Orient’s second non-league day of the season was a special one as the squad wore the commemorative fourth shirt from the First World War. In addition to this, they ran out 3-1 winners over Bromley in front of another sell-out crowd.
Orient made just one change from the previous game, with Judd coming back into the team after suspension while Gorman kept his place in centre midfield making his first start at home. Bromley featured two ex-Orient players in Dunne and Porter.
Once the Buglers, the Somme flag and the minute silence was observed and finished. Play got underway with Bromley kicking off and almost scoring early on, but Ogedi-Uzokwe touch let him down when through on goal.
The first 15 minutes saw Orient struggle to impose themselves against Bromley in the final third. But on the 20 minute mark, some good build-up play led the ball into Clay’s path on the edge of the box but he dragged his shot wide.
This led to Orient being a bit more confident going forward and allowed Koroma to have two strikes at goal. One came on the edge of the box which he curled just wide and then moments later, he dropped his shoulder to beat the Bromley’s defender but his shot was low, under hit and straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
There was a few rash tackles from both teams which led to a player from each team getting booked, Dunne for a few late tackles and then Gorman went into the book just on the half hour mark. Bromley seem to seize control of the game and on 40 minutes they would take the lead.
Bromley had a free kick on the left hand side just outside the box, they drove it into the area and just took a slight deflection on its way through which meant it went past Brill who was rooted to his spot and Bromley went 1-0 up.
More bad news for Orient just before the break as Ekpiteta went down injured and had been struggling with an earlier knock in the game, Happe came on in his place. There was one final chance for Orient before half time with Gorman going very close but his shot went agonizingly wide.
The second half started with Orient nearly going 2-0 down when Gorman seemed to lose where he was and pass to no one. Goddard crept in and was bearing down on goal but a last ditch challenge from Happe managed to stop him in his tracks.
At the other end, McAnuff was unlucky not to set up an equaliser as he drifted in from the wing into the box, beat two men and crossed for Koroma. He could only head across goal and somehow Bonne’s shot was blocked out for a corner.
Orient were looking for some inspiration as their pressure on the Bromley defence was coming to nothing in the second half. However, up step Captain McAnuff to make it 1-1 with a delightful floated free kick to send the home fans wild.
Orient didn’t have to wait too long to take the lead as on the 59th minute, Koroma’s goal made it 2-1.
Bonne gathered the ball from an Orient clearance after Bromley were on the attack. He fed the ball to Koroma mid-way inside Bromley’s half. He ran at the defence and seem to turn one way and then back on himself and wrong-footer two defenders before looking up and lifting his shot over the goalkeeper into the net.
His celebration was to run up and tell Porter that’s how you do it after Porter had been winding up the Orient players all game.
On the 70th minute mark, Gorman would make way for Brophy. The substitute didn’t take long to make his mark on the game when he received the ball on the wing and made a direct run for goal and then passed the ball to Clay on the edge of the box, his shot was low and hard at the goal. The goalkeeper spilled the shot and Bonne was on hand to put the ball in the empty net to make the game safe for Orient.
Orient controlled the last ten minutes of the game, though Brill did have to make an excellent reflex save to keep the score at 3-1.
Alabi came on for Dayton on the 90th minute. Stoppage time was played and the final whistle went to send Orient back to the top of the league.
In my opinion, Orient weren’t at the races in the first half but after being 1-0 down, they turned up and after the equaliser, there was only going to be one winner.
Two glorious goals by McAnuff and Koroma. We seem to be scoring a few beautiful goals recently. The sell-out crowd got to see Orient go top of the league and Porter look shell shocked after the third goal went in.
Player Ratings
Brill (7) – Quality save in the 2nd half when it was 3-1
Judd (7) – Steady game and kept his opposite number quiet, booked again.
Coulson (7) – Did well and had to adjust his game when Happe came on.
Ekpiteta (6) – Did nothing wrong, went off injured with a dead leg
Widdowson (7) – Another steady game and was Mr Dependable as usual
Dayton (6) – Quiet game for him, had a few poor free kicks
Gorman (5) – Gave the ball away to many times and was lucky that Happe was there otherwise we could have been 2-0 down.
McAnuff (8) – Quality free kick and worked his socks off as usual as Captain fantastic
Bonne (8) – Another goal to make it 15 this season and an assist for Koroma’s goal
Koroma (9) – Another top draw goal and his celebration alone earnt him Man of The Match by me and most of the supporters
Subs:
Happe (8) – Considering he has hardly played all season, he was brilliant all game, great last ditch tackle at the start of the second half
Brophy (7) – Kept the pressure on Bromley’s defence and started the attack for Orient’s third
Alabi (N/A) – Came on at the 90thminute, couldn’t affect the game much
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