‘Old ‘em Tight Leyton Orient (1) 1 Oldham Athletic (0) 0 Nelson; Purches (Capt), Thelwell, Mkandawire, C Daniels; JJ Melligan (sub Corden 83), Chambers, P Terry, Demetriou (sub Saah 88); Boyd, Ibehre (sub Gray 62). And tight it was -- the game, that is -- and tight it remains, with seven points now spanning the top ten and just four points separating first and seventh. The Cobra was not at Doncaster, so ending a run of nine consecutive matches, home and away, something of a Personal Best. But he was as disappointed with the result, and especially the manner of so quickly blowing a hard-won lead, as was our illustrious manager. The Cobra had noted, a week previously, that we were following a run of half a dozen difficult duels (which culminated at Elland Road) with eight games which were, for the most part and at least in theory, eminently winnable and that we desperately needed a decent haul from those games, not least because all our challengers – Leeds apart – each had a number of difficult games against other contenders in this period. On paper, at least, our two most difficult challenges were at Doncaster and Swindon (on Tuesday upcoming), so the loss of three points last week, though regrettable in the circumstances, may not be such a disaster – provided always that we win most of those next six!Such was the backdrop to the visit of the lowly Oldham – lowly in station, maybe, but not, our Manager reminded the Gallery, in repute, their early, poor form perhaps a classic case of post-play-off paralysis. They had underlined their potential with a 0 – 0 draw at Notts Forest in midweek and were not to be underestimated, for all their under-achievement. With Sean Thornton still sitting out the game in the Gallery, there was only one change to the starting line-up, with Brian Saah stepping aside for Alton Thelwell. This was an interesting selection. For Brian had filled in splendidly for the injured Alton against Port Vale and had kept the position, even though Alton was fit again and on the bench, at Doncaster. Was this simply a case of giving the Club Captain an extra week to recover or was it a tacit admission of a rare mistake in not giving Alton the start at Donny?Orient lose the toss, kick off and kick South. The ball is passed back to Charlie Daniels who gives long and Latics deposit the ball into the East Stand to avoid risk. Orient’s throw is cleared. Tam gets up and heads clear. Oldham return the ball and Alton Thelwell now clears to Boyd, he on to Jabo Ibehre who wins a throw. The throw to Adam Chambers, he on to Jabo who takes the ball forward but is tackled on the bye-line. Ball cleared. Throw O’s. Stephen Purches takes. Back to Thelwell who sweeps acrossfield towards Jason Demetriou but Latics intercept and pass back to netminder Marlon Beresford. His kick is cleared and Purches moves on to Boyd who is caught offside. Free-kick Athletic. Beresford takes in mid-half. Thelwell up and out. To Jabo who gives down the line but the ball is cleared. Purches up with his head, Melligan up with a header, Terry up to head and is fouled. No response from referee Andy Woolmer. Now there’s a name which resonates. May 6th 2006. He it was who blew up so authoritatively for Craig Easton’s goal which barely crossed the line in ‘keeper Turley’s hands at the Kassam Stadium. Nor was that the first time that he had overseen the Orient’s efforts, and satisfactorily, if not even with distinction. Today, however, there will be doubt in many an Orient shirt as the benefit of the doubt is given to some fairly aggressive, competitive players -- and not all of us like aggressive; to some fairly taller-than-average players -- and we don’t like tall; to some speedier-than-most opponents; and – remember Hartlepool, Gillingham and Swansea – we certainly don’t like speedy! For the moment, though, we scratch our heads and are reminded that our resident referee doesn’t like “short-houses”. Tam intervenes to give a throw in mid-half. It is long and Tam heads out. Adam Chambers finds Jabo, apparently in our half, and he is flagged for offside!! From the kick, another free-kick, now conceded by Adam Chambers, two yards inside the halfway line. Tammy to Chambers with the clearance and a throw to Athletic midway into our half. Tammy and Chambo again combine to clear. To Charlie Daniels, Tam and crossfield to JJ Melligan, he back to Purches. Long for Jabo who is offside. Thelwell and Purches together clear the kick. Latics return with a cross from the left. Tam