Game to Remember: James Brophy
In the first half, all Orient’s attacking invention was coming down the left and Brophy was in good form, carrying the ball past opponents with ease, and linking well with the midfield and Joe Widdowson. Every time he got the ball it just seemed to stick to his foot, his close control was excellent.
He did well to earn the penalty, and was one of the better performers in the second half as the O’s toiled against a rejuvenated Carlisle. He almost had the winner with a fine strike, but the keeper was equal to it.
Honourable Mention: Joe Widdowson
In the first half he was excellent, linking well with Brophy on the attack and winning a few corners. He looked composed on the ball, and was solid in defence. Unfortunately culpable for the defensive horrorshow that let Carlisle equalise. Very much a Jekyll and Hyde performance, but in the first half he was playing at his best - more of that next week please!
Opinion
This was a game of two halves with few clear cut chances for either side.
Orient dominated the first half, playing neat passing football. It was the best I have seen Orient play this season and it was encouragingly consistent.
Carlisle were insipid in the first half, and our dominance should have been reflected in two or three goals, but there were few clear cut chances, despite James Brophy and Joe Widdowson getting into the right areas on the left. Conor Wilkinson and Lee Angol were sorely missed, fortunately Wilkinson returns for next week’s trip to Morecambe.
Unfortunately, Carlise got the early goal in the second half. Judging by their performance they were given a real rocket by Steven Pressley at half-time. The Cumbrians harried the O’s in the second half and made it much harder for Carl Fletcher’s side to find their rhythm.
I thought that Ekipteta at right back didn’t work. I would rather have seen Myles Judd start there, it would have given us more of an attacking option down the right. If Judd and Turley are fit enough to get on the bench, they should be ahead of Marvin in the pecking order at full back.
I thought it was a shame that James Alabi didn’t get an opportunity when we were pushing for a winner, especially after last week’s late goal against Grimsby. Dennis, Maguire-Drew and Brophy are all very good attackers, but none of them is an out-and-out centre forward, and we lacked a focal point in attack in the second half.
Given that our two first choice strikers were unavailable and chances were at a premium, a point is probably a fair result. A few weeks ago I think this is the kind of game we would have lost late on - I am thinking of the performances against Crewe and Crawley Town. If Orient play like they did in the first half with Conor Wilkinson up front then the goals will come.
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