2019 A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A LEYTON ORIENT SUPPORTER
Other years: 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Leyton Orient Diary part 1 to 1925 Part2 1961 A History of Leyton
Orient FC 1965-1974 starts here. Part 2a from 1965 from 1968 from 1968-1972 from 1972 from 2002 2009-2010 here.
We start the year top of the National League one point clear of Wrexham with Flyde and Salford in joint fourth five points
behind, First up is a home tie against Dagenham.
1 January. Home to Dagenham. 1-0 (Bonne). A hard fought game where the referee was intent on giving as many free kicks to the
Daggers as possible booking three (Widdowson, McAnuff and Koroma) to one from Essex. On 32’ Bonne took a pass from Ekpiteta to
head home a ball that found the net in slow motion. McAnuff returned from his toe injury but played a nightmare in the first
half. Gorman continued to replace the injured Clay but failed to prove he had the ability to replace him permanently and was
replaced by Lawless. Koroma had an excellent chance to put the game beyond doubt as he outstripped all those before him but
fired over though the Press Association saw it this way “Dagenham had a late chance to equalise through Josh Koroma when he
created space in the box only to fire the ball over”. Should have gone to Specsavers. Koroma would have done better to pass to
the unmarked Harrold. McAnuff hit the woodwork in the second half. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 2 Ling, 6 Coulson, 21 Ekpiteta,
22 Lee, 7 McAnuff, 17 Gorman, 16 Brophy, 9 Bonne, 19 Koroma. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 15 Happe, 27 Alabi, 4 Lawless(Gorman 66),
18 Harrold(Brophy 77). Video highlights Ling got the man of the match award and I can only think his Dad had something to do
with it as in the second half put in four crosses that not only failed to reach an Orient player but never even found the near
post. Later he made a hash of a tackle and instead of doing a ‘Judd’ and chasing back to make good his error Ling just strolled
back hoping no doubt that his colleagues would make good his mistake. Four points clear at the top after Salford beat Wrexham.
Salford next at home.
Edinburgh must have thought the same as me that the replacements for Dayton and Clay were
not up to standard as he bought Brighton 21 year-old winger Jordan Maguire-Drew on a two-
and-a-half year deal for undisclosed terms. He never played for the Albion but was loaned
(2016-17) to Dagenham where he started 40 (6) games scoring 15 goals and made 15 assists
in all competitions as the Daggers reached the play-offs and he was named as the club’s
young player of the season. He joined Lincoln in July 2017 for four months playing 8(6)
scoring two goals (in the FA Trophy match against Everton U21) and then to Coventry at the
start of January 2018 till the end of the season where he started four games without
scoring while he was also part of their squad that won the League Two play-off Final
against Exeter City in May 2018. In the August of this season he joined Wrexham and
started 13(4) finding the net three times for the Dragons. The last time he played for
them was November 24 against us! He will wear the number 10 shirt. He told the club’s
website: “I got a call from my agent saying Orient wanted to sign me and I said, 'get it
done' straight away. “It's a great club to be at, it's a club on the up and I want to be
part of the success here. "I like to get supporters off their seats, I like trying to make
things happen, score goals, create goals, get the team up the pitch as much as I can when
I get the ball." He also played a key role in Worthing's promotion from then Ryman League
South back in 2016. During his brief spell at Woodside Road under then joint bosses Gary
Elphick and Jon Meeney, he struck eight goals in just six matches.
With the transfer window open the vultures have be circling.
Koroma is apparently out of contract and was expected to join
Aston Villa but now favours Huddersfield. Derby County and
Middlesbrough were also interested. Bonne has been linked with
Newcastle, Sheffield United, Norwich, QPR, Fulham, Stoke City,
Notts Forest and Leicester City whilst Crystal Palace supporters
did not want him. Not sure their manager will take much notice
of what the supporters want. Tip for Mac and Josh, stay a big
fish in a small pool rather than the other way around. Lots of
players have left this club for teams in the higher divisions
but not many make any impression, ask George Porter and Alex
Finney. They may be financially better off but possibly only if
they are in the first team. I seem to remember when Moores and
Coates joined from Spurs it was because reserve team wages there
were no higher than first team wages here.
