Previous page Page one. Page two, Page three, 28 August. Away to Maidenhead. 0-1 (Bonne). A goal in the sixth minute, a header from a cross following a bit of Dayton wizardry was enough to secure all the points and put us in third place behind Dagenham on goal difference and Sutton. Davis made two changes resting Mooney and McAnuff replacing them with Boco and Koroma. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 18 Coulson, 23 Clay, 3 Widdowson, 5 Elokobi, 4 Lawless, 27 Dayton , 19 Koroma, 11 Boco, 9 Bonne. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 6 Sendles-White, 7 McAnuff(Dayton 64), 32 Ochieng(Boco 75), Mooney(Koroma 64). Third from top meets third from bottom when we play Guisley on Saturday. 31 August. We signed Matt Harrold from Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee. The Leyton-born 33-year-old scored 11 goals in 80 games for the Red Devils after signing from Bristol Rovers in June 2014, has signed a two-year deal and is available for tomorrow’s match against Guiseley. On his way to 265(143) league games scoring 76 goals he played for Harlow, Brentford and was on loan to Dagenham and Grimsby before signing for Yeovil, Southend, Wycombe, Shrewsbury, Bristol Rovers, Crawley and a loan spell with Cambridge Utd. His best goalscoring spell was at Bristol Rovers 2011-2014 with 64(14) 24goals. In other games he played 36(16) 18 goals. He played with Scott McGleish and Tom Parkes at Rovers. 1 September. From the club website: The Club can confirm that following discussions with Norwich City and Tristan Abrahams, all three parties have agreed to the termination of his loan at the Matchroom Stadium. 2 September. Home to Guisley 4-1 (Bonne 3 (2pens), Harrold). A hat trick for Bonne, the first since 2006 and debut goal for Harrold. We should have been three up inside of seventeen minutes, instead we went a goal down on 36. What I thought was a harsh penalty decision drew us level on 43’ thanks to a firm strike from Bonne. Four minutes later in added time Mooney was facing away from goal when he was bought down. Bonne again struck the ball firmly pass the goalie. Harrold entered the game on 61’ and scored with a header from Widdowson’s far post cross four minutes later. Bonne wrapped up a happy afternoon with the match ball when a fine through ball from Elokobi, headed on by Harrold beat the offiside trap on 82’. Elokobi was excellent once again. Guisley looked like a managerless team three from bottom. Neither Lawless or Boco played any part in the match through there was nothing on the club website preview to suggest why. Ochieng replaced Lawless and McAnuff and Mooney returned to the starting position to replace Koroma and Boco. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 18 Coulson, 23 Clay, 3 Widdowson, 5 Elokobi, 32 Ochieng, 27 Dayton , McAnuff, 10 Mooney, 9 Bonne. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 29 Judd, 6 Sendles-White(Ochieng 80), 24 Harrold(Mooney 61), 19 Koroma(Bonne 84). Joint top with Dagenham following Sutton’s defeat at home to Maidenhead who have sold their top scorer Tarpey to Barnet. Away to 10th placed Boreham Wood next and their top scorer with six is Bruno Andrade. Talk in the loo at half time was who was the last player to score a hat trick of penalties. Not since I have supported them. Aldershot midfielder Liam Bellamy was reported as training with us in the bid to get to match fitness. He may have been a trialist in the 3-1 win at Stevenage in a friendly in which Darby, Boco and Happe scored for us. Scott McGleish lost his job at Wealdstone when the manager got the tin tack last month. Four games on and they lost 5-1 at Weston Super Mare. Change of manager does not always work. Former Orient trainee Alex Finney, 21, joined QPR as a free agent in November, but has yet to make a first- team appearance for the Championship club. He made his professional debut while at Bolton in September 2015 in a 4-1 Championship defeat by Huddersfield. He has signed for Maidstone on loan until January. Jamie Jones left Stevenage on a free to join Wigan. Luton Town have signed forward Harry Cornick from Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee. Jayden Stockley left Aberdeen for Exeter for an undisclosed fee. They are top of League One. Bromley have welcomed 23-year-old midfielder Frankie Sutherland to Hayes Lane. Rowan Liburd joined Hemel Hempstead on loan. Frazer Shaw has joined Dulwich Hamlet. Recently Shaw has been with both East Thurrock United and Woking. Stevenage have two ex O's on their staff, Managerial advisor Glenn Roeder and First Team Coach Nicky Shorey. Crawley Town manager Harry Kewell has signed Northern Ireland Under-21 full-back Josh Doherty for an undisclosed fee. We let him go for nothing. Boreham Wood signed Blair Turgott on a 93-day loan from Stevenage. Jabo Ibehre joined Cambridge after leaving Carlisle. 9 September. Away to Boreham Wood 2-0. No plan B? Don’t know why Grainger was off his line for the first and Elokobi made a mistake for the second. Both he and Coulston pickem upminjuries and we played out the dying minutes with ten men. Davis kept the same team as against Guisley. Lawless was on the bench after recovering from a hip injury. A record breaking attendance for the Wood of 1920 of which 1264 were Orient supporters. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 18 Coulson, 23 Clay, 3 Widdowson, 5 Elokobi, 32 Ochieng, 27 Dayton, McAnuff, 10 Mooney, 9 Bonne. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 4 Lawless, 6 Sendles-White(Coulson 66), 24 Harrold(Ochieng 51), 19 Koroma(Dayton 78). Down to fourth or joint second as there are four teams with 16 points. Dover are top with apoint more. Home to sixth placed Halifax on Tuesday. 12 September. Home to Halifax. 0-3. Sussed again? No plan B? Davis seemed to be more concerned about the two Halifax wingers than concentrating on what we do well. Widdowson only made one cross and that was in the second half and the Caprice crosses also came in the second half once their winger was substituted. Whoever thought that watering the pitch before the match when rain was forecast needs he head looking at as both sets of players struggled to keep on their feet. The fact that we lost Elokobi and Coulson to injury did not help. They had a big lump up front whose prime play was heading the ball over his head. We were two down at half time and Clarke gave away a penalty when there was no danger. He is not the fastest on the pitch and sometimes his distribution needs work. Lawless was hopeless and Clay not much better. We did improve once Mooney came on. Mainly because he does not waste a ball. I have to say that the club’s preview page seems hopeless and uninformed as there was nothing to say why Dayton was not playing. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 23 Clay, 16 Clark, 3 Widdowson, 6 Sendles-White, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 24 Harrold, 9 Bonne, 11 Boco. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 32 Ochieng, 10 Mooney(Boco 61) 19 Koroma(Harrold 86), 39 Happe. Down to ninth, or if you prefer, joint fourth. Home to the 17th placed Monkey Hangers next. We progressed into the next round of the Youth Alliance Cup beating Stevenage on their own patch 1-3. Team: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins (C), Toby Stevenson, Alfie Fleming, Ernold Haxhiu, Amin Benyoucef, Charles Clayden (Luca Carter-Henry), Hector Kyprianou, Ruel Sotiriou (Wynford Marfo), Sam Dalby. GOALS: Dalby, Sotiriou, Stevenson. 16 September. Home to Hartlepool. 