ways than one. For Northampton have been all but all over us in those first fifteen minutes. This we saw at Crewe but there with a discernible purpose. We soaked it up to recoil (on a hot day) and overcome. But this seems different. We are no longer bossing the midfield. Claret wields the conductor’s baton.

Demetriou’s arrival heralds a slight shift of personnel as he replaces Terry in midfield while the latter, predictably, takes up Purches’ role at right-back. It is hard to say when the tide turned in this game but, in retrospect, the seeds of a revival may well have been sown in this enforced and ostensibly unwelcome move shaped from the depths, almost, of despair. For while Paul Terry is no better a full-back than Stephen Purches, nor Jason a better all-round midfielder than Paul, yet Paul’s move back gave us, perhaps, a full-back who was prepared to take risks in the interests of constructing something positive, while Jason’s greater industry in mid-park (for Paul is still short of match-fitness) gave us the ability to compete better and also, crucially, released Adam Chambers for the role in which he excels. But as with life, so with financial markets and football, it is only when you think that things have turned for the better that fate delivers the real kick-to-the-crutch. The dreaded Dead Cat Bounce. Demetriou to Tam to JJ and a through-ball finds Gray who tries to ape Boyd’s earlier overhead effort. It is weak and brings a goal-kick. Now Corden puts Gray through. He holds, runs, beats two, crosses but Boydy fails to connect. O’s win a throw on the halfway line which Terry takes. JJ is fouled and we have a free-kick on the right, five yards outside the angle of the box and wide. It comes to naught and the ball is cleared and eventually crossed. Corden is back to head clear. Demetriou to Corden. A cross. A header but Bunn fields. Northampton down the right again. Palmer has the ball, gives it away, is roasted by his opponent and concedes a corner on the right which is taken by Daniel Jones. The ball is crossed, another melee in the box. Two miscues. A header is missed. Captain Chris Doig is at the far post to fire home low from the edge of a group of opposing players. And just as we were beginning to win some possession, just as we are beginning to get back in the game, so we are two behind and a mountain to climb. Not yet 20 minutes in.

With the benefit of hindsight, it speaks volumes for this class that it did not collapse. That it hung in there. That it came back to make any inroads at all. The next ten minute spell sees largely Orient possession, largely Orient pressure, with most of the decisions going Orient’s way. Though it hardly seemed that way at the time, the pendulum was gently swinging in our direction, the dead cat perhaps bouncing after all. Gray collects a long Nelson kick, he is brought down but wins nothing for his pains. Demetriou shoots from twenty-five yards and Bunn spills the catch before making safe. Holt now crossing again from the left and Nelson going down well to field low at the near post. Some very good football now from the home side as Boyd comes close twice in short order, the second time crossing for Chambers to oh-so-nearly connect. Cobblers resurge. Offside. Nelson’s kick finds Gray who wins a corner. Corden takes. Cleared. Palmer intercepts. Throw Northampton. Crossfield. Throw Orient on the halfway line. Demetriou feeds JJ Melligan, who gives Boyd a through ball. He is onside but incredibly, with Bunn alone to beat, he shoots at his legs and the ball rebounds out. A second chance falls to our man from close range and this, too, is saved. A brief purple patch for the visitors in which Nelson saves high and well from a Thelwell clearance. Orient clear but Hubertz is in again, roasting his man and crossing from the right, forcing Alton Thelwell to concede a corner from which Hubertz himself seems to be given a free header. Ball cleared, a shot from great distance which Nelson holds. Ten minutes left.