Ebbsfleet United are not under pressure to sell Corey Whitely.
We are reportedly leading the chase for his signature. But Fleet
haven’t received any formal offers for the forward who joined
from Dagenham & Redbridge last February. Manager Hill said: “As
far as I’m aware, Martin Ling rang up from Orient and made an
enquiry to (Ebbsfleet managing director) Dave Archer.“He was
informed to put that offer in writing and I was made aware that
was going to be done but that’s not been received. They signed him from Dagenham where he started 56(6) league games scoring 23
times whilst with the Fleet starting 34(6) netting 10 times.
5 January. Home to Salford. 0-3. We were two goals down (Ling’s side of the pitch) in eight minutes and had no Plan B. Instead
we continued to play across the park and back by which time they had 11 players behind the ball. Harrold looked like he would
come on but an injury to Coulson meant Happe came on instead. Gorman was taken off again but if there was a man of the match I
did not hear any announcement. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 2 Ling, 6 Coulson, 21 Ekpiteta, 22 Lee, 7 McAnuff, 17 Gorman, 16
Brophy, 9 Bonne, 19 Koroma. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 15 Happe(Coulson 64), 10 Maguire-Drewe(Lee 63), 4 Lawless(Gorman 63), 18
Harrold. Attendance: 6,937, the highest of the season. Video highlights. Still top but the lead cut to two points. Wrexham lost
at home to Dover and promptly signed two players. No league action next Saturday, Wrexham in the second round of the FA Trophy
instead.
Head Coach Justin Edinburgh gave vital minutes to first-team and youth team members as the O’s fell to a 1-2 defeat in a behind-
closed doors friendly against AFC Wimbledon. Team: Sargeant, Judd, Sweeney, Lawless, Elokobi (Ogie 61), Happe, Maguire-Drew
(Sivi 75), Kyprianou (Shabani 75), Harrold (Clayden 61), Alabi, Sotiriou. GOAL: Maguire-Drew (11). The Guardian reported “but
the game was won in the 72nd minute as Sam Sargeant’s save was nodded into the top corner.” Which may mean he has not learnt to
put the ball out of play rather than back into.
Levi Lumeka has been recalled from his loan by Crystal Palace. During the spell, Lumeka continued to play for Palace's
Development Stockley was sold to PNE by Exeter for £750,000. He never started a game for us.
Coulson will be out for several weeks with a hamstring injury. Now there’s a surprise.
Edinburgh signed a new two and a half year contract. Bonne was the league’s top scorer with
19 goals, I say was because the club were informed on 10th January 2019 by the National
League that a goal thought to have been scored by Macauley Bonne v Havant & Waterloo on 27
October 2018 has been credited as an own goal by Theo Lewis. As one supporter pointed out,
why did it take two months to arrive at this decision. Billericay Town have signed striker
Jamaican international Jamar Loza for an undisclosed fee from Maidstone United on an 18-
month deal.
12 January. Away to Wrexham FA Trophy. 0-1 (Harrold pen). Only four players survived from
the Salford match and down to three after Ekpiteta went off with an injury after 16' and
was replaced by débutante Jayden Sweeney. Wrexham had six from their previous match.
Harrold scored a penalty when Brophy was bought down on 63'. We played the last 12 minutes
with ten men when Judd was sent off (second yellow) for a bad challenge. Team: Brill, Judd,
Ekpiteta, Happe, Elokobi, Maguire-Drewe, Lawless, Lee, Brophy, Harrold, Alabi. Subs:
Sargeant, Gorman(Brophy 83), Koroma(Maguire-Drew 75), Sotiriou, Sweeney(Ekpiteta 16). Away
to Ebbsfleet next. Let’s hope Whitely does not score! Video highlights.
Home to Blyth Spartans in the FA Trophy on 2 February which means the away match at Barrow has been postponed to Shrove Tuesday.
Rian McLean, who has been trialling with Doncaster Rovers recently, has signed a professional contract.