1-2 (McAnuff). Same old same old. We went a goal up after a through ball found Mooney whose shot rebounded into McAnff’s path. Koroma had a nightmare half hour and was not a lot better throughout the game. He either passed to someone not wearing a red shirt or took a position where he could not get the ball. He got a chance on the wing 40 yards out with the goalkeeper in no man’s land but instead of taking a punt he decided to run down the wing. Two goals two minutes on either side of half time put paid to any points. Again we had four across the back but Lawless the hopeless and Clay are playing too close to the defence and too far away from the forwards. Finally the pre match club website review told us that Elokobi would be out 4-6 weeks with a hamstring and Coulson and Dayton were doubtful. They made no mention of Harrold. None played. There was a man of the match this time, in the clubroom after the match and with me, that of Daniel Happe. Clarke was dropped to the bench and in came Darby. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 23 Clay, 3 Widdowson, 6 Sendles- White, 39 Happe, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney 19 Koroma. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 32 Ochieng(Clay 78), 11 Boco(Koroma 86), 17 Darby(Mooney 65), 16 Clark 86. Down to 13th. Clay limped off and Mooney came off with his arm wrapped in his shirt. Might be time for some loanees? Maybe a goalkeeper? That’s 30 goals conceded in Grainger’s last 14 games. Away to top of the table Aldershot next. Comment. Koroma really did not seem to know what he was doing and a one stage was just a spectator. Widdowson’s contribution was to punt the ball up the line to Bonne but he was never up the line. Poor old McAnuff kept receiving the ball from Widdowson 30 yards out on the wing with his back to the goal as opposed to getting the ball at his feet running towards goal. Every player seems to spend too much time on the ball making sure their pass is the correct one but by the time their mind is made up the receiver is heavily marked. Clay, Lawless and when he came on, Ochieng make sideways passes and wait for the ball to be returned to them so they can make another sideways pass. Whatever happened to passing the ball and going on a run to take a defender with you to create a gap? Caprice only made forward runs when we were two one down. All this points to being told what to do by the manager. 18 September. Brian Winston’s 80th birthday. Seems a strange day (Monday) for a friendly at home to Cambridge which we lost 1-2. ORIENT: Sargeant, Judd, McLean (Perkins 87), Clark, Stevenson (Camilo-Tayaca 73), Ochieng (Haxhiu 73), Moncur, Barker, Benyoucef (Alderson 64), Sotiriou (Clayden 64), Dalby. GOAL: Sotiriou (55). The youth team played Saturday at home to Southend and lost 1-3. ORIENT: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins, Toby Stevenson, Alfie Fleming, Ernold Haxhiu, Hector Kyprianou, Luca Carter-Henry, Amin Benyoucef, Ruel Sotiriou, Charles Clayden SUBS: Will Sanders, Samuel Amedu, Wynford Marfo. GOAL: Sotiriou. 21 September. With two injured defenders we signed, on a three month loan, a winger! James Brophy joins from Swindon. He started his youth career at Harrow Town before signing for Broadfields United in 2013. Following two years at Broadfields, Brophy then joined Edgware Town where he impressed before attracting interest from Swindon Town in the summer of 2015, joining them following a trial. He has played 70 games for the Robins scoring one goal. 23 September. Away to Aldershot. 2-2 (Clay, Boco). A goal down in nine minutes, no one marking the thrower, was followed by a second 11’ later after Widdowson was dispossessed. Clay nodded in McAnuff’s free kick and then Jobi hit the woodwork. Boco got us a point eight minutes from time. Again the Club preview webpage told us of injuries to Elokobi who would be out for three or four months following hamstring surgery and that Coulson, Clay and Dayton were doubtful. The doubtful played but no mention of any injury to Mooney or Harrold and they played no part in the match. Happe made way for Coulson and Koroma was left at home and was replaced by Brophy. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 23 Clay, 3 Widdowson, 6 Sendles-White, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 26 Brophy. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 32 Ochieng, 11 Boco(Dayton 72), 17 Darby, 39 Happe(Coulson 83). We are at home to AFC Flyde next and they lost their home match to Woking and are 20th. Sutton remain top on 22 and were are still 13th with 17. Davis was hopeful of getting two players on loan but had no luck last week. 28 September. Despite a scan before the Aldershot match Coulson had another since which reveals he would be out for two months with a tear in the groin. Davis wasted no time in getting one of his former players on a two month loan from Carlisle. Mark Ellis a 28 year-old central defender has already played 11 matches for them this season. From the club website: Born in Devon, Ellis started his career at Bolton Wanderers before making his senior debut whilst on loan at Torquay United in September 2007. Having registered 24 appearances during the 2007-08 season, Ellis’ move to the Gulls was made permanent during the summer of 2008 where he then went on to make a further 112 appearances before moving to Crewe Alexandra in 2012 to join now O’s Head Coach Steve Davis. The defender instantly became an integral part of what proved to be a successful year at Gresty Road, accumulating 52 appearances throughout the 2012-13 season as the Railwaymen lifted the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Wembley with a 2-0 victory over Southend. Following a further year at Crewe, Ellis then made the switch to Shrewsbury Town, where he went on to spend two years and help achieve promotion from League Two in 2015 as Salop finished runners up. During his time at Gay Meadow, the defender enjoyed two loan stints at Carlisle United before completing a permanent move in 2016. Ellis also spent a period on loan at Forest Green Rovers last season, playing in their 3-1 Play-Off Final victory over Tranmere Rovers as the Green secured promotion from the National League. Nothing on the club website on the injuries to Mooney or Harrold. 30 September. Home to AFC Flyde 1-2 (McAnuff). Two goals from Rowe on 15’ and 48’ were too much for us. McAnuff pulled one back on 72’ but too little too late. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 39 Happe, 29 Ellis, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 26 Brophy, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 32 Ochieng, 11 Boco(Lawless 71), 24 Harrold(Mooney 54), 6 Sendles-White. 2 October. From the club website: Dan Happe has signed his first professional contract with the O’s. Happe, who celebrated his 19th birthday last week, has been rewarded for his impressive start to the season by penning a deal which will keep him in E10 until the end of the 2019-20 season. The youth team lost 5-3 at AFC Wimbledon. ORIENT: Samuel Amedu, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Eric Lopes, Ernold Haxhiu, Teddy Perkins, Toby Stevenson, Jaedon Phillips (Bernard Kosia 30 (Luca Carter-Henry 65)), Hector Kyprianou, Sam Dalby, Amin Benyoucef, Charles Clayden (Alfie Fleming 80). SUBS: Arthur Janata, Brendon Shabani. GOALS: Dalby (2), Benyoucef. 4 October. Away to Tranmere 2-1 (Harrold). We go a goal up then let two in. Harrold put us in the lead on 22’ but they equalised thee minutes later and got the winner on 70’. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 39 Happe, 29 Ellis, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 24 Harrold, 26 Brophy, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 21 Dalby, 11 Boco(Dayton 79), 10 Mooney(Harrold 79), 6 Sendles-White(Caprice 64). Down to 17th. Away to Barrow next and the team stayed up in the north east rather that two trips there. One point from six games. Still no sign of any signings despite Caprice limping off. Three players with long term injuries but no replacements to cover them. Lee out for months, no replacement, Elokobi out for three/four months, Ellis on a two month loan. Coulson a defender out for two/three months and replace with a winger, Brophy, on a three month loan. Learn something from the club website? Yes! Caprice has a hamstring injury, Widdowson is likely to return but Harrold is doubtful with a calf injury. 