The team created history last night by not losing their first 13 games of the season in the league, beating the record of 12 set in 2013/2014 season.
Braintree 1 v 5 Leyton Orient
Braintree Starting XI:Killip, Muleba, Crook (Sogaf 60), Bettamer, Della-Verde, Ellul (Amaluzar 81), Rowe (Charles 82), Gabriel, James, Nieskins
Leyton Orient Starting XI: Brill, Judd, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Widdowson, Dayton (Alabi 76), Clay (Gorman 65), Lee (Brophy 70), McAnuff (C), Bonne, Koroma
Summary
Orient started with the same first eleven for the ninth consecutive game and there was only one change on the bench, with Brophy fit again coming in for Harold. Braintree had former Orient player Michael Clark in their starting 11.
Orient started the first five minutes a bit slow but soon created their first chance when Bonne was nearly through on goal but Clark cleared the danger away. A couple of minutes later, Orient were 1-0 up. Koroma got behind the Braintree back four and just as he was about to shoot, his heels were clipped just inside the box. Bonne stepped up to score his seventh of the season.
In my opinion, I thought we would go on to get a few more after taking the early lead. But it was far from that, we relaxed and misplaced a few passes and allowed Braintree into the game. Della-Verde was getting the better of Widdowson and had a shot from the outside of the box. His shot troubled Brill as he almost spilled the shot in the net, but luckily for Orient it went wide.
Though Orient weren’t playing well, they nearly made it 2-0 when a long throw into the box eventually fell to Bonne who shot just wide. Soon after, Braintree were on attack led by former Orient player Clark. Clark played a one-two with Della-Verde and Braintree appealed for a penalty after a tackle from Widdowson, Orient tried to clear but the ball rolled to Della-Verde who put the ball in the net to make it 1-1.
This goal appeared to rattle Orient into further mistakes from a few players, they lost a bit of confidence in themselves and allowed Braintree more time on the ball and they had a couple of long shots at Brill.
But five minutes from half time, Orient regained control of the game and took a 2-1 lead when a Charlie Lee long throw into the box caused confusion in the Braintree back line, they half cleared the ball but McAnuff picked up the loose ball and crossed it back into the box. Bonne was initially denied but the rebound fell to Ekpiteta who fired into the net to score his third goal of the season.
Orient then controlled the game till the half time whistle. Clay kicked off the second half and Orient looked to try to finish the game off by looking for a third goal. That third goal arrived on the 57th minute when a well looped ball over the top from Lee found Koroma through on goal and he managed to lob the on rushing goal keeper.
That third goal made Orient look like they were going to keep their unbeaten run going and with Braintree looking more and more tired as the game on, there was only going to be one winner but could Orient add a few more goals before full time?
That question was soon answered in the 65th minute when another Lee long throw caused more confusion for Braintree and the ball worked its way to Bonne at far post. He slotted into an empty net for his eighth of the season to make it 4-1.
Straight after the goal, Clay was substituted for Gorman. Bonne was hungry for his hat-trick and match ball. He didn’t have to wait long for it, on the 70th minute he ran and ran with ball into the box and powered a low shot at goal which took a slight deflection off a Braintree defender and into the net to make it 5-1 and Bonne to score his ninth of the season.
Soon after the fifth goal, Brophy was introduced for Lee, with McAnuff moving to centre midfield. Five minutes later Alabi came on for Dayton with Koroma moving to the right wing. The last 15 minutes were a bit strange, the substitutions made Orient a little complacent as they were ahead by four goals. Braintree ended the game the better team and were unlucky not to score before full time.
Orient had taken the foot off the gas and the subs were trying a bit too hard for things to come off. A late Bonne effort almost added a fourth for him. The injury board came up and final whistle ended a game with Orient looking a little tired from the start of the campaign.
In my opinion, we needed to keep going after the substitutions as a better team could have maybe scored a few goals against us and dented our goal difference which could be key come the end of the season. But we won 5-1 away from home and didn’t play well as we have in recent weeks.
Ratings
Brill (6) – Apart from the spilled shot in the first half, he had nothing to do
Judd (7) – Another commanding display, not long till he gets a first full England C call up
Coulson (7) – Marshalled the defence as usual
Ekpiteta (8) – Celebrated his first England C call up with another goal
Widdowson (6) – I think that was his worst game for us this season but still a good display from him
Dayton (6) – another assured display from him
Lee (6) – look tired at times but still battled well and picked up two assists
Clay (6) – received a nasty tackle before being subbed but also battled well
McAnuff (7) – a quality ball to set up the second and was everywhere as usual
Bonne (9) – Hat-trick and cleared another shot off the line
Koroma (7) – Good finish for his goal but was a bit wasteful when moved to the wing
Subs:
Gorman (6) – showed some glimpses of good passes but the game was won already by then when he came on
Brophy (6) – seemed a bit rusty
Alabi (N/A) – the team didn’t give him the ball to impose himself on the game
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