Sam Ling detractors extend further than me. Foggy Nelson writing in the Orientear had this to say: “Edinburgh was quick to
describe him as one of the best full backs in the division. Since that time Ling hasn’t quite
lived up to that billing. His recent return despite not being fit has not been one to
inspire”.
Following the news that Ekpiteta would be out for a few weeks with and ankle sprain we signed
defender Jamie Turley on a deal to the end of the season. The centre-half, who can also play
right-back, was a trainee at Wycombe Wanderers before joining Salisbury City in June 2009. He
played 31 times before making the move to Forest Green Rovers in 2011. Overall he has played
219 (10) league games scoring 14 goals, 4 (1) games in the FA cup, 1 game in the league cup,
and 3 games scoring one goal in other competitions. He has also played for Eastleigh, Newport
County, Boreham Wood and 18(1) games for Notts County this season the last being the 5
January. During this season he was booked three times and sent off once. He was on a short
term contract at Notts and was offered the chance to extend his stay at Meadow Lane. However,
an agreement could not be reached.
U18’s suffered a 2-1 defeat away to MK Dons after two goals in the closing five minutes
cancelled out Mason Hall’s first half volley.Team: Sam Amedu. Anthony Papadopoulous, Mason
Hall, Kyrell Palmer (Wynford Marfo 53’), Diego Bonne,
Jeremie Sivi, Brad McClenaghan, Tom Mulqueen (Ahmed
Mirza 47’), Charles Clayden, Brian Ifeanyi, Jayden Young
(Sonny Perkins 37’).
U18’s suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Luton Town after
Charles Clayden’s free-kick wasn’t enough to spur the
O’s onto victory. Team: suffered a 3-1 defeat away to
Luton Town after Charles Clayden’s free-kick wasn’t enough to spur the O’s onto victory.
Team: Sam Amadu, Anthony Papadopoulous (Ernold Haxhui 63’’), Mason Hall, Wynford Marfo,
Jayden Sweeney, Jeremie Sivi, Bradley McCleneghan (Finley Lovatt 77’), Brendon Shabani,
Charles Clayden, Jaedon Phillips, Lawrence Hammond (Amin Benyoucef 63’).
19 January. Away to Ebbsfleet. 2-0. Not our day. Coulson and Ekpiteta were out and replaced
by Happe and Elokobi and Lawless was preferred to Gorman. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 2
Ling, 15 Happe, 5 Elokobi, 22 Lee, 10 Maguire-Drew, 4 Lawless, 16 Brophy, 9 Bonne, 19
Koroma. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 8 Clay(Lee 67), 23 Turley(Elokobi67), 27 Alabi, 18
Harrold(Maguire-Drew 67). Video highlights. Still top but the lead slashed to goal
difference to Solihull after they beat Maidenhead and Salford drew at home to Gateshead.
Home to 20
th
placed Maidstone next.
Elokobi was transfer listed “following actions that didn’t meet club standards” at the 2-0
defeat at Ebbsfleet United on Saturday. But reports on social media claim the 32-year-old defender refused to shake head coach
Justin Edinburgh’s hand after being substituted.
U18’s lost to Peterborough 2-4 but flirted with the idea of a late comeback as late goals from Anthony Papadopoulous and Tom
Mulqueen halved the deficit of defeat to Peterborough United. The Posh took a 3-0 lead into the break, but a much improved
second half saw the O’s claw back some pride. Team:Sam Amedu, Anthony Papadopoulous, Mason Hall, Wynford Marfo, Jayden Sweeney,
Jeremie Sivi, Brendon Shabani (Tom Mulqueen 69’) Bradley McClenaghan, Charles Clayden (Sonny Perkins 40’) Lawrence Hammond,
Brian Ifeanyi (Lukas Rolfe 90’). SUBS: Rhys Byrne. GOALS: Papadopoulous 82’ Mulqueen 86’.
Romain Vincelot left Crawley for Shrewsbury. Hakan Hayrettin stepped down as Braintree Town manager to join Maidstone United
where John Still is head of football.
Young midfielder Hector Kyprianou has received a call-up to the Cyprus Under-19 National Team. The
19-year-old, who is currently on loan at Bishop's Stortford, has been included in the squad that will
play Romania on both February 5 and 7 in a double international friendly.