7 October. Away to Barrow. In the event Harrold played no part in the match and Mooney took his place. Happe and Drayton were on the bench, Sendles-White and Widdowson replaced them. Mooney put us ahead on 19’ from Brophy’s cross only for Barrow to equalise four minutes later. After another four minutes we were back in the lead thanks to McAnuff's free-kick leading to a goalmouth scramble. Clay showed great determination to smash home! Barrow again equalised before half time. That is the way it stayed. Davis blamed basic defending errors which were unacceptable. Two points from seven games. Still 17th with Macclesfield topping the table and they are next at home after an FACup match at 5th place Dagenham. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 6 Sendles-White, 29 Ellis, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 26 Brophy. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 11 Boco, 29 Judd(Caprice 72), 39 Happe(Sendles-White 80), 27 Dayton(McAnuff 86). 9 October. From the Club website: The Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Danny Macklin as our new Chief Executive Officer reporting to the Board of Directors. Macklin will be responsible for all administrative and commercial activities at the Club, and will work alongside Director of Football Martin Ling. With over seven years’ experience as Commercial Director at Essex County Cricket Club, Macklin has spent the past two years at Southend United where he originally joined as Commercial Director before additionally taking on many CEO responsibilities throughout the past year. Also the youth team won 1-3 at Peterborough. ORIENT: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins, Toby Stevenson, Alfie Fleming (Jayden Sweeny 68), Ernold Haxhiu, Brendon Shabani (Will Sanders 85), Eric Lopes, Charles Clayden, Ruel Sotiriou. SUBS: Hector Kyprianou, GOALS: Sotiriou (2), Perkins. Next match is tonight. 10 October. FA Youth Cup away to Tower Hamlets 0-3. We go into the next round at home to AFC Hornchurch. ORIENT: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo- Tayaca, Teddy Perkins, Toby Stevenson, Alfie Fleming, Ernold Haxhiu, Amin Benyoucef (Brendon Shabani 79), Charles Clayden, Jaedon Phillips (Eric Lopes 45), Sam Dalby, Ruel Sotiriou (Hector Kyprianou 85). SUBS: Samuel Amedu, Luca Carter-Henry. Goals: Clayden (31), Lopes (71), Sotiriou (73). 11 October. Despite schoolboy defending errors Davis bought in midfielder Zian Westbrooke from Brentford on a 93 day loan. The 20 year-old has made one appearance from the bench for the Bees though he was on loan to Solihull Moors earlier this season making 1(1) appearances before being sent off. Presumably we have no 20 year-olds with the same amount of experience? He will be able to play in the FA Cup game at Dagenham on Saturday. Nothing on the Orient website but at Carlisle they inform us that Ellis has a broken nose and we have not asked them about playing him in the FA Cup. 13 October. Finally the Club Preview page inform us that neither Ellis or Brophy have been granted permission to play in the FA Cup. No mention of broken noses. Harrold would be out for a few more weeks. This cut from the website I think the word should be WITHOUT not with. And this amateurish piece of spelling. Not even the perfume is spelt that way. 14 October. Away to Dagenham FA Cup 0-0. Though there was no indication on our website, McAnuff did not play. Judd got his first start to the season. Lawless and Caprice limped off. Bonne hit the woodwork as did Mooney. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 29 Judd, 6 Sendles- White, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 39 Happe, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 11 Boco(Lawless 66), 16 Clark, 17 Ochieng, 31 Westbrooke(Caprice 88), 21 Dalby, 28 Sotiriou(Mooney 90). 16 October. The under 18s went down 0-3 at home to MK Dons mainly due to a few of the team being on duty next day against Dagenham. ORIENT: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins, Toby Stevenson, Alfie Fleming, Ernold Haxhiu, Hector Kyprianou, Eric Lopes, Amin Benyoucef, Charles Clayden, Jaedon Phillips. SUBS: Samuel Amedu, Luca Carter-Henry, Brendon Shabani, Will Sanders 17 October. Home to Dagenham FA Cup relpay. 1-0 (Bonne) Lumps. That not only describes the Daggers but also the lumps they handed out as Bonne and Clark received head injuries whilst Widdowon had lengthy treatment on the field. The Club’s preview website said that both McAnuff (groin) and Harrold (calf) would be out injured whilst Lawless was suspended. No indication that Sendles-White would not be playing, but he didn’t. For a change some one-touch football paid dividends as Caprice passed to Mooney to Bonne to score after 23 minutes. To be honest it cold have been 4-4 as Mooney missed a hat trick of changes and when he decided to round the keeper rather than shoot he went down only to be shown a yellow card for diving. Clark still looks too slow and his distribution needs work but he did make a timely challenge to keep us ahead but like against Halifax when he gave away a penaly he made a rash tackle when there was no danger, the ball being ten yards away from the corner flag touchline. He was lucky not to receive a red card. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 29 Judd, 16 Clark, 23 Clay, 39 Happe, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 11 Boco, 127 Dayton. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, Koroma, Barker 17 Ochieng(Dayton 83), 31 Westbrooke(Boco 90+6), 21 Dalby, 28 Sotiriou. Away to Gillingham in the next round. 21 October. Home to Macclesfield. 0-1. A delayed start due to high winds and iffy advertising boards above the north stand. Ellis came back in place of Clark. Of Sendles-White there was no mention in the Club’s Preview webpage but Lawless had a groin problem and McAnuff was hoping for a return. He didn’t get it. Their goalie went off after 19’ and I though it would make sense to test him out with lots of shots, but no. They got the only goal of the match just before half time and that is it way it stayed. Brophy looked lively when he came on but we are not getting the ball to the byline to cross the ball away from the keeper. Westbrooke did not impress. Boco is better than Lawless and looks like he means a tackle. Sotiriou did get enough of the ball to impress. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 29Judd, 29 Ellis, 23 Clay, 39 Happe, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 11 Boco, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 26 Brophy(Boco 59), 31 Westbrooke(Ellis 59), 16 Clark, 28 Sotiriou(Mooney 69). Down to 18th and home to the team just above us, Gateshead, next on Tuesday. Then 3rd place Wrexham. U18’s Lost at home to Stevenage 0-1. ORIENT: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins, Toby Stevenson, Alfie Fleming, Ernold Haxhiu, Eric Lopes (Hector Kyprianou 65), Amin Benyoucef, Charles Clayden, Jaedon Phillips, Sam Dalby SUBS: Samuel Amedu, Luca Carter-Henry, Will Sanders. 24 October. Home to Gateshead 0-2. Shambles. Gateshead scored in the ninth minute and we played as though we didn’t know what we what we were supposed to be doing. A mix up between Grainger and Ellis gave them the points. Mooney missed a sitter. I McAnuff knew what he was doing then I didn’t. He is not a ball winner he is a ball player. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 29Judd, 29 Ellis, 23 Clay, 39 Happe, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 26 Brophy, 7 McAnuff. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 11 Boco(McAnuff 68}, 27 Dayton(Widdowson 46), 31 Westbrooke, 28 Sotiriou(Mooney 67). Down to 19th. Fans baying for the head of Davis. Comment. I cannot blame the fans for wanting Davis gone. An article in the Orientear suggested the Crewe fans thought he was slow changing a system that did not work. Elokobi last played on 9 Sept and we were told he would be out three to four months. Coulson last played 23 Sept and out for 2-3 months. One of the two was replaced by Ellis, signed on the 30th. But only on a two month loan. Does Davis not believe the physio? Brophy replaced who? He came on the 23rd. If he was to replace Lee (last played 19th Aug) then why wait a month. We have also had injuries to Sendles-White and Harrold both of who are still out as well as McAnuff, Widdowson, Mooney and Lawless. Why bring in Westbrooke? A young kid with only 1(2) apps before. Why are we watering the pitch before a match and why at half time. Do we train in wet conditions? Does the opposition also water their pitch before matches? The north west area of the ground resembles a mire. Players from both teams are failing to keep their feet. Surely playing the ball along the ground is not conducive with a wet pitch as the ball speeds up on it. Every player looks nervous on the ball as if they don’t know what they should be doing. Grainger goes to throw the ball out, then decides to roll the ball out, then to kick it or roll it out to the other side of the pitch. The midfield, Clay in particular is playing too far behind the forwards. Too many balls go across or back and if they go forward they don’t find their man. As I have said before it takes too long for the ball to get forward by which time 11 of the opposition are between the ball and their goal. I have lost count of how many shots cannon off a defender. Davis has tried 28 players to find out which can play to his system. Why did it take two months to realise Judd should be playing? 25 October. The U18’s powered their way to a First Round FA Youth Cup tie against Biggleswade after beating Hornchurch 4-0 at home. ORIENT: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Toby Stevenson, Teddy Perkins, Alfie Fleming, Ernold Haxhiu (Luca Carter-Henry 79), Eric Lopes, Hector Kyprianou, Charles Clayden, Ruel Sotiriou (Jaedon Phillips 79), Sam Dalby. SUBS: Samuel Amedu, William Sanders, Brendon Shabani. GOALS: Dalby (47 & 68), Kyprianou (52), Perkins (76). Club preview: Jamie Sendles-White and Matt Harrold could be back after they missed the past few games through illness and a calf injury respectively whilst Widdowson (hamstring) and Lawless (groin) remained sidelined. McAnuf will be serving a one match ban having picked up five bookings. That’s what happens when you ask forwards to make midfield tackles. 28 October. Away to Wrexham 2-2 (Bonne, Ellis). Fightback. In the event Harrold did not start but Sendles-White did and replaced Judd. Westbrooke started in place of Clay. A goal down in under two minutes, Bonne put us level with a lovely goal from just inside the left hand side of the box. His shot hit the side netting evading the goalie. If the first goal was due to bad marking the second was no better. Grainger was on the deck when the ball hit the the roof of the net. It could have be worse as his habit of palming the ball into play continued but their striker blasted the ball over. Four minutes from time Ellis stooped low to power the ball in for the equaliser. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 6 Sendles-White, 29 Ellis, 39 Happe, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 26 Brophy, 11 Boco, 27 Dayton, 31 Westbrooke. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 24 Harrold(Mooney 72), 29 Judd(Caprice 90), 23 Clay, 28 Sotiriou. Still 19th and away to 13th place Ebbsfleet next. The youth team drew 2-2 at home to Dagenham fielding two trialists. ORIENT: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Toby Stevenson (C), Trialist A (Trialist B HT), Brendon Shabani, Hector Kyprianou, Ernold Haxhiu (Teddy Perkins 53), Luca Carter-Henry, Eric Lopes, Charles Clayden, Sam Dalby SUBS: Samuel Amedu, Jaedon Phillips, Alfie Fleming. GOALS: Trialist B, Dalby. 31 November. In a 0-0 friendly at Barnet the following played: Sargeant, Judd (Camilo-Tayaca 81), Clark (C), Pollock (Perkins HT), Scales (Stevenson 81), Ochieng, Barker, Clayden, Dalby, Harrold (Sotiriou 61), Koroma. Macauley Bonne has been named in Zimbabwe’s squad for their upcoming friendlies against Lesotho and Namibia which means he misses the Ebbsfleet match. Club preview: We would be without loanees Mark Ellis and James Brophy. Joe Widdowson (hamstring) and Alex Lawless (groin) were hopeful of playing as was Harrold who played for an hour on Tuesday. 4 November. Away to Gillingham FA Cup. 2-1 (Dayton). Despite nothing in the preview Happe did not play nor did McAnuff. According to the Total Orient site this was because of injuries ankle and toe respectively. On 20’ we were a goal down and two goals down on 75’. Dayton’s free kick was allowed to meander across the goal into the net. No marking for the first and Widdowson was wrestled to the ground before his assailant made it two. Widdowson was sent off in added time for two bookable offences. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 6 Sendles-White, 16 Clark, 29 Judd, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 11 Boco, 27 Dayton, 31 Westbrooke. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 24 Harrold(Boco 69), 15 Pollock, 21 Darby, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless(Clark 46), 28 Sotiriou(Westbrooke 87). Away to Ebbsfleet next and they got beat 2-6 at home to Doncaster. Barnsley signed Victor Adeboyejo on three-year deal. 8 November. The U18’s won through to the second round of the FA Youth Cup with a 5-0 win against Biggleswade. Team: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins, Toby Stevenson, Alfie Fleming, Eric Lopes, Ernold Haxhiu, Hector Kyprianou (Luca Carter-Henry 81), Charles Clayden, Sam Dalby (Mason Hall 74), Ruel Sotiriou (Jaedon Phillips 74). SUBS: Sam Amedu, Brendon Shabani. GOALS: Dalby (20 & 67), Kyprianou (26), Lopes (43 &69). We play Sholing in the next round and paired away at WBA should we get through. 11 November. Away to Ebbsfleet. 2-1 (Dayton). No marking for the first on six minutes and again on 40 and the game was over. Dayton hit a 25 yarder three minutes from time. With Widdowson (suspended) and Bonne (on international duty) back came Lawless, Brophy, Ellis and Happe to the exclusion of Clark, Judd and Boco. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 25 Happe, 29 Ellis, 6 Sendles-White, 4 Lawless, 26 Brophy, 10 Mooney, 24 Harrold, 27 Dayton, 31 Westbrooke. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant, 11 Boco, 7 McAnuff, 16 Clark, 29 Judd. The reason Clay did not play was not known. Home to top of the table Dover next. 13 November. From the club website. The U18’s beat Barnet away 1-3. Team: Samuel Amedu, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins, Trialist A, Eric Lopes, Ernold Haxhiu, Hector Kyprianou, Jaedon Phillips, Toby Stevenson, Sam Dalby, Ruel Sotiriou. SUBS: Arthur Janata, Luca Carter-Henry, Mason Hall, Alfie Fleming, Will Sanders. GOALS: Sam Dalby, Ruel Sotiriou, Toby Stevenson. 14 November. 11 games without a win did it for Davis and he was duly sacked. As I said on 24 October he was reluctant to change a system that did not work. He lost Lee for most of the season and replaced him(?) with Brophy who had only started 40 matches in his career and got him on loan for three months! Elokobi would be out for 3-4 months and Davis did not replace him. When Coulson was injured and would be out for two months he replaced him with Ellis on a two month loan. Elokobi has now been out ten weeks and Coulson should return before Christmas just in time to end his loan. Davis also got a young kid whose experience extended to 2(1) matches. I spoke to former groundsman Charlie Hasler on watering the pitch. He said it makes no sense to water the pitch after August let alone water it before the match. Playing on a slippery surface makes for injuries and the last time I spoke to a physio about hamstring injuries I was told too much training could cause it. May be it is the same for groins? Groin strains this season for Coulson, McAnuff and Lawless, hamstrings for Elokobi, Widdowson and Caprice. Whoever takes over needs to get some big lumps up front and bigger lumps at the back. Playing football at this level will not work. We need experience in the team so McAnuff, Dayton and Boco should start ahead of Westbrooke, Brophy and Happe. Get an experienced goalie! Possibly we need a manager who knows this division. Poach one if we have to and under no circumstances employ anybody without managerial experience. 