Late drama in rural Oxfordshire as the O's reach the semi-finals of the FA Trophy after coming back from a goal behind in a game which many would have thought Brackley would eventually win.
Brackley Town 1 - 2 Leyton Orient
Brackley Town Starting XI: Lewis, Myles (Nti 84), G.Walker, Byrne, Hall, Dean, Lowe, Fairlamb, Ndlovu, Armson, A.Walker.
Leyton Orient Starting XI: Brill, Judd (Maguire-Drew 56), Ekpiteta (Coulson 55), Happe, Ling, McAnuff, Clay, Gorman (Harrold 65), Brophy, Bonne, Simpson
The first chance of the game fell to the home side. Dean Brill was forced into a good stop by a low-driven shot towards his bottom corner just ten minutes in to the lofty affair at St James Park. Brill was called upon again just three minutes later in a one-on-one scenario, with the O's stopper coming out on top. Just under 20 minutes played, McAnuff sends a ball into the box which Dan Happe knocks down to Bonne who strikes over.
Ten minutes after that O's chance, the Brackley winger races down the by-line and closes in in on the box and knocks it past the face of goal which is tapped in to the net, 1-0 Brackley. Town nearly went two goals up, another save by Brill denied Davies.
Just after the half hour mark the O's had a shot cleared off the line as McAnuff's low cross finds Bonne who set himself, goes past the player and is through on goal. However, it is blocked by the keeper but then a swarm of both sets of players flood the box creating a goal line scramble, it fell to Marvin Ekpiketa who's shot was kept off the line by a Brackley defender.
The second half began and the visitors were lively, McAnuff picks out Bonne who heads over from short range. After 20 minutes of the O's holding possession, Brackley came out of nowhere and hit Orient with a chance as substitute Coulson Armson fired a volley towards goal which almost came off. Orient were awarded a penalty on 68 minutes, Bonne's spotkick was saved by the goalkeeper, a poor effort, in my opinion. Furthermore, this was his first penalty miss since signing for the O's, boasting an 100% conversion rate before this game.
Maguire-Drew was turning Brackley defenders inside out when he came on, he swerved past one, knocked the ball past another but his finessed effort on goal was tipped round by Lewis. A few minutes later, James Brophy's cross was put on a plate for Matt Harold who thumped it home and equalised for the O's. After the restart the O's thought they should've had a penalty as Craig Clay was brought down in the box, referee waved on.
Maguire-Drew on the scene again as he passes to Jay Simpson who squanders a chance, but them, Maguire Drew's corner beat the goalkeeper and Dan Happe, the young centre back, towered above and headed home. 2-1 Orient, absolute raptures behind the goal.
Orient could have added a third in the 95th minute, Maguire-Drew goes round the keeper but the ball spills further wide of the goal than he would've hoped, he recovers it well and closes in on goal and passes to Simpson who misses the connection and the ball is trapped in midfield before the full time whistle blew - Orient are semi-finalists.
Thoughts
A poor performance, besides the last 15 minutes it was a poor showing from the O's. I wasn't convinced that we were going to get an equaliser and Brackley would have beat us. At times you couldn't tell where the goal was going to come from, especially after Bonne's missed penalty. Nevertheless a great turnaround, two very well worked goals and what a header from Happe, Harold had a good game and had a goal to show for his efforts, a decisive one too as it allowed us to start playing high-tempo attacking football.
The only player on that field prior to the first goal who had shown any attacking presence was Jordan Maguire-Drew and he had been on the field just minutes. We need to start him the next game, he is an absolute game changer, not just today all recent games he's come on and provided something. I praise Justin Edinburgh on putting out a strong selection for the game, for the first time during this cup campaign he has respected the opposition and the club and good that he did considering the way it went and that we all knew we'd get turned over if we turned up with a second string team.
In my opinion, I think it's time that Sam Ling was dropped. He is just not a strong or decisive defender, I don't think I know an Orient fan that wants him in the team. I'd like to see Brophy back at left back coming in with the overlap, like he did last year and in which he excelled attacking & defensively too and Maguire-Drew and McAnuff n both wings and Joe Widdowson at right back.
Jay Simpson hasn't settled back into an Orient shirt the way we all hoped, whether its match sharpness, he hasn't played league football for over a year and a half, or anything else - he just didn't take his chances, one right in front of goal he didn't get the rub of the green with.
I feel he needs to get off the mark then who knows the goals might start flying in or he could score one or two only before the end of the season? The idea that he will score every game, get hat-tricks or finish the season with more than ten goals is a bit over the top or unrealistic so to speak.
On to the next round, the draw of which is Monday afternoon, I am confident we can reach the final playing over two legs, any team we get will be hard opposition because they've got to this stage of the competition which is a big achievement.
Furthermore, they've all done something that's got them here so for example a giant killing or have been on their game since round 1 or qualifying. I do know my favoured draw but I wont say anything because knowing Orient it means we will avoid them and get the worst possible one.
Player Ratings
Brill 6
Judd 6 (Maguire-Drew 8)
Ekpiteta 6 (Coulson 6)
Happe 7
Ling 5
McAnuff 6
Clay 7
Gorman 5 (Harrold 7)
Brophy 7
Bonne 6
Simpson 6
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