26 January. Home to Maidstone 3-0 (Maguire-Drew, Bonne 2, 1 pen). McAnuff returns. On 34’ a Lee long
throw was headed back into the area by Turley for Magire-Drew to volley home though it may have taken
a deflection on its way. Bonne should have made it two when clear on goal from a lovely Lee pass but
his shot was too high. A cross by Koroma flashed across the goal but Bonne missed it. Four minutes
after the restart Koroma limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury. Harrold, his
replacement, should have made it two but his shot bounced off the keeper. A McAnuff corner found Lee
on the far post and his header back across the face of the goal found Bonne who made no mistake
firing hard through a ruck of players. Five minutes into added time Brophy was barged in the back and
Bonne scored his 20
th
goal of the season from the spot. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 2 Ling, 15 Happe, 23 Turley, 22 Lee, 10
Maguire-Drew, 8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 19 Koroma. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 4 Lawless(Lee 85), 14 Judd, 16 Brophy(Maguire-
Drew 73), 18 Harrold(Koroma 49). Video highlights. Top. Three points clear after Solihull lost to Flyde and Salford could only
draw. Away to Welling on Tuesday in the London Senior Cup quarter final with a potential Semi-Final away at either Clapton or
Harrow Borough. Then home to Blyth Spartans in the FA Trophy.
News on any Bonne move from tbrfootball.com “if Leeds had scouts watching Bonne in action yesterday, they would have been torn
after a mixed display from the striker. The 23-year-old’s finishing ability is what stands him apart from other strikers in the
fifth tier but as well as scoring twice, he was also wasteful at times. Bonne has been criticised by O’s fans in the past few
weeks for missing some golden opportunities and he could have had five yesterday on another day. At National League level, Bonne
will continue getting chances and scoring goals. But the jump from that division to the Championship is sizeable and his
inconsistency in front of goal suggests that he may struggle at Leeds. Bonne might only get a fraction of the chances he gets at
Leyton Orient if he stepped up to the second tier. Leeds need to think hard about whether to take a risk on the Ipswich-born
forward.”
Of Elokobi Edinburgh said: “George won’t play for the club again. George is not training with us.” Contracts up at the end of
June according to Total Orient are: Charlie Grainger, Joe Widdowson, Charlie Lee, Alex Lawless, Craig Clay, James Dayton, Matt
Harrold, Jobi Mcanuff, Myles Judd and Jamie Turley. Everyone else has another year except Koroma and Maguire-Drew who have two
years to run till the end of June 2021.
U18's are bottom of their league on eight points with MK Dons above them on 18. View tables and results here.
Koroma has, wait for it, a hamstring injury and will be out 3-4 weeks.
29 January Welling away London Senior Cup. We went a goal down on 26’ and lost Hall to
an injury eight minutes later. Welling scored again on 74 and Sotiriou pulled one back
ten minutes from time but that’s how it stayed. Team: Janata, Judd, Hall, Trialist,
Sweeney, Lawless, Gorman, Shabani, Brophy, Sotiriou, Alabi Bench: Byrne, McClenaghan
(Hall 34), Hammond, Mulqueen. Video highlingts.
Ex O’s on the move: Tom Carroll [Swansea - Aston Villa] Loan, Sam Dalby [Leeds -
Morecambe] Loan, Tristan Abrahams [Norwich - Yeovil] Loan, Chris Dagnall [Bury -
Tranmere] Free.
We tuned down a reported £300,000 from Sunderland for Koroma as a replacement for Josh
Maja transferred to Bordeaux for a reported fee of £3.5million. Do they know Josh is
injured? Instead they got winger Lewis Morgan from Celtic and Kazaiah Sterling a
Tottenham striker both on loan, Max Power was signed from Wigan and midfield Grant
Leadbetter from Middlesbough. Nothing from the club website. Elokobi left the club by
mutual consent.
Young defender Shadrach Ogie has signed a new contract at the Club and received
international clearance. The deal, which the Irishman signed in August on his 17th
birthday, has been awaiting international clearance from FIFA and had prevented him from
playing competitively for the first team and the U18 team. The O's number 25 has now
signed a deal which runs until June 2020 and can now be considered for first-team
action.