16 November. Ling reports being inundated with perspective managers. Justin Edinbugh was sacked by Northampton after losing his first four matches. Not sure he knows this division after over two years with Gillingham (of 102 games he won 39 and lost 38) though he has previously managed Billericay Town, Fisher Athletic, Grays Athletic, Rushden & Diamonds, and Newport, whom he led to promotion into League Two. Graham Westley has also been linked but had an acrimonious time at his last club Newport who sacked him after five months. That after signing 14 players in the January window. Their club secretary Graham Bean resigned in December, saying "Graham Westley is an impossible man to work with... he needs to learn some manners and start treating people with some respect”. Woking have loaned Frazier Shaw to Eastleigh where McCallum has only played in five matches and not since 24 October without scoring. Simon Church joined Scunthorpe. Leaving us in June 2009 he was loaned to Huddersfield before signing for Charlton and MK Dons, then a loan to Aberdeen. He last played for Roda JC joining in August 2016 but played only four games without scoring. 18 November. Home to Dover. 1-1 (Clay). Lightweight: Clay, Brophy, Lawless. This was a far better display and against the team top of the table this week. We went a goal down on 23’ after schoolboy defending by McAnuff who ran to where the ball was rather than mark the scorer. We could have been a goal down in the first minute after a mistake by Widdowson but Sargeant spread himself and the danger passed. Sargeant played because of a warm up injury to Grainger. There was no place for Ellis, Mooney, Harrold or Westbrooke and they started on the bench replaced by Widdowson, McAnuff, Bonne and Clay. Boco and Judd were not in the squad. Brill the goalkeeping coach was one of our subs. It was not until Harrold replaced Lawless that we looked more like a team that for a change knew what they were doing. Clay, a weak link, scored with 13’ remaining with a shot that took a deflection on its way in. No watering the pitch though it was raining for an hour before the match and Clay’s midfield role was nearer the forwards. Brophy reminds me of a sparkler at a firework display, waiting for a big finish but fizzles out. He made two or three good runs towards goal but the end result came to nothing. Team: 12 Sargeant, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 6 Sendles-White, 25 Happe, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 9 Bonne, 26 Brophy, 7 McAnuff, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 13 Brill, 24 Harrold(Lawless 65), 29 Ellis, 10 Mooney, 31 Westbrooke. In the latest Orientear it was obvious that many thought as I did. Kevin Jordan writing from Brentwood was not complimentary on Clay, did not want the return of Cox though likes Lawless but admitted he has many faults and thought there was a witch hunt for Grainger. I am not aware of that but the facts are he has played in 25 matches conceded 45. Not that Sargeant 19/40 is any better but we need an experienced keeper. I am not convinced letting in two goals a game is doing anything for confidence. In the Ed Exley Talking Tactics article there was still criticism of Clay and against Gateshead he thought nobody was "really aware of their roles". A lover of possession football he conceded that "Players stand still and wait for a pass, the initial passer then does the same once he's moved on. Possession is recycled without creating space as the opposition let us play in front of them and there seems to be little idea amongst the players about where they should be looking to find space or where the passer should be looking to play the ball. The match report against Gateshead from Whatsapp also attracted this "Midfield non-existent. Clay is utter *****" I have edited out the offending expletive. Speaking of the Orientear I sent this article for the first edition of the season under the title of Ex O’s Watch: The highlights indicate text I wrote but not used in the article. Further below is the article as it appeared with - Leyton Orient - whoever (free transfer) mentioned 15 times. With (free transfer) 35 times. I complained it turned an article into a list. Lists are for shopping and telephone books. Neither being read at bedtime. This what I wrote For free: Northampton released Harry Beautyman (he joined Stevenage) but offered another contract to Gabriel Zakuani though he opted to join Gillingham. Ryan Brunt was released by Plymouth. Hakan Hayrettin was sacked as Braintree manager. Stephen Dawson left Scunthorpe for Bury on a free. Clohessey joined Sammy Moore at Leatherhead. Last season he played for Braintree. Alan McCormack left Brentford for Luton. Lee Barnard joined Chelmsford City. They also signed Harry Lee from Braintree Town, Elliot Omozusi from Whitehawk and Shaun Batt following his release by Barnet. Jack Payne was released by Blackpool and joined Ebbsfleet United. Coventry City released nine players including Nathan Clarke. Slade snapped him up for Grimsby. Jerome Binnom-Williams left Peterborough by mutual consent and joined Chesterfield. Adam Chicksen left Charlton for Bradford. Connor Essam rejoined Dover from Eastleigh. Jamie Ness was signed by Plymouth from Scunthorpe. Blair Turgott left Bromley after scoring 12 goals in 43 apps last season and joined Stevenage. Turgott is due at Southwark Crown Court in October to face two fraud charges. Wayne Burnett has been appointed as Tottenham's under-23s coach. Shaquile Coulthirst, Peterborough to Barnet. Central Defender Luke Ashworth joined the ranks at Stalybridge Celtic. The 27-year-old, who last played for FC United of Manchester and also worked with Steve Burr at Chester, joins the club on a 1-year deal. Luke joined the O's on loan from Wigan in 2008 before signing in Jan 2009 staying 18 months clocking only 10(3)apps scoring a single goal before joining Rotherham, Hyde and Chester. Undisclosed fees: Cole Kpekawa has joined Colchester for an undisclosed fee. The QPR defender played 8(1) games for us from November 2015. Whilst with QPR he was also loaned to Portsmouth and Colchester before Barnsley paid £450,000 for him in August 2016 however he only played 4(3) matches for them. John Lundstram left Oxford to join Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee. Not bad business as he joined Oxford on a free two years back. Goalies: Marek Stech joined Luton from Sparta Prague for an undisclosed fee. Macclesfield Town signed Shwan Jalal from Wrexham. Paul Rachubka was released by Bury. Stuart Nelson was placed on the transfer list by Gillingham. Ryan Allsop has left Bournemouth and loaned to Blackpool until the end of the season. Since leaving us in January 2013 for Bournemouth he has been loaned to Coventry, Wycombe and Portsmouth. Our thanks to Dave Randlesome who solved the question posed in issue 253. "We didn't have a game on 11th November 1950 as our intended opponents Colchester United were involved in the 4th Qualifying round of the FA Cup even though it was their first season in the Football League." Thanks Dave they were away to Woodford Town and won 1-7. Rupert The article as it appeared. I had nothing to do with the orange highlights but wrote the green highlights. With such a large number of Os players leaving over the summer its been preay difficult to keep track of who has gone where, let alone any other ex-Os you might want to keep track of. Hopefully this list, albeit not a comprehensive one will give you some idea Liam Kelly - Leyton Orient - Coventry City (free transfer) Alex Cisak - Leyton Orient - Sydney FC (free transfer) Teddy Mezague - Leyton Orient - Royal Excel Mouscron (free transfer) Robbie Weir Leyton Orient - Chesterfield (free transfer) Nicky Hunt - Leyton Orient - Notts County (free