stretches to clear. Latics again. Daniels up and out and Demetriou wins a throw in mid-territory. Under the cosh for a while there! This is supposed to be easy! Daniels with the throw to Jabo and another throw for the Orient, a yard over the halfway line. It is long, too long and runs back to ‘keeper Beresford. Throw Athletic, fifteen yards up from their corner flag. Paul Terry intervenes, finds Melligan and Jabo. On towards Terry but intercepted. Foul and free-kick Oldham five yards short of the halfway line. Thelwell clears for a throw five yards from the flag. The ball is swept crossfield and then crossed from the right. Gary McDonald is in at the near post, unmarked, and shoots high over the bar, to our great relief! Now Jabo to JJ but lost. Daniels recovers, finds Demetriou, he on to Jabo for a delightful angled header back to Daniels, by now on the overlap, and Charlie meets the perfect pass with a rasping, low drive, straight into the far right-hand corner of Beresford’s net. 1 – 0 Orient and clearly a lead well-worth having.Oldham press again from the re-start. A cross from the left, everyone misses the ball and Stuart Nelson holds. Latics come again. Tam clears and Chambers is penalised for a foul. Free-kick fifteen yards into our half. Demetriou back to clear, to Chambers, to Daniels, to Demetriou, away down the left flank and a low cross for Jabo which is cleared. Daniels again. Latics clear again, long. Tammy up and out. Ten minutes past. Oldham again. Demetriou and Daniels clear. Ball returned. Purches intercepts. Orient throw, ten yards short of the halfway line. Purches takes. Kicked out for another Orient throw fifteen yards into their territory. Purches to Jabo and Oldham have the throw. It is long. Daniels intercepts. To Terry, back to Charlie and back again. On to Jason, back to Charlie and returned to Jason who loses the ball in the tackle. Latics give long. Tam is up for it. The ball is returned through the middle but Stuart Nelson holds safely. To Boyd who finds JJ, back to Purches for a through ball but we are offside. Beresford takes the kick fifteen yards in from the bye-line. Tam is up for the kick but is beaten in the air. We don’t like tall!! Alton Thelwell up next and finds Paul Terry who clears. Oldham again. Crossfield ball for skipper Neal Eardley. Chambers is up to intercept and finds Boydy who is fouled. Orient free-kick at the back end of the centre-circle. The kick is long for Jason Demetriou who fails to control and the ball is off for a throw to the visitors a couple of yards from their corner flag on their right. They clear, Thelwell returns, Latics resurge, Chambers with the clearance. Through ball for Jabo who is into the box, neck and neck with Stefan Stam. Pressured all the way and while still on the run, Jabo gets in a strong volley which whistles narrowly over the crossbar. Fifteen minutes in.Free-kick Orient, middle of our half, Nelson to take. We win a throw halfway into Athletic territory on the right. Purches to Jabo who, flushed by recent near-success, puts in a high cross-cum-shot which passes for a goal-kick. Orient intercept. Jason, Jabo, Boydy, JJ, Purches. To Terry and Jabo, back to Stephen P for a cross which is met by a glancing header from Jabo. Oldham clear decks. Paul Terry returns and Daniels flicks on brilliantly. Cleared again. Latics down the line and a cross which is cleared for a throw to Orient on the halfway line, Purches to take. To Jabo and Terry and through to Boyd who is caught offside. Thelwell clears the free-kick, to Jabo, Demetriou, Chambers and on to Jabo but lost. Oldham break and Liddell lets fly from twenty-five yards, the ball going wide of the left-hand goalpost (as we look form the West). Now Latics have a corner on the left. Thelwell is up for it and clears but the speedy Chris Taylor gathers on the left, in to Neil Kilkenny, on to Trotman and skipper Eardley who gives down the left flank but the ball runs for a goal-kick. Latics recharge. Tam gets up. Oldham again, Terry up and in the breach. Now Chambers is penalised for a foul and the free-kick is some twenty yards from the bye-line on the right. Daniels clears but Athletic come again. A cross from the left which Thelwell clears. Purches to Jabo and returned, long for Boyd who wins a throw-in ten yards from the corner-flag. Terry to Boyd and another throw, same spot. Purches takes, to JJ and in to Boyd who delivers a brilliant cross to the far post. No-one connects and Latics have the goal-kick. Orient