2 February. Home to Blyth Spartans FA Trophy 1-0 (Turley). Dreadful. If there were any players on the periphery of a first team
place hoping to showcase their talents for inclusion then they failed for me however Danny Webb said that the fringe players
“gave it their all” A cobblers awl for me. Blyth however did give it their all and held out until the 84’ when a Maguire-Drew
free kick found Turley at the far post to head home. Team: Brill, Judd, Sweeney, Happe, Turley, Maguire-Drewe, Lawless, Gorman,
Brophy, Harrold, Alabi. Subs: Sargeant, Shabani, Ling(Maguire-Drew 90), Sotiriou(Alabi 74), Ogie(Sweeney 51). Video highlights.
Away to Brackely next round which means the match against Flyde at home will be postponed on the 23 February. Next league match
is away to Hartlepool.
From the Club’s website:
Defender Shadrach Ogie has been called up to a Republic of Ireland U19 training camp on February 4 and 5. The 17-year-old, who
made his senior début in Saturday's FA Trophy win over Blyth Spartans, has been included in the U19 squad for the first time and
will face the National Educational & Training Board squad at FAI headquarters on February 5. Congratulations Shadrach! The Club
are saddened to hear of the passing of Matthew Brazier at the age of 42.
The midfielder made 46 appearances for the O's between 2002 and 2004 and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphona in March 2016.
The thoughts of everyone at Leyton Orient are with Matthew's family and friends at this sad time.
9 February. Away to Hartlepool 1-1 (McAnuff). No news in the Club Preview but Ling missed this match (illness) as did Maguire-
Drew (calf). They were replaced by Judd and Brophy. McAnuff got us into the lead on 22 but a goal in added time saw the monkey
hangers draw level and we were unable to find the winner in the following 45. Just before the hour substitute Liam Noble's
spot-kick was saved by Dean Brill after a shockingly bad pass from Clay(?) in the opponents half left the defence stretched and
Widdowson bought down their man. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 14 Judd, 15 Happe, 23 Turley, 22 Lee, 16 Brophy, 8 Clay, 7
McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 18 Harrold. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 4 Lawless(Lee 81), 20 Sotitiou, 25 Ogie, 27 Alabi(Harrold 69). Still
top by a point with Solihull and Wrexham behind us after they beat Ebbsfleet away and Dagenham at home respectively. Home to
Maidenhead next weekend.
Elokobi joined Aldershot on a deal until the end of the season. Jay Simpson signed the same deal with us. He was reported as the
11th player to score 20 or more goals in a season which made me ask if I could name the other ten? Here goes: Kitchen(29 1977-
78), Dunmore(22 1961-62), Johnston(25 1959-60 & 35 1957-58) & 27 1956-57)) were the easy ones and now I am guessing at
Heckman(29 1955-56, Rees, Parker, McFadden(21 1914-15). Plenty of nearly men in my time supporting so I will name a few that
were among the top scorers for a season: Bolland, Flatt, Massey, Hallom, Fairbrother, Bullock, Queen, Moores, West(17 95-96),
Juryeff, Lisbie, Mooney. The others can be viewed here:
Judd signed a deal for another two and a half years.
16 February. Home to Maidenhead 0-1. Clueless and again no plan B. If, as has been suggested, that Widdowson is our most
improved player and if Clay is our most consistent player and that Edinburgh’s comment that Ling is the best right back in the
division is correct then we are in trouble. From the BBC website “With leaders Solihull Moors drawing at home to Barnet, Orient
could have gone top on goal difference with victory over the Magpies. Instead, a sixth defeat of the season and Wrexham's win at
Havant & Waterlooville meant they finished the afternoon outside the top two, three points behind Solihull and one adrift of
Wrexham.” Edinburgh said we lacked quality. Problem is that we don’t score many goals outside of the strikers. Consider this
looking at five players from the match:
Starts Sub
Goals Ave goals per game.
