Leyton Orient 2-0 Gateshead
Leyton Orient Starting XI: Brill, Ling, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Widdowson, Dayton, Gorman, Clay, McAnuff, Koroma, Bonne.
Gateshead Starting XI:Pears, Tinkler, Kerr, Williamson, Mellsih, Barrow, White, Molyneux, Olley, Armstrong, Boden.
Gateshead kicked-off the game attacking the goal at the south end of the stadium in their mint green away strip.
Neither of the promotion hopefuls managed to create a considerable impact in the early knockings of the game. However Orient’s fullbacks created a threat in the 9th minute when Joe Widdowson found space on the left wing for his cross to be diverted over the bar by Sam Ling.
The game began to liven up slightly at the damp Breyer Group Stadium. Yet again from a wide position, a chance was calved out for the home side. McAnuff’s cross was knocked down by Ekpiteta towards Koroma, who’s first effort of the day was headed away by Fraser Kerr.
Two minutes later Gateshead forced an opportunity to try to gain the lead. However Molyneux’s strike from the edge of the box could only sting the palms of Dean Brill in the 19th minute as he failed to direct his effort away from the O’s ‘keeper.
Heed hearts were soon in the mouths of the 51 away fans when Jobi McAnuff’s out-swinging corner was deflected and just about managed to loop over the top of the car for another corner.
Koroma was still the man pulling all the strings for The O’s. The Orient youth-team product curled a long distance strike just the wrong side of the crossbar before dribbling into the penalty area only to have the ball handled away from him only to be awarded a corner. His most emphatic effort was at the end of the half when he rattled the bar from 30 yards out a minute before the half tone whistle.
The second half started off just as the first half ended, with Orient applying pressure but struggling to test Ashley Pears in goal.
Orient continued to pile pressure after the restart. Hopes of a Gateshead clean sheet were short lived as their defence was split open when Josh Koroma gave Orient the lead on the 59th minute
Koroma picked the ball up outside of the area, beat two defenders and expertly found the corner of the net, with a curling right footed effort. A welcomed sight which is becoming a regular occurrence for Orient fans.
Edinburgh then began to change his team up on the first game since the one year anniversary of him taking charge of Leyton Orient. Brophy and Lawless being introduced midway through the second half.
In search of a second goal to kill the game off, Bonne who had lacked service through the game forced Pears to push his strike into the bar and for a corner.
James Alabi came on for James Dayton four minutes from time to a great reception from the Orient fans, he immediately set up Brophy who was unmarked in the box but his left-footed shot was well blocked.
The miss was nearly costly when Williamson earned a corner at the other end of the pitch and then narrowly headed wide from the set piece in the 90th minute.
In the six minutes added on there was still time for more drama to unfold. Alabi regained possession in the attacking half before carrying the ball forward and squaring to Bonne who was on call to tap home and wrap up the three points.
With seconds remaining after the restart, Greg Olley saw red. The midfielder picked up a second yellow as a result of a foul on Alabi. The dismissal was the last action of the afternoon as Orient ran out 2-0 winners to stay at the top of the National League.
Player Ratings
Brill (7) - Had very quiet afternoon with no errors from the number one.
Ling (7) - A fine performance despite rushed back from injury back into the XI.
Ekpiteta (7) - Wasn’t his usual impeccable self with a few misplaced passes but on the whole, solid.
Coulson (9) - Voted man of the match by the Orient faithful, and deservedly so.
Widdowson (8) - Always looked to overlap McAnuff and another clean sheet to his name.
Dayton (8) - Creative and a threat to the Heed left-back all game.
Gorman (7) - Shaky at times but helped to control the game alongside Clay.
Clay (9) - Brilliant in both the centre of the pitch and at right-back when Ling game off.
McAnuff (7) - A quiet day for his standards but a diligent shift from captain fantastic.
Koroma (9) - Unbelievable. His individual brilliance helping to separate Leyton Orient from their opposition, yet again.
Bonne (8) - Received little service throughout the game but still managed to add to his goal tally late on.
Subs:
Lawless (7) - The man in the mask continued to assert Orient’s dominance in the midfield when he came on.
Brophy (7) - Failed to capitalise on a great opportunity late on but his fresh legs caused problems nonetheless.
Alabi (8) - Architect of the second goal and an energetic handful for the away defenders to deal with.
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