transfer) Callum Kennedy - Leyton Orient - AFC Wimbledon (free transfer) Tom Parkes - Leyton Orient - Carlisle United (free transfer) Nigel Atangana - Leyton Orient - Cheltenham Town (free transfer) Yvan Erichot Leyton Orient - Pafos FC (free transfer) Gavin Massey - Leyton Orient - Wigan Athletic (free transfer) Ulrich Nnomo - Leyton Orient - Gil Vicente (free transfer) Jordan Bowery - Leyton Orient - Crewe (free transfer) Paul McCallum - Leyton Orient - Eastleigh (free transfer) O11ie Palmer - Leyton Orient - Lincoln (free transfer) Sammy Moore - Leyton Orient - Leatherhead Player/Manager (free transfer) Michael Collins - Leyton Orient - Retired Harry Beautyman - Northampton Town - Stevenage Borough (free transfer) Gabriel Zakuani - Northampton Town- Gillingham (free transfer) Ryan Brunt - Plymouth - Exeter City (free transfer) Stephen Dawson - Scunthorpe United - Bury (free transfer) Sean Clohessy - Braintree - Leatherhead (free transfer) Alan McCormack - Brentford - Luton Town(free transfer) Lee Barnard Bralntree ‐ Chelmsford Crty (free transfer) Harry Lee ‐ Braintree ‐ Chelmsford CIty (free transfer) Eliot Omozusr ‐ Whrtehawk Chelmsford Crty (free transfer) Shaun Batt ‐ Barnet ‐ Chelmsford Clty (free transfer) Jack Payne Blackpool Ebbsfleet Umted (free transfer) Nathan Clarke ‐ Coventry City -Grlmsby Town (free transfer) Jerome Brnnom‐Wllllams Peterborough United -Chesterfield (free transfer) Adam Chlcksen ‐ Charlton Athletic ‐ Bradford CIty (free transfer) Connor Essam ‐ Eastlelgh Dover Athletlc (free transfer) Jamie Ness Scunthorpe Umted Plymouth Argyle (free transfer) Blarr Turgott ‐ Bromley ‐ Stevenage Borough (free transfer) Shaqwle Coulthlrst Peterborough United Barnet (free transfer) Luke Ashworth ‐ FC Umted of Manchester ‐ Stalybridge Celtic (free transfer) Shwan Jalal ‐ Wrexham-Macclesfield (free transfer) Ryan Allsop AFC Bournemouth ‐ Blackpool (loan) Cole Kepawa Barnsley ‐ Colchester (undlsclosed) John Lundstram Oxford Un ted Sheffield United (undrsclosed) Marek Stech Sparta Prague ‐ Luton (undisclosed) Kevin Nugent has become Mlllwall u23 boss, Wayne Burnett has been appomted as coach for the Tottenham Hotspur u23s but Hakan Hayrettln was sacked as Braintree manager. I think we've covered the lot. Obviously If you ve spotted an ex 0 playing for someone else or even out and about, drop us an email/letter/carrier pigeon. Rupert P S Our thanks to Dave Randlesome who solved the question posed n Issue 253 "We didn't have a game on 11th November 1950 as our Intended opponents Colchester United were Involved In the 4th Qualifying round of the FA Cup even though It was their first season In the Football League ' Thanks Dave they were away to Woodford Town and won 1 7. U18’s beat Southend on their own turf 2-6. Team: Samuel Amedu, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Mason Hall (Eric Lopes 70), Trialist, Toby Stevenson, Jaedon Phillips, Teddy Perkins (C), Luca Carter-Henry, Charles Clayden (Alfie Fleming 84), Ruel Sotiriou, Sam Dalby. SUBS: Brendon Shabani, Will Sanders. GOALS: Phillips (2), Sotiriou, OG, Hall, Dalby. Left are: Top row: Luca Carter-Henry, Teddy Stevenson, Teddy Perkins, Mason Hall, Sam Dalby, Alfie Fleming(I think). middle row: Emma Baughurst?, Ernold Haxhiu, Eric Lopes, Arthur Janta, Samuel Amedu, Roel Sotiriou, Hector Kyprainou, ?. seated: Jaeden Phillips, Amin Benyoucef, Danny Webb, Jimmy Unwin? , Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Charles Clayden. 21 November. Home to Chester. 2-2 (Bonne, McAnuff). Lightweight: Clay, Brophy, Lawless, Dayton. We started by going in front when a cross from McAnuff was met by Bonne’s forehead and the ball skidded off it over his head and looped into the net after six minutes. Nine minutes later a long range shot took a deflection and though Sargeant scooped it out the linesman signalled a goal. Five minutes from half time we lost the lead as Sendles-White was booked and the resulting free kick found its way into the far post. Four minutes later Sendles-White was sent off after giving away a penalty after a farcical display from Sargeant who rushed out of his area and totally missed the ball trying to head it. He saved the resulting penalty. On the hour a thunderous drive from 25 yards out found the net after good work from Bonne found McAnuff. Lawless and Clay made way for Harrold and Westbrooke at half time as Embleton (who was sent to the stands) shuffled the defence moving Brophy to left back and Widdowson to the right. Harrold is worthy of a start. Davton who seemed to believe that passing the ball and standing motionless was acceptable. Mooney replaced him on 81’ but we was unable to find the winner. Man of the match was Caprice who played two roles. Some weren’t doing one role. Referee Alan Dale was hopeless. At the very minimum he should keep his eyes on the ball at all times. We started with the same team as Saturday. Team: 12 Sargeant, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 6 Sendles-White, 25 Happe, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 9 Bonne, 26 Brophy, 7 McAnuff, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 13 Brill, 24 Harrold(Clay 46), 29 Ellis, 10 Mooney(Dayton 81), 31 Westbrooke(Lawless 46). Down to 20th after Barrow beat Gateshead away. Never fails to amaze me how others see the players. On the way back to the station someone said Westbrooke should not play. Someone else was disappointed that Sendles-White would only miss one match but was not in favour of Ellis who he thought useless. Clark was his option. In this division we need all the experience we can muster. Am I the only supporter to believe we would have won this match had we signed an experienced goalkeeper? Away to 23rd placed Torquay next. They beat Sutton away tonight. Adam Virgo writing for the Non League Paper had this to say “Whoever takes over at the Matchroom Stadium has a massive job on their hands. The O’s are in a relegation battle as we speak and the only way for them has to be up. Last year, York City had the fourth best record in the National League from Christmas to the end of the season and still went down. If that happens to Leyton Orient, then I really don’t know where they go from there.” His opinion on the next manager was “Justin Edinburgh - hasn’t managed in this league for some time. Martin Allen is another. He has recent experience, but I wonder if Leyton Orient will factor in his all-too brief spell at Eastleigh last season. For me, though, the man who deserves the chance is John Askey. He has been the most consistent manager in the National League for the last three seasons and despite not boasting one of the biggest playing budgets, has got Macclesfield Town playing, perhaps, the best football in the division at the moment. Several other names have been touted. John Still has bags of experience at this level, but I’m not sure whether, at his time of his life, he would swap Dagenham for the stresses of Leyton Orient. Then there’s Dean Saunders, who I’ve got to know personally at BT Sport…I don’t think he’s in the right frame of mind right now to step back into the National League and take on the stress of managing amid such expectations. Nigel Adkins and Kevin Nicholson are two others, looking to get back in, or more left-field appointments such as Daryl McMahon or Jay Saunders, who are doing terrific jobs at Ebbsfleet and Maidstone respectively. Either way, it’s a massive decision and they simply have to get it right; they have to get their house in order, and fast! The U18’s powered through into the next round of the FA Youth Cup beating Sholing at home 5-0. Team:Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Mason Hall, Teddy Perkins, Toby Stevenson, Eric Lopes (Jaedon Phillips 80), Ernold Haxhiu, Hector Kyprianou (Luca Carter-Henry 87), Charles Clayden, Sam Dalby, Ruel Sotiriou. SUBS: Samuel Amedu, Alfie Fleming, Brendon Shabani. GOALS: Clayden (37) Dalby (62) Sotiriou (79) Phillips (84 & 90+1). Seems to be a bit of a fracas in the 64th minute with three Orient players booked and a Sholing player sent off. Away to WBA next. We signed 6’2” 28 year-old defender Bondz N'Gala on a months loan from Dagenham. With a name like that you may expect him to come from somewhere exotic. If you believe Forest Gate is exotic then you would be right. Though he started life with the Hammers he never played for them but has amassed 241 starts with a further 29 from the bench scoring eight goals. Whilst at West Ham he was loaned to Weymouth, MK Dons, Scunthorpe and Plymouth before signing for them. He then signed for Yeovil and Stevenage before being loaned to Barnet. Signing for Portsmouth in Aug 2013 he started 28 games before moving to Barnet starting 99 games and in November last year he joined Eastleigh for an undisclosed fee but started only nine games before being loaned to Dover where started five games which is the same number of games he has appeared for Dagenham but not since the 19th August. He has never been on a losing side this season. Ellis should be due to return to Carlisle after Saturday. Maybe we no longer rate him since the departure of Davis. Last month Guiseley AFC signed Rowan Liburd on a three-month loan deal from Stevenage. 