Widdowson
351
13
1
364
Clay
177
48
12
18.75
Ling
61
8
3
23
Lee
338
81
42
9.976190476
Brophy
75
38
4
28.25
Gorman
47
35
3
27.33333333
a goal every
19.56923077
games
Omit Lee from the stats then it's a goal every 37.08695652 games.
Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 2 Ling, 15 Happe, 23 Turley, 22 Lee, 16 Brophy, 8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 30 Simpson.
Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 18 Harrold(Turley 74), 21 Ekipeta, 17 Gorman(Simpson 78), 10 Maguire-Drew(Lee 71). Video highlights.
A welcome relief from the league next with a FA Trophy match at Brackley.
The U18’s fell to a 5-0 defeat away to Cambridge United this weekend, as they returned to League action for the first time in a
month.
Nathan Mavila left Dulwich Hamlet and joined Canadian side Cavalry FC. Sotiriou was loaned to Hampton & Richmond for a month.
23 February. Away to Brackley FA Trophy. 1-2 (Harrold, Happe). Brackley took the lead after 25 minutes after poor defending from
Ling. Coulson came on for Epiteta on 55 follwong a clash of heads. Bonne missed a spot kick after Maguire-Drew was bought down.
Harold, on for Gorman scored ten minutes later on 75 following a low cross from Brophy. Seven minutes from time a Maguire-Drew
corner found Happe to head home the winner. Team: 1 Brill, 14 Judd, 2 Ling, 15 Happe, 21 Ekipeta, 16 Brophy, 8 Clay, 17 Gorman,
7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 30 Simpson. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 18 Harrold(Gorman 65), 22 Lee, Coulson(Ekpiteta(55), 10 Maguire-
Drew(Judd 56). Video highlights. Telford in the next round at home Saturday March 16 before travelling to New Bucks Head
Saturday March 23 for the second leg. Games against Bromley and Eastleigh that were originally scheduled for those dates will
be rearranged.
The U18’s form continued to dip losing at home to Barnet 0-2. Team: Henry Sworder, Reggie Pegrum, Ben Staerck, Bradley
McClenaghan, Ahmed Mirza, Matthew Young, Brian Ifeanyi, Tom Mulqueen, Lawrence Hammond, Finlay Lovatt, Anthony Papadopoulos.
Subs Used: Jayden Young (Lawrence Hammond 55) Jeremie Sivi (Ahmed Mirza 45).
Marvin Ekpiteta and forward Josh Koroma have been called-up to the England C squad. Dan Happe and Jordan Maguire-Drew have been
named in the Contingency Squad.
Preview news prior to the Havant game: Jamie Turley is back in full-training after a minor groin strain which kept him out of
action in last weekend’s FA Trophy tie. Twitter on the day: Myles Judd misses out having picked up a hamstring injury during the
week, while Josh Koroma and James Dayton see today's game arrive a little too soon to feature.
2 March. Havant & Waterlooville away 1-2 (Maguire-Drew, Coulson). Lobs win the day. Their manger Lee Bradbury was not happy as
Jack James had to have 17 stitches in his face after a challenge from Sam Ling at Westleigh Park. The Hawks boss said: ‘That was
a red card every day of the week. ‘I fail to see how it wasn’t dangerous and reckless play. ‘He has got 17 stitches in his face
and stud marks across his chest. ‘It is ridiculous and was a high boot with the player pushing his studs towards his face. ‘I
just can't believe that it was judged as just a yellow card.’ We went into the lead following a fantastic 30 yard lob by
Maguire-Drew ten minutes from half time. But another great goal from distance saw the Hawks draw level on 67. A long throw from
Ling saw Coulson ghost in unmarked to lob a header over the goalie with the winner 17 minutes from time. Team: 1 Brill, 3
Widdowson, 2 Ling, 15 Happe, 21 Ekipeta, 6 Coulson, 8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 30 Simpson. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 18
Harrold(Simpson 75), 22 Lee(Maguire-Drew 84), 16 Brophy, 23 Turley. Clay picked up his sixth booking of the season. Video
highlights. Still third as both teams above us won but Solihull beat 22nd placed Maidstone 5-0 at home which betters our win
against a team placed 20th. Away to Barrow on Tuesday.