More of the same. A through-ball to Gray rebuffed. Chambers, Melligan, Terry. Intercepted and cleared. Tammy Mak returns to Corden. A cross to the far post. Gray crosses back across the goal. Cleared again. Corden, Thelwell and a Boyd shot from twenty-five yards sails over the bar. Terry again for Orient. Boyd is brought down, wins nothing. A succession of goal-kicks at either end. Terry again to Boyd who appears to win a corner. A goal-kick is awarded. From the kick Terry is fouled but Cobblers win the free-kick. But look. Demetriou recovers the ball and puts Gray through with only Bunn to beat. He shoots at Bunn, as Boyd had done before, and gains a corner. So a second gilt-edged chance goes begging. JJ back to Tam whose shot is blocked and we win a throw by the corner flag. Corden to Tam who shoots again. Blocked again and Bunn clears long. Andy Kirk fires a shot from thirty yards which passes just a few yards wide of the right-hand post. Minute to go and Orient attack again. Terry to Boyd who executes one of his delightful backheels to Terry. A cross, but a poor cross, low and to the near post where Bunn holds easily. Two minutes added. Palmer clears. A throw to the O’s. Demetriou, Melligan, Terry and Melligan is tackled, recovers and finds Jason who is fouled by the corner flag. Daniel Jones sees the yellow card for the misdemeanour. The free-kick finds Corden who pulls back to Melligan, his shot deflected for a corner on the left. Jason to Corden whose shot is blocked. Melligan crosses and the half ends with a rasping shot from Adam Chambers, full thirty yards out, which zips a yard wide of the left-hand post.

Half-time talk is all of the missed opportunities. Any one of three gifts would have had us back in the game. As it was, we appeared to be getting back in control but, without a strike, still had an impossible task. We were aware that the lads had tried to move up a gear. Aware, too, that Martin Ling would have some choice words with which to re-invigorate the second-half performance. But totally unprepared for the onslaught that followed. A much used, abused and misused word, but “awesome” is quite the best epithet to encapsulate that second-half performance. It took five minutes to crank up. Early exchanges were even-handed with appeals for penalties denied at either end and some sensible and firm decisions required from the referee. Demetriou intercepts a headed clearance and Gray is floored. Jason Crowe is shown the yellow card for kicking the ball away, an early sign that Cobblers were prepared to try anything to protect their lead. The free-kick is midway into their territory, wide left. Corden crosses and Bunn fists away at the far post. Now Terry’s long ball is headed back to Bunn who exchanges passes with Crowe and, under pressure, miscues his final clearance. Still Town regain the ball and mount an attack. An appeal for a penalty is denied and a goal-kick awarded. Gray moves on to Wayne Corden who beats one opponent and crosses, the ball deflected for a corner on the left. The crowd, led again from the North Stand, respond to the upbeat mood. The corner is headed clear. Terry wins the tackle and feeds Corden. He is fouled by Hubertz who is booked for the offence. Corden takes the free-kick, wide left, midway into the Cobblers’ half. We see a handball in the box (no doubt about it) and cry out for a penalty but Marriner wisely judges that ball struck hand and not otherhow. Orient come again and Gray’s volley passes narrowly over the crossbar. Northampton attack and get in a shot. Goal kick. Adam Chambers nods the kick on to Boyd who gives wide to Wayne Corden. Inside to Jason Demetriou who makes ground and shoots from fifteen yards. The shot is parried out and Adam Chambers returns with a crisp mid-air volley to reduce arrears. 1- 2. Adrenalin really pumping. Just seven minutes in.

We return to the charge straightway. Gray down the right. Chambers back to Terry. On to Gray whose shot is tipped over the bar for a corner on the left which Corden takes, short to Boyd and back to Corden whose cross is cleared for an Orient throw ten yards inside their half. Terry, Melligan, Terry. Melligan on a run, he crosses and Boyd attempts another overhead kick, definitely the flavour of the day, but again without success. The shot is parried and Terry has an open goal from ten yards out. His shot is five yards wide of the post!! End-to-end play and now Kirk is through and looks offside but it is not given. He shoots but Nelson has come out well to narrow the angle and the shot is well wide. Corden from the goal-kick back to Palmer and he on to Boyd. The cross is cleared but to Corden wide. His cross is cleared to Tammy Mak who is throwing his not inconsiderable talent into this fierce onslaught. One reflects. Last five minutes, all or nothing, certainly. First ten minutes? This boy is very confident of his ability, though anything but arrogant with it. He will be in the opposing penalty area one moment, in our box the next! So Tam to Corden and back to Tam who crosses and wins a corner. Wayne Corden finds the near post. It is headed for another corner, still Corden on the left. Now the ball is fisted out by Bunn. Returned. Another cross from Corden. Fisted away again. Now crossed in to Tam, in the box and ten yards out. With commendable cool, Tam sidefoots the ball to the left side of ‘keeper Bunn and into the net for the golden equaliser. 2 – 2. Widespread rejoicing. Two goals in five minutes. Just twelve minutes gone and level already. Henderson is replaced by Larkin for the Cobblers. Buono takes the opportunity to tell us that Hubertz (who has previously been off the pitch for attention to a bloodied nose) is now wearing the number 50 shirt.