25 November. Away to Torquay. 3-0. With Bonne suspended I had hoped Harrold would replace him and did. As Brophy was no longer available and as we need experience over youth I had hoped to see Mooney start with Ellis or N’ala replacing Sendles-White to the team that started last Tuesday. But no. They bought back Grainger, Westbrooke and Koroma. Two nil down at half time with Sargeant replacing the injured Grainger we let in another two minutes into the restart and Caprice got sent off four minutes from time. Make no mistake this was a very poor performance and could easily been 6-0 given the poor play. Why are we not putting out our most experienced players rather than young lads. I don’t see any young players amongst the opposition. Two big lumps at the front and two bigger lumps at the back is the norm. I felt the same way last season when the temporary mangers insisted on playing Grainger and Sargeant rather than Cisak. Made no sense. Team: 1 Grainger, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 33 N’Gala, 25 Happe, 23 Clay, 24 Harrold, 31 Westbrooke. 7 McAnuff, 19 Koroma, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 12 Sargeant(Grainger 46), 28 Sotiriou(Koroma 62)11 Boco(Westbrooke 46), 29 Ellis, 10 Mooney. Still 20th on 21 points. Solihull Moors are bottom on 13 and that’s where we are next. The U18’s drew 0-0 at home to AFC Wimbledon. Team: Samuel Amedu, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Mason Hall, Teddy Perkins, Shadrach Ogie, Eric Lopes, Ernold Haxhiu, Hector Kyprianou, Charles Clayden, Sam Dalby, Jaedon Phillips. SUBS: Luca Carter-Henry Alfie Fleming, Brendon Shabani. Youth player on loan: Stevenson played 90mins for Heybridge Swifts, Janta the same for Romford, Moncur 89mins for Bishops Stortford. We drew Isthmian League side Haringey Borough in the FA Trophy. From the Club website: the club say they are dedicated to getting their next appointment right. But they confirmed a new manager can be expected sooner rather than later. It read: “14 games without a win is both unexpected and totally unacceptable.. The Board fully understands the corner needs to be turned, and turned very quickly. 29 November. Justin Edinburgh was appointed manager on a two and a half year contract. Here are some good reasons for his appointment: After a spell as Player-Manager at Billericay Town, Edinburgh went on to manager Fisher Athletic and Grays Athletic before guiding Rushden & Diamonds to the Conference play-offs at the end of the 2009-10 season with a fourth-placed finish. As manager of Newport County in October 2011 with the Exiles sitting second to the bottom of the Conference table at the time of his appointment, Edinburgh managed to guide the Club to safety with a 19th place finish as they also reached the FA Trophy Final. The next season he guided the Exiles back into the Football League. The achievement also saw Edinburgh named the Conference Premier Manager of the Year. Having attracted interest from several teams, Edinburgh led Newport to a 14th place finish in League Two for the 2013-14 campaign, and then enjoyed a fantastic first half of the following season as the Exiles mounted a play-off push. That form saw Edinburgh guide Newport to sixth-spot in League Two, and in February 2015 he joined Gillingham as the League One outfit agreed to pay compensation for his services. Against: Was manager of the Gills from February 2015 to January of this year. His first season at Gillingham saw them competing at the top of League 1 during the first half of the 2015/16 season, but a drastic dip in form saw them finish the campaign ninth place. The Gills won the first two league games of the following campaign but the team soon nosedived and he left with the club sitting 17th, to be replaced by Ady Pennock. Edinburgh took over at Northampton less than two weeks after leaving Priestfield. He refused to shake hands with Pennock when his new side met the Gills on the final game of the season. Edinburgh took his former boss Paul Scally – the Gills chairman – to an employment tribunal in the summer. Mr Scally said at the time he was defending the club over a “ridiculous claim”. The original hearing was adjourned with a new date set for this week. Scally has just finished one court case successfully. Edinburgh left Northampton after losing his first four games at the start this season. Gillingham and Northampton who Edinburgh managed this year currently occupy 21st and 22nd place in League One!! The Gillingham fans, as you would expect, were glad to see the back of him: Strikerboy wrote: .This news is certainly the final nail in Orients coffin... they are definitely doomed, just to add salt in the wound their supporters will have to watch their team play boring / dross football under this so called manager for the rest of the season. Orient you have my condolences you deserve much better than this. Jedi wrote: You have to feel for the Orient fans, dreadful Jed football to watch with players who won't be match fit because Jed is a soft touch when it comes to training. The Orient fans have suffered enough, they should object to the Jed appointment! Martin Allen would of been a much better appointment by Orient. Look how fit the Gills are now compared to under Jed, the Blackburn Rover fans are loving a fit Bradley Dack, assists and goals from a midfielder... Orient are the biggest club in the National, they should be in the top two instead of the Mickey mouse teams currently up there. Trueblue wrote:A few points here, 1. Who cares, remove his face from our club. 2. Think he’s found a club that suits him and his ‘personaility’ they are welcome to each other. 3. STEVIE LOVELLS BARMY ARMY. Sometimes the answer in life is that if you have nothing good to say about someone then it is best to say nothing? 2 December. Away to Solihull Moors. 1-0. Finally we put in an experience goalie in Brill. In the club preview we learnt that Lawless would be out with a groin strain, Sendles-White would not return as his one match ban was extended to three due to remonstrating with an official. He is already on a written warning from the club due to his behaviour in the Ebbsfleet match. Caprice started a three match ban and Ellis had returned to Carlisle. We were doing well up to the 58’ before letting in the only goal of the match. It could have been worse as they missed a penalty on 90+2. Why has it taken about four managers to realise that two young goalies letting in nearly two goals a game does nothing for their confidence? No sure why Pollock was preferred on the bench instead of the vastly experienced Boco. We are never going to win matches with young inexperienced players. Team:13 Brill, 14 Judd, 3 Widdowson, 33 N’Gala, 25 Happe, 23 Clay, 24 Harrold, 17 Ochieng, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 1 Grainger, 15 Pollock, 31 Westbrooke,10 Mooney(Harrold 66), 21 Dalby,(Ochieng 74) Still 20th on 21 points. Only two points separate the bottom fur clubs and we from them by three points. Home to top of the table Sutton next. The U18’s beat Northampton away 0-2. Team: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins, Mason Hall, Shadrach Ogie, Charles Clayden, Ernold Haxhiu, Hector Kyprianou (Brendan Shabani, 73), Jaedon Phillips (Eric Lopes, 81), Lawrence Hammond (Amin Benyoucef, 58), Ruel Sotiriou. SUBS: Samuel Amedu, Luca Carter-Henry. GOALS: Sotiriou (2). The U18’s went out of the FA Youth Cup 4-0 at WBA. Team: Arthur Janata, Andrew Camilo-Tayaca, Teddy Perkins ©, Mason Hall, Toby Stevenson, Charles Clayden (Eric Lopes 78), Ernold Haxhiu, Hector Kyprianou, Jaedon Phillips (Amin Benyoucef 53), Sam Dalby (Brendon Shabani 72), Ruel Sotiriou. SUBS: Samuel Amedu, Luca Carter-Henry. Moncur returned from his 14 match loan at Bishops Stortford during which he scored 4 goals. 