press again and a superb through-ball from Adam Chambers finds Jason Demetriou who works his way into the box and shoots for goal even as he is brought down. No-one seriously expects a penalty call and a corner is given. Daniels to take. Much jostling in the penalty area as the physical visiting defence try to muscle Orient’s big men out of the way. Referee Woolmer speaks sternly to Adam Chambers and Craig Davies whereafter the jostling continues and, as the corner comes across, Oldham are awarded a free-kick. Tam gets up for the kick and is fouled. The kick is five yards shy of the halfway line. Orient push and Jabo is fouled outside the box, suffering injury which requires attention for a minute and more. Stefan Stam is reprimanded by Woolmer for his misdemeanour. Twenty-five minutes gone.Oldham continue in physical mode. Jason Demetriou with the free-kick, deflected to JJ Melligan who is fouled. The free-kick is five yards from the flag on the right. Charlie Daniels with a dangerous, curling kick which is headed for a corner. Demetriou with the corner which is headed out. Chambers in to return to Melligan who is tackled and Latics break out. Craig Davies down the middle with a shot from outside the box. It is deflected way over the bar for a corner. This is taken short and crossed for Dean Smalley whose diving header at the near post is cleared. Oldham come again. Davies to Kilkenny wide right where Demetriou gives away a throw. Back to Kilkenny but Paul Terry intervenes and clears for a throw to the O’s ten yards from the halfway line. Daniels takes and the ball is swung crossfield to JJ Melligan who gets into the penalty area where he is unloaded. Latics are awarded a free-kick, to the chagrin of the Fantasticos who see Woolmer as having again got it wrong. Terry clears the kick, to Boyd, Chambers and on towards Jabo but Beresford fields and rolls short to Ryan Bertrand. He gives long to Smalley. A through ball finds Chris Taylor whose shot-cum-cross is cleared off the line by a Charlie Daniels header. Fifteen minutes left.Oldham again. Davies, Bertrand, Kilkenny, Davies again and on to the troublesome Taylor who crosses for Jabo to clear long for a throw to the visitors midway into their half. The ball is shunted acrossfield to Eardley who gives large and long. Tam heads clear. Daniels to Chambers. Intercepted. Daniels again and Chambers in the tackle. Free-kick Athletic for a foul. The kick is long and Nelson fields. Oldham again and now Thelwell clears long for Jabo who wins a throw twelve yards from the corner flag on the right. To Melligan who is floored. Free-kick Orient. Woolmer speaks sternly to Taylor. We are told that Woolmer’s red card rate has dropped noticeably this season over last and that fact is entirely consistent with his reluctance to show a yellow card in the first half. Taylor, however, attracts the ire of the Gallery fans, the more so for his auburn hair. The Law Librarian, constructing his own defence, explains that this is “Gingerism” (with two hard “Gs”) the hardness of the “Gs” to avoid any accusations of Incitement to Hatred on grounds of Creed, colour (of hair) et al. That settled, Daniels takes the free-kick. It is long and passes for a goal-kick!! Demetriou intercepts the kick but gives away a throw on the halfway line. Thelwell clears. Latics again. Boyd in with a tackle. A crossfield ball which is lost. Oldham into the box but a goal-kick is conceded. Ten minutes left.The kick to Daniels who puts Jabo through but offside is blown. Free-kick, edge of the box. Latics down the line on the right. A cross which Tam clears. Eardley returns long to Kilkenny and Daniels concedes a corner. Terry heads the kick out. Oldham again. Tam is fouled. Free-kick Orient, ten yards from the flag, from which we win a throw around the halfway line. Daniels takes, finds Jabo. Oldham intercept and clear and Purches passes back to Nelson. To Melligan, Purches, Boyd and Terrry. On to Chambers. To Purches and Melligan and laid back to Chambers who crosses for Boyd. He is floored by Stam, the latter’s fifth such foul of the match, we are told by the Law Librarian, evidently using the bean counter to his right, and Woolmer breaks the rule of a lifetime – or, at least, of this season -- by administering a first-half yellow card to the errant Dutchman. Two of the visitors are then reprimanded for not backing off the required ten yards. Daniels with the free-kick which he curls narrowly over the bar. Now Jabo is fouled in the centre