A frustrating afternoon in E10 sees Maidenhead pick up a valuable 1-0 victory on the road, at Brisbane Road.
Leyton Orient 0 - 1 Maidenhead United
Leyton Orient Starting XI: Brill, Ling, Happe, Turley, Widdowson, McAnuff , Clay, Lee, Brophy, Simpson, Bonne.
Maidenhead United Starting XI: Pentney, Clerima, Steer, Obileye, Kilgour, Comley, Clifton, Akintunde, Upward, Massey, Noambe.
Orient started the match threatening and on the front foot, earning two corners within the first minute of the game, the second of which was met by Charlie Lee who could only direct McAnuff’s set piece wide of the post.
A minute later, Orient tried their luck attacking from the left flank with Joe Widdowson whipping a teasing ball across the face of goal. Sam Ling arrived at the far post where his side footed effort fired agonisingly wide.
Following the early excitement for the home fans, Orient failed to build upon the momentum with the tempo of the game slowing down, much to the contempt of The Magpies.
A long through-ball to Adrian Clifton engaged Dean Brill into a race for the ball outside of his penalty area where the O’s keeper came second and took out the opposing forward. With five minutes left until half time Brill was awarded a yellow card despite calls from the travelling fans for Orient to be reduced to ten men.
With half time beckoning, Simpson found himself in space in the Maidenhead box where the ball dropped to his feet. On his 100th Orient appearance his rushed left footed attempt was pushed away by Pentley. Despite Clay rushing in on the rebound, the ball was cleared away to keep the scores level pegging at the break.
Just as Orient spent the early knockings of the first half peppering the goal at the North end of the stadium, Maidenhead calved out the first chance after the restart at the North stand goal. However unlike the men in red, Adrian Clifton fired his side into the lead eight minutes into the half.
A pinpoint cross from Sam Nombe alluded both Orient centre-backs to find Clifton six yards out who broke the deadlock.
The goal was immediately followed by multiple O’s players raising their arms and looking at the linesman in disbelief that he had kept his flag down.
In search of an equaliser Edinburgh didn’t hold back and substituted defender Jamie Turley off for striker Matt Harrold, who’s most noteworthy contribution came when he blazed a glorious opportunity over the bar from close range in the dying minutes.
With the hosts chasing the game, Maidenhead had an opportunity to put the game behind any doubt when Owusu was baring down on goal in the first minute of injury time however his chipped effort struck the post and was cleared by Brill.
Despite a substantial, yet warranted, six minutes of second half injury time being added on, Maidenhead held on with Orient not looking likely to fashion out another goalscoring opportunity regardless of the time added on. Clifton’s goal enough to send The Magpies home with all three points.
Player Ratings:
Brill - 7
Widdowson - 6
Turley - 7
Happe - 7
Ling - 5
McAnuff - 6
Clay - 6
Lee - 6
Brophy - 5
Bonne - 5
Simpson - 6
Subs:
Maguire-Drew - 5
Harrold - 4
Gorman 5
Comments