9 December. Home to Sutton. 4-1 (Bonne 2, 1 pen, Harrold, Dayton). Top of the table thumped. Again we played the experienced Brill and the most experienced side we could put out given the suspensions of Caprice and Sendles-White. Again the slow build up was abandoned, Edinbugh wanted more in the tackle and got it as we got four yellow cards. We went ahead after Dayton was bundled to the deck and Bonne scoring from the sport after seven minutes. Ochieng was replaced by the fit again Lawless following a groin injury. Their goalkeeper was playing so far out of his area that he might have been a midfielder. Harrold got the second from a header from McAnuff’s free kick on 54’. Bonne made it three crashing a loose ball into the roof of the net. Sutton got one back (no tackle from N’Gala) on 83’ but Dayton’s shot took a huge deflection into the net three minutes late. Team:13 Brill, 14 Judd, 3 Widdowson, 33 N’Gala, 25 Happe, 23 Clay, 24 Harrold, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 1 Grainger, 15 Pollock, 31 Westbrooke,10 Mooney(Harrold 77), 19 Koroma(Bonne 90). Still 20th and a point away from Barrow and another point away from Eastleigh for who McCallum scored a hat trick in a 4-4 game at home to Bromle. I still think Lawless, Clay and Dayton are weak links. A respite from league matches as we play Haringay Borough in the FA Trophy on Saturda. Video from Sutton. Martin Ling in the programme and on line had this to say about the players bought in: Would I ever advise anyone to recruit a squad of players in the way we did over the summer? No, but we didn’t have a choice. We had to move quickly to get bodies in the building, and once we made the summer signings I must be honest I thought it would see us through until January where we could then assess the first half of the season before deciding on which additions we could benefit from. I think you will always readjust every January in terms of both ins and outs but it is an ongoing process all the time. Our situation changed totally due to injuries to key players. Most of the players who have come in have been to replace Charlie Lee, George Elokobi and Josh Coulson who have all been massive losses not only due to their footballing ability, but also their personalities in the dressing room too. They add so much to this team but we have been dealt that hand and had to react as a result. Read more here. According to the Club’s preview page Edinburgh may include Coulson as he has returned to full training and they have loaned Clark to East Thurrock for a month. Sendles-White has also ended his ban. Nothing about Caprice ending his or the missing Boco. 16 December. Away to Haringey Borough in the FA Trophy. 1-2 (Coulson, Harrold). I had hoped that the beating of top of the table Sutton and a large win here would kick start our season but it was not to be. A goal down on five minutes (Widdowson not paying attention) it took us 58’ to draw level though Coulson on his return from injury replacing Happe. Mooney was preferred to Harold. Harrold came on for Lawless on 79’ and scored with his first touch, a header from a McAnuff corner. Team:13 Brill, 14 Judd, 3 Widdowson, 33 N’Gala, 18 Coulson, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 1 Grainger, 6 Sendles-White(Dayton 90+3), 24 Harrold,(Lawless 79), 25 Happe(Coulson 59), 19 Koroma. Away to 11th placed Maidstone next. They beat Torquay at the seaside 0-4 today. Away to Bognor Regis on January 13. Video. U18’s lost 1-0 to MK Dons. Team: Arthur Janata, Andre Camilo-Tayaca, Mason Hall, Shadrach Ogie, Eric Lopes (Will Sanders 57), Brendon Shabani, Ernold Haxhiu, Charles Clayden, Amin Benyoucef, Sam Dalby, Ruel Sotiriou. SUBS: Samuel Amedu, Luca Carter-Henry, Jaedon Phillips, Hector Kyprianou. Andy Hessenthaler is the new manager at Eastleigh. Scott McGleish is playing for Chesham. Since leaving us for Bristol Rovers in 2011 he has turned out for Barnet, Whitehawk, Enfiedl, Wealstone and Cheshunt scoring 69 goals. 23 December. Away to Maidstone. 0-2 (N’Gala, Bonne). Helping Maidsone go five without a win. Caprice came back into the reckoning in place of Judd. Experience over youth I would guess. N’Gala put us in the lead from a Dayton corner to the far post. On 52 Bonne made it two following a pass from Caprice. But not before Dayton limped off to be replaced by Harrold. Another groin injury? Edinburgh wanted more aggression and four players were booked, Lawless, McAnuff, Harrold and Bonne. Team:13 Brill, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 33 N’Gala, 18 Coulson, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 1 Grainger, 6 Sendles- White(Mooney 83), 24 Harrold,(Dayton 50), 25 Happe, 19 Koroma. Still 20th as the two teams above us, Barrow and Eastleigh both won away from home with McCallum soring the Eastleigh winner. AFC Fylde could only draw at home to Ebbsfleet but have played three games less than us. We now have a six point cushion from Chester in the relegation zone. Home to Dagenham on Boxing Day. They lost to Eastleigh today. Maidstone’s video. 26 December. Home to Dagenham 2-0 (Coulson, Bonne). N’Gala was banned from playing against Dagenham so back came Happe. But he did extend his loan until 0 January. Maybe Elokobi is still not fit? After a scoreless first half, Coulson broke the deadlock in the 49th minute when he headed home James Dayton's cross. Dayton almost added a second from a free-kick soon after before turning provider again to set up Bonne to make it 2-0 in the 59th minute, with the striker netting at the second attempt. Team:13 Brill, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 25 Happe, 18 Coulson, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 1 Grainger, 6 Sendles-White(Dayton 84), 24 Harrold,(Mooney 66), 22 Moncur. Up to 18th. Home to 10th placed Bromley next. Video. Mont loans: Aron Pollock was loaned to Sammy Moore’s Leatherhead, Rian McLean to Margate, Charley Baker to Wingate & Finchley and Ruel Sotiriou to Heybridge Swifts where Toby Stevenson is. 30 December. Home to Bromley 0-1. Can’t win with ten men. N’Gala was sent off after four minutes after a horrendous backpass from Widdowson on a pudding of a pitch and continued the match in bad form. One ball coming out of the sky was completely misjudged as it hit him on the top of his head. Clay continued to be my weak link. Mooney was sacrificed and replaced with Happe after eight minutes but we went down to the only goal of the match 14’ later through a total lack of marking. The second half produced a series of shots on goal especially when Harrold came on 62’ but why he replaced a winger (McAnuff) is anyone’s guess. Attempts at goal from Bonne 2, Clay, Dayton and the only one on target from Lawless failed to give us a point Team:13 Brill, 2 Caprice, 3 Widdowson, 33 N’Gala, 18 Coulson, 23 Clay, 4 Lawless, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 10 Mooney, 27 Dayton. Substitutes: 1 Grainger, 6 Sendles-White, 24 Harrold,(McAnuff 62), 25 Happe(Mooney 8), 19 Koroma. Video. So we end the year down on 19th and an away match with Dagenham on New Years Day where a win could take us up four places. Email Keith 2018