circle. Terry with the kick, through to Demetriou who is offside. Oldham attack again. Chambers in. Taylor down the left flank and crosses. Terry heads away. Now Adam Boyd with a long through ball to JJ Melligan. He crosses to the far post where Jabo doesn’t quite reach the ball and a goal-kick ensues. Oldham attack again and Thelwell does well to repel. Latics again and Kilkenny shoots over the bar from the edge of the box with Orient looking half-asleep. Three minutes are added, just about right, given Jabo’s injury. Purches clears and Daniels gives long. Athletic return and Tam clears. Taylor, Davies, Taylor, Kilkenny. Demetriou with the tackle and on to Jabo but intercepted. A big ball for Davies and a huge cross to the far post which Nelson manages to hold. Oldham return with a shot which is cleared to Boyd who holds and passes back to Nelson. Oldham again with Davies to Kilkenny to Taylor who cuts in from the left and sweeps the ball across to Eardley on the right. He crosses. Tam clears, Now Kilkenny with a shot which is hugely miscued and Purches clears. Bertrand crosses now and Demetriou kicks clear. Half-time is blown and we are well-pleased to be a goal ahead. Oldham have had a large slice of the game and are unlucky to be a goal down. That said, they are far the more physical of the two sides and, for all their half-dozen attempts, Nelson has had much less than usual to do to keep himself warm.Early half-time chat focuses on referee Woolmer and our resident referee agrees that, for all his reluctance to caution and his several errors, he is really quite competent an official and we should not get too exercised. Orient are first to attack from the kick-off but Boyd concedes a goal-kick. Latics now into our box but we clear decks and Boyd feeds JJ who is dispossessed. Now the effulgent Taylor with a cross from the left which Thelwell clears. End-to-end stuff these early exchanges. Latics again. Daniels clears, Demetriou unseated, a long ball is nodded on but Nelson holds safely. Oldham again and a long ball puts Smalley through but Nelson fields first again. Nelson long, Oldham long. Daniels long. Oldham long again. Now Alton Thelwell heads clear to Jabo. To Jason, Boydy and Daniels. Jason now back to Paul Terry. On to Boyd and Jabo and JJ whose gigantic and vastly long cross goes out for a goal-kick, a really thoughtless and wasteful ploy on our wideman’s part. Daniels retrieves the kick and Orient build up a meticulous movement, Boyd, Terry, JJ, Daniels, Demetriou. JJ gives long for the overlapping Purches and a huge cross is hoofed panically into the North stand by Trotman. Demetriou on the left with the corner. Short to Boyd who makes for the bye-line and crosses dangerously. Alton Thelwell’s shot is cleared from off the goal-line for a corner to Orient on the right which Daniels takes. Tam is up for it but the ball is cleared long and Stuart Nelson holds. Short to Purches who gives long to JJ. We win a throw, twelve yards from the flag. To JJ who goes down in the box and wins a corner on the right. Daniels takes, Thelwell goes for it but Beresford holds. From the kick, Daniels is beaten, Taylor and McDonald on the break. Thelwell tackles Smalley and concedes a throw to Oldham five yards from the corner flag. Back to Kilkenny, on to McDonald and Taylor. Back to Stam and back further to Trotman, crossfield to Eardley who punts long. Goal-kick Orient. Oldham throw. Davies beats Tam. A high cross from the edge of the box which Alton Thelwell clears. Oldham again and a shot from Bertrand on the left is deflected high over the crossbar for a corner on the left which Taylor takes. Tam, up to head out, is floored and appears badly hurt, or at the very least, badly shaken. He recovers and the ball is cleared. Demetriou picks up the clearance, his cross is blocked and we have a corner on the left which Jason takes himself. The ball skids across the goal-line, three Orient players missing completely en route, and is cleared for a throw to the O’s, some fifteen yards from the flag. Now Chambers in with a brilliant run to the bye-line but his final ball finds no-one to receive. Oldham come away and Paul Terry takes out his man in desperation, earning a yellow card from Woolmer for his pains. From the free-kick, Latics cross to the far post where Smalley heads over the bar, another chance gone begging. Goal-kick O’s. Fifteen minutes gone.Oldham again with another cross from the left which Nelson holds at the far post. Now Orient win a