Ruel Sotiriou and Hector Kyprianou have been called-up by Cyprus Under-19 for a series of matches this week. U18’s lost away to
MK Dons 5-2. Brian Ifeanyi and Jayden Sweeney bagged a goal each as Dons substitute Recoe Martin inspired his side to come from
behind, scoring five goals in the final ten minutes. Team:A. Vilinauskas, Anthony Papadopoulous, Wynford Marfo, Matthew Young,
Jayden Sweeney, Jeremie Sivi, Brad McClenaghan, Ben Staerck, Lawrence Hammond, Jayden Young, Brian Ifeanyi. SUBS USED: Tom
Mulqueen (Hammond 64‘’), Reggie Pegrum (Sivi 64’’), Finlay Lovatt (J. Young 70‘’). GOALS: Ifeanyi 27’’ Sweeney 47’’.
Myles Judd will be out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury which he sustained in training.
5 March. Barrow away 2-3 (Ling, Simpson, Maguire-Drew). We field the same team as Saturday. On 13 Ling s shot cum cross found
its way into the net. Basically a bad cross. Two minutes after the break Simpson scored his first goal since rejoining us
rounding the keeper after a pass from Maguire-Drew. Eight minutes later Bonne hit the post. Simpson wins the ball back in
midfield and plays in Bonne who unselfishly picks out Maguire-Drew inside the box to slam home on 69. Two minutes later Barrow
get one back from distance but had Coulson left it alone Brill would have saved it. Five minutes later they get a second. Both
goals came with six minutes of Happe going off injured. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 2 Ling, 15 Happe, 21 Ekipeta, 6 Coulson, 8
Clay, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 30 Simpson. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 18 Harrold, 22 Lee(Simpson 85), 16 Brophy(Maguire-Drew 76), 23
Turley(Happe 65). Video highlights. Back to second on goal difference, two points behind Wrexham who we play Saturday.
9 March. Wrexham at home 1-0 (Ekipeta). Back on top. The first half was truly awful with the defence in particular having a
nightmare. Turley was preferred to Coulson with Ling and Widdowson playing five yards in front of the defence. The referee did
not fare better playing the advantage when there was not one and holding up play when there was. Twice Widdowson bottled a
challenge on a Dragon. Simpson was simply the best player on the pitch and once left two defenders for dead before crossing the
ball only for Maguire-Drew to blast the ball over. Bonne should have done better with a header but it went wide. Ling and
Simpson were replaced by by Harrold and Brophy as the former were fearing possible injuries should they continue. But not before
Simpson made a nuisance of himself in the area and the Welsh failed to clear the ball and it found Ekipeta whose first time shot
hit the ground before going into the net past the keepers outstretched hands. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 2 Ling, 15 Happe, 21
Ekipeta, 23 Turley, 8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 30 Simpson. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 18 Harrold(Simpson 84, Gorman, 16
Brophy(Ling 58), 6 Coulson(Maguire-Drew 89). Video highlights. Happe was made man of the match, not too many others were in the
frame. Lee had a possible knee injury and Dayton may figure in a friendly they are trying to arrange, Koroma is behind Dayton in
terms of fitness. Two points clear at the top with the next game away at 22nd placed Aldershot. Following that there will be two
games in the FA Trophy home and away to Telford which may mean we will have three games in hand of Wrexham. Stockport and Flyde
are the other two semi-finalists. The bottom seven clubs all lost. They were: Chesterfield, Dover, Barnet, Havant Aldershot,
Havant, Maidstone and Braintree.
U18’s: First-half strikes from Jayden Sweeney and Diego Dunbar-Bonne secured a huge three points for the young O’s, ending a run
of difficult form away to ten-man Newport County with a 2-1 win. Team:Aridas Vilinauskas (Sean Campbell 75), Anthony
Papadopoulos, Jayden Sweeney, Brad McClenaghan, Wynford Marfo, Matt Young, Jeremie Sivi (Jez Davies 75), Ben Staerck, Lawrence
Hammond, Finlay Lovatt (Jordan Adeyemi 75), Diego Dunbar-Bonne (Kyrell Plamer 60). Goals: Sweeney (21) Dunbar-Bonne (24).