In the calm of retrospect, it is little short of incredible that there the score remained. Fair score it may have seemed, to many. But, with two strikes in short order, and a further avalanche to follow, it is amazing that Orient failed to add to their tally. Two-way traffic for the next ten minutes, though with Orient still in the ascendant. A Boyd header is cleared off the line. Cobblers attack and are offside. Boyd and Gray again for Orient and a Melligan shot which brings only a goal-kick. Boyd sets Jason Demetriou free down the left but, incredibly, he chooses to shoot from a very fine angle when the pull-back is the obvious ball. Cobblers break down the left and get in a shot, the flag staying down for what looks to be an offside call. Corden is injured and receives treatment, Orient winning a free-kick which Jason takes. The ball is cleared. O’s return. Jason gets in a cross-cum-shot from twenty-five yards. Bunn goes down to hold. Now Bradley Johnson shoots from thirty yards out and is five yards wide of target. In the hiatus for the goal-kick, Andy Holt is replaced by Liam Dolman. Now Cobblers attack and are repulsed, once and again, Tam twice heading clear. Palmer, Demetriou, Boyd and Palmer crosses from the edge of the box but the ball is cleared, Town breaking forward. Stuart Nelson once more shows fine anticipation in coming out to the edge of the penalty area to clear. Cobblers again. Thelwell clears by the corner flag. A corner is won. Tam heads clear. To Corden, Boyd, Melligan and through to Boyd whose effort is saved by Bunn.

Twelve minutes to go and Ryan Gilligan replaces Joe Burnell as Stuart Gray continues to ring the changes in an attempt to hang on to the game. No movement from the Orient bench. The one enforced substitution aside, O’s have yet again stuck with their starting line-up, so far. More frenetic activity at either end. Eight minutes remaining and Martin Ling brings Efe Echanomi on for Wayne Corden, perhaps to snatch a winner, perhaps merely to cause the distraction which his pace will inevitably cause. Corden, much maligned in some quarters of the West Stand, no doubt elsewhere, too, in recent games, receives a standing ovation for his whole-hearted involvement and contribution to the cause. Efe is soon in competition with Gilligan, who is clearly carrying a somewhat excess load, but Bunn wins the race to the ball. More two-way play. Efe again on a run, squares to Demetriou who shoots from twenty yards, just inches over the bar. Cobblers attack. Tam in the breach. Cobblers again. Gray, now playing more defensively for the arrival of Efe, sweeps up this one. To Efe, who takes on Gilligan successfully and exchanges passes with Demetriou. His shot is blocked. Boyd fails with the rebound and Town come away again. A cross is fielded by Nelson. Efe is dispossessed, Thelwell clears. Chambers concedes a free-kick ten yards outside the box. The kick is to the far post where Nelson goes down to hold. Chambers feeds Palmer whose shot is just inches wide of the left-hand post, winning a corner. Demetriou to Boyd whose cross is cleared. Four minutes added. The Law Librarian injects a note of humour by observing that Gilligan suggests an extra who has wandered in from a John Smiths advert. Town throw in midhalf. Melligan repulses, Chambers clears. Cobblers again, Chambers again. A shot from a chain distant. Nelson holds and kicks long. Jason Demetriou is penalised for a foul and earns a yellow card. Free-kick at the limit of the centre circle. Northampton win a throw by the corner flag. Chambers clears. Orient break. Palmer crosses and the ball is cleared. The long ball brings Nelson way out of the penalty area to clear and, in a fit of zeal, he dribbles to the halfway line before releasing and scurrying back to mind the house. Town get in an obligatory long shot from twenty-five yards but Stuart is back to recover and the game ends all-square.

Well-worth the point? Certainly. But no-one too upset about losing the 100% record or dropping the other two points. A little way further up the learning curve? Certainly for us supporters who are learning fast about this new class. But also, we imagine, for the scholars themselves, who must still have much to learn, about us, about themselves, about opponents. And it is with this expectation -- that we may well have yet to see the best from this new Orient – that we depart cheerfully. Bring on the Cherries.

COBRA