throw five yards from the flag. Jabo Ibehre’s injury has continued to trouble and Martin Ling now takes him off, bringing Wayne Gray on as substitute. The throw is for Boyd but is quickly intercepted. Daniels clears but Eardley returns with a cross which we clear for a throw. Another cross which Purches clears and we have the throw a couple of yards into their half. Daniels to Chambers and back to Tammy who gives long. Trotman clears long. Tam clears again for a throw. Chambers heads out to Melligan and another carefully-crafted move is built.. To Purches, Boyd, Chambers, Terry, Demetriou and Gray. On to Boydy who shoots from the edge of the box, just a yard over the crossbar! Now Oldham on the break from the kick and a big cross from the left which Paul Terry gets up to clear. Demetriou concedes a throw which is passed back to Kilkenny, back further to Stam, on to Davies and back to Kilkenny. A cross which Nelson rises to hold. Short to Daniels and on to Demetriou but Oldham clear. Daniels penalised for a foul. Oldham kick long. Crossfield for Eardley and to Taylor but the ball is out for a goal-kick. Chambers is up for the kick and finds Gray with a through-ball but he is penalised for a foul and Beresford takes the kick from the edge of the box. Sheridan removes Liddell and brings on Lee Hughes. Sixty-seven minutes, as we have come to expect. Hughes immediately gets the bird from the Orient crowd, mindful of his recent spell of “bird”. The Cobra finds it difficult to understand society’s long-standing inability to forgive ex-prisoners. Time done, clean slate. As with any misdemeanour. A red card, for example. Poor Sean Thornton seems to carry a “reputation” which only seems to make him more liable to future penalty. Do we approve? Certainly not! Demetriou makes the first clearance. Terry up for the second. Hughes into the box where he trips with an apparently open goal ahead, to the double delight of the home crowd. Nelson exchanges kicks with Beresford. Tam up and out. Melligan gives long. Gray up for the ball but beaten. Melligan gives a throw to the visitors. Hughes returns the favour a couple of yards over the halfway line. Purches to Gray and another throw. Purches again. Chambers up and appears to be fouled in the penalty area. A goal-kick is awarded!! Thelwell up for the goal-kick but Latics come again. Tam to Daniels who gives long for Boyd. To Demetriou and intercepted. Daniels up for the through-ball and we win a throw, which Charlie takes. Twenty minutes left. Hangin’ in there. Possession now the name of the game.Melligan long but cleared. Terry in the breach to Chambers and back to Tammy. Up to Gray, back to Chambers and on to Melligan but cleared. Terry gives away a throw. Demetriou intercepts and gives back to Tam. A long ball which Beresford fields. Thelwell up for the kick and feeds Demetriou on the break. Tackled for a throw five yards over the halfway line. Daniels to Demetriou and back. On to Chambers who crosses for Gray. He holds, turns but is tackled. Oldham break. A cross which Tammy clears for a throw. Eardley and Demetriou involved in the tackle. We win the throw five yards short of the halfway line. Up to Wayne Gray but cleared. Thelwell with a long clearance. Demetriou, Melligan, Boyd and worked up to Gray again. He passes inside and finds -- an Oldham defender!!! Now the rubescent Taylor again on a run. He cuts in and is hit hard by Adam Chambers. Oldham throw in mid-territory. Boyd is shown the yellow card, apparently for swearing or somesuch. Fifteen minutes to go. Still in the lead.Chambers gives another throw and Gray concedes a free-kick a few yards the wrong side of the halfway line. Tam gets up, Paul Terry gets out and Boydy gets in a header to Demetriou who passes in to Terry who fails to control and the ball runs on to Beresford who gives long. Chambers is fouled by Hughes but the ball is cleared. Latics return. Daniels clears. Latics again kick out and are awarded a throw!! Daniels retrieves, to Terry, Demetriou and Gray who is tackled for a throw to Orient which Charlie takes. Now Thelwell is adjudged to have fouled Hughes and the free-kick is five yards or more beyond the centre circle. Taylor down the left and crosses. Just over the bar at the far post. Nelson’s kick wins a throw a little beyond the halfway line. Sheridan takes off McDonald and introduces Mark Allott. Ten minutes left.Daniels with the throw. Gray up for it but cleared. Orient throw, ten yards inside the halfway line. A big