Game Forty Three - Leyton Orient Home

10 January 2008

Firstly, sorry for the delay in posting this report. The site hasn't been letting me upload the pictures so have had to keep putting it off.... until now!!

After many late nights during the week, a long lie in was needed ahead of this game so a very slow start to the day was the course of action to undertake. We headed off to Filbert Way at the normal time with me still wiping the sleep from my eyes - the way Saturdays should be in my view!

The big news pre game was that Matty Fryatt was back in the first team after his slight injury and Oakley was also recalled. Bad weather meant that games were being called off around the country by the second, so whilst ours went ahead, this was a great chance to put some space between us and the chasing pack!

I met up with Helen and her mum outside of the ground and gave her her birthday present after her 21st birthday last week. Finally coming of age and still hasn't grown out of following Leicester? Good work Helen's parents!! As soon as we were through the turnstiles, I bumped into Jodie and Chloe and had a good laugh thinking back to earlier in the season when we used to travel to games together - Dexter's treats - happy times!

And so to the important thing, the match action. Fond memories of the away day at Orient filled my head as the teams came out, two late goals to seal the points in the blazing sun - it didnt get much better than that!

Early goals seem to be a common occurence at the Walkers these days for league games and once again we only had to wait six minutes for the deadlock to be broken. A bouncing ball was mis-controlled by the Orient defender, Fryatt nipped in and threaded a ball out wide to Oakley who lashed it home. He's been a revelation since his move to the right hand side of midfield and key to our dominance in home games.

Mark Davies, who has extended his loan until the start of February, weaved through the defence after 20 minutes but his shot lacked any real conviction and the chance went begging. He really is a player of great promise though and far too good for this league if truth be told. (But to be fair that could be said of a few of our players at the moment.)

He got his reward 10 minutes before half time though as he opened his account for his adopted team. A deep cross was won in the air by Steve Howard as the keeper flapped, and the ball fell to the onrushing midfielder who bravely got his head on the ball to divert the ball into the empty net. Muted celebrations though as Davies was left in a heap on the floor after a raised boot had made contact with his head as he dived in.

That was pretty much all until half time as the away side didn't even come close to adding any goals to the game. At half time, I headed down to the concourse for my usual rendezvous with Katy. Cheeky giggles, random conversation and the usual banter before heading up to join the old man for the second half.

As the second half went on, Pearson made a couple of changes, bringing on Gradel and Mattock for Berner and Dyer, which seemed to have a positive effect on proceedings as City started to push on looking for more goals to cement the win.

No major goal scoring chances were created early in the second half. Howard fired a long range effort wide and Orient had a small spell of pressure without forcing Martin into any saves.

Dickov nearly broke clear on goal but was hauled down by arguably the last man but no major punishment was handed out.... 5 minutes later though, the same man brought down Davies inside the area to give away a penalty. Gradel rushed to take the resulting penalty only for Dickov to snatch the ball away and take it himself....

3-0. Job done! Got to love the steward who guards the corner flag too....

With seconds left, a wonderful flowing move nearly saw Matt Oakley volley in his second goal of the game which would have been a contendor for goal of the season... football at its finest on display at the Walkers.

So as the final whistle went, we found ourselves five points clear at the top and it's hard to imagine how anyone can stop us at the moment - at home we look unbeatable, and away we are picking up points too. And we're already clear of relegation - go us! A mad dash to the train station, and I was off to Nottingham to spend the remained of the weekend with my other half - a lie in, 3-0 win at home and spending the weekend with her.... it's hard to imagine a more perfect weekend!

Next stop - the one I've dreaded..... the replay with Crystal Palace on a Wednesday night. Whoop De Doo!