A Fans Perspective: Orient Spoil Silkmen's Promotion Party

The O's gained a well earned point on the road at league leaders Macclesfield Town live on BT Sport, extending their unbeaten run to five matches. This is the first point picked up by Orient on television this season. 

Macclesfield Town 1-1 Leyton Orient 

Whitaker 18                 Koroma 42

Saturday 14th April 2018 | Vanarama National League | Moss Rose | Attendance- 3,110 (223 Orient)

The O's found themselves with their heads in their hands following a rush of chances towards the end of the game which Justin Edinburgh's men didn't convert. Following a poor first half display the O's were level just before half time through Josh Koroma, from the second half the O's were the better side at both ends of the pitch.

I feel Macclesfield's goal could've been dealt with better by Dean Brill in the O's goal, the 32 year old goalkeeper was left flatfooted as Whitaker's shot from just inside the penalty area found its way under Brill's hand. Personally I think he's a good keeper for this level but if we want to be challenging for promotion next season I think we need a new goalkeeper, I feel he wouldn't get away with certain habits in the Football League than he would in this league. 

I was talking to a few mates at half time and it seems their loosing their patience with Brill but I still know many people that still back him. However saying all this, minutes later he made a good stop from Nathan Blisset's header to keep us in the game at 1-0, showing that even though Brill has his faults he can still pull of good saves (shot stopping his speciality). I hope to do an article on this subject in more depth very soon. 

Ekpieta was good again, his first 2 appearances for Orient have been very solid from what I've seen, I'm still unsure he would fit in well with Coulson and Elokobi with a three at the back formation. Koroma put in a good performance, a well taken goal by the O's academy product adapting very well to playing upfront alongside Bonne. 

Later on in the game, the O's were unlucky with several chances, former O's and Wrexham keeper Shawn Jalal the busier keeper in the second half. In the 89th minute the O's broke searching for a winner, Substitute David Mooney heading down to top scorer Maccauley Bonne who goes round the goalkeeper with an open goal to se his shot blocked after a great recovery from the Silkmen defender putting his body on the line to deny Orient from taking three points at Moss Rose.

I was speechless. 

But a very good performance from the O's, great run of form lately with 5 games now just gutted that the season's ending so soon. We went to a team top of the league who needed a win to gain promotion (with over results going their way) and a big-ish crowd and when the odds were against us we delivered. 

I was confident ahead of this game as the team looked hyped during the build up in the week, Assistant manager Ross Emblerton and striker Maccauley Bonne calming their intentions are to spoil Macclesfield's promotion party. 

As I'm writing this I've seen an article in the newspaper suggesting 3 EFL clubs are interested in singing Maccauley Bonne, the Zimbabwe capped striker has scored 23 goals this term. It is rumoured League One sides Portsmouth and Shrewsbury Town and Championship side Burton Albion are looking at him. It is also rumoured that the O's might cash in on Bonne to avoid letting him go for free in 12 months time when his contract at Brisbane Road expires.

I think Bonne could be temped by any of those clubs who wouldn't? Bigger pay, 3rd tier of English football, bigger audience. If Orient want to keep him we must offer him a new contract that's the best solution if they don't want him to go for free next year and stay so we can try to compete for promotion next year. Personally I think we should've offered him a new deal a while back, this interest is going to make negotiations harder.

Regarding the recent fixture, Edinburgh had this to say:

"We looked like the team that was going to go on and win the match," the Leyton Orient manager shared.

Up next we have Hartlepool away on Tuesday night which I feel we could take three points from, I'm confident that if momentum is still high we can go and get positive results at home to Wrexham and Maidenhead despite being hard games. Where I think Gateshead away on the final day will be a tough challenge but hopefully we can avenge that FA trophy exit. 

Your Opinions on Twitter

@GerryReilly03

How we did not win that game is beyond me #lofc

@Daniel_slaw

Just got back from Macclesfield, good people, decent pubs & a decent game of football which we could/should have won. Congratulations to them on winning the league (almost done). Looking forward to Hartlepool away on Tuesday night now, always building towards next season. #LOFC

@elliotmbryne

Good performance from the lads against the league leaders, unlucky not to get all three points. Top stuff by @longlivejk11 to get on scoresheet again! Thanks to fans that travelled, were in fine voice.

#LOFC #OnlyOneOrient

Player Ratings

Brill 5

Widdowson 6

Elokobi 6

Ekpietia 7

Ling 6

Clay 6

Adams 6

Brophy 7

McAnuff 7

Koroma 7  (Mooney 7)

Bonne 7

Unused Subs

Grainger

Lawless

Judd

Happe

My Man of the Match - Josh Koroma

Current League Table

The O's move down to 14th level with three teams on 54 points, hopefully we can keep this form up and achieve a top half finish which is very achievable especially as we have 12th placed Maidenhead next Tuesday at Brisbane Road. 

In Conclusion 

Thanks for reading this article. The O's return to action on Tuesday night against Hartlepool united at Victoria park, very confident after that result at Moss Rose. Comment below your thoughts or via Twitter. Up the O's!