clearance which Thelwell deals with, to Purches and he long for Melligan. Free-kick Oldham. Melligan is reprimanded but not, apparently, cautioned. Demetriou clears the kick but Latics come again. Terry clears. Eardley again, to Bertrand and Taylor and in to Kilkenny. Thelwell interrupts and clears. Oldham return and Nelson holds and kicks long. Oldham clear. Orient throw. Sheridan takes off Smalley and brings on Wolfenden for a final throw of the dice. A brief hiatus, valuable seconds on the clock, and Martin Ling brings Corden on for Melligan. Fresh legs. Daniels with the throw five yards shy of the halfway line. It is long for Boyd but cleared. Nelson comes out of his box to clear but Gray is caught offside. Terry up for the free-kick and Daniels clears decks. Boyd picks up and slips the ball out to Wayne Corden on the left. He cuts in and fires a right-footed shot which is blocked. Five minutes left.Thelwell with the clearance out to Demetriou who promptly passes the ball to Oldham’s Taylor. Youth? Inexperience? Or just nerves? Taylor makes ground and fires in a drive which Nelson dives to palm out and Chambers puts off for what appears to be a corner but, in the event, turns out to be a throw-in by the corner flag. Daniels heads the throw for a corner! Corner across, Stam up to shoot, Nelson holds. To Paul Terry, Corden and Purches. Latics again and a great turn and clearance by Daniels, finding Boyd. He through to Gray who gives a throw in mid-park. Back to Beresford whose kick sets Hughes away, Tam clearing for a corner. O’s really under the cosh in these closing minutes as Latics go for broke. The corner is headed for another on the right. Wayne Gray sends this for another corner with a diving header and, from this, Jason Demetriou clears Trotman’s header off the line. Martin Ling takes the steam out of the action by taking time out to introduce Brian Saah for Jason Demetriou, thus winding down the clock and adding a little extra defensive bite to the team. Terry up for the corner. Nelson holds. Oldham break again. Terry clears for a throw. Five minutes extra are added. Still in full flight, Latics with a high cross which Nelson has to fist clear. Purches gives long and Oldham return with the indefatigable Taylor down the left. A big cross. Davies versus Daniels. Davies wins but a goal-kick ensues. Oldham again but Hughes is now offside and we have a free-kick in the midst of our territory. Chambers in and out to Wayne Gray who is fouled. We have a free-kick five yards short of the corner flag and Ryan Bertrand is awarded a yellow card for the foul. Saah with the free-kick to Wayne Gray who delivers a low header. Athletic clear for a throw to Orient a couple of yards from the halfway line. Daniels to Chambers, Boyd, Corden, Terry and off for a throw. Possession now. A series of throws. Latics case now hopeless. The final whistle. 1 – 0!!Lucky? Under the cosh we were at times. And Oldham had more than their fair share of the play and the ball. But you make your own luck, so we must have done something right. So where were the positives? Centre-backs again immense. And in the face of some of the most difficult opponents yet. Tall and physical. Tam was bested on a number of occasions, a very rare occurrence. And knocked about, too. But they remained solid. So much so that Stuart Nelson was rarely called upon to “save the day”. Elsewhere? In midfield, of course, where Adam Chambers, too, played a gargantuan role in maintaining what superiority that early goal gained for us.So let us be thankful for the shut-out and the apparent return to the unattractive grinding out of three points which characterised the early games of the season. And let us, in fine, also recall those upcoming fixtures. Carlisle vs Leeds, Notts Forest vs Tranmere and Southend vs Carlisle are already behind us in those days since Elland Road. Then….Notts Forest vs Southend (tomorrow)Doncaster vs Tranmere (17th)Carlisle vs Notts Forest (18th)Tranmere vs Swansea (24th)Hartlepool vs Tranmere (4/12)Swansea vs Southend (15/12)Eighteen to twenty-four points will be dropped in those six fixtures by our closest rivals. If we can but win (or not lose) four of our next five, we could have a comfortable cushion over those rivals by the time we visit Carlisle in mid-December and then, in short order, go on to face Hartlepool, Tranmere and Notts Forest. To do otherwise will surely consign us to the back of the pack. We live on in hope!Up the O’s.COBRA posted by Cobra 1:27 pm . . .