Booked: Sweeney 67.
12 March. Aldershot away (1-2 Coulson 2). Dayton returns. Maguire-Drew went off with a calf injury after five minutes to be
replaced by Brophy and this proved to be instrumental as his two corners found Coulson twice with headers that went in three
minutes from each other. But not before poor defending from Widdowson allowed a free header which Brill pushed away. On 72’ he
Shots got a penalty va Ekpiteta but we were good for the win despite poor defending from Ling to allow a free header that Brill
did well to palm onto the post. The only two changes from Saturday was the return of Coulson for Turley and Harrold for Simpson.
He had a hamstring twinge. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 2 Ling, 15 Happe, 21 Ekipeta, 6 Coulson, 8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 18
Harrold. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, Gorman, 16 Brophy(Maguire-Drew 5), 11 Dayton(Harrold 80), 23 Turley. Video highlights.
Three points clear at the top with Wrexham losing at home to Barrow 1-3. With the next two Saturday’s taken up with the FA
Trophy it would need Solihull to at least win one and draw the other to replace us at the top.
16 March. Home to Telford FA Trophy Semi-final first leg 1-0 (Bonne). Koroma returns. On a very windy day we did well to take a
one goal lead to Telford. Bonne had two open goal chances both following saves from their keeper. From the Club’s website “We
finally took the lead after 54 minutes, Jamie Turley’s cross found Harrold’s head, the forward nodded down for Bonne to finish
on the spin.“ Team: 1 Brill, 2 Ling, 16 Brophy, 15 Happe, 21 Ekipeta, 23 Turley, 17 Gorman, 8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 9 Bonne, 18
Harrold. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 27 Alabi, 19 Koroma(Gorman 67), 11 Dayton(Harrold 80), 6 Coulson(Ling 45). Video highlights.
In the other semi-final Telford were held to a goal less draw at home to Stockport. County are second in their table, just one
point behind leaders Chorley. Both Solihull and Wrexham won leaving us still top on goal difference, but with a game in hand on
one and two on the other. They are away to Halifax and Hartlepool respectively next Saturday.
Jordan Maguire-Drew has suffered a Grade 2 Calf tear which means he's expected to be absent in the region of four weeks.
Shadrach Ogie has made a loan move to Isthmian Premier side Bishop's Stortford. Dan Happe has been called-up to the England C
squad that will face Wales at Salford City's Peninsula Stadium on Tuesday. The 20-year-old replaces O's defender Marvin
Ekpiteta, who has been withdrawn as a precaution after
collecting an ankle knock in Saturday's FA Trophy Semi-Final
first leg win over AFC Telford United.
Former joint manager Chris Turner is part of a project to give
the city of Wakefield its own club. Turner, 60, has in recent
years worked with Chesterfield, firstly as chief executive
before becoming director of football in January 2017. In
November that year he became Port Vale’s sales and marketing
manager, departing last June.
23 March. Away to Telford FA Trophy Semi-final second leg 1-2
(Harrold, Coulson). With Ling out with a hamstring Widdowson
and Coulson returned. From Twitter on six minutes. : “A mix-up
in Telford's defence sees their defender head the ball over the
out-rushing keeper. Harrold pounces upon the mistake to slide
home.” On 26 Harrold was sent off and Telford drew level 13
minutes later. Coulson put the game beyond Telford with a
header 18 minutes from time. Again from Twitter:” What a man,
he heads the ball over Wycherley and into the net after
Ekpiteta headed McAnuff's cross in-front of goal.” Team: 1
Brill, 3 Widdowson, 15 Happe, 21 Ekipeta, 6 Coulson 23 Turley,
8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 19 Koroma, 9 Bonne, 18 Harrold.
Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 17 Gorman, 16 Brophy(Koroma 66), 27
Alabi(Bonne 90+3), Lee. Video highlights.
Wembley here we come (May 19). With Wrexham and Solihull losing we remained top of the league on goal difference but there is a
chance to go three points clear on Tuesday when we play fifth place and Wembley opponents AFC Fylde.
26 March. Home to AFC Flyde 2-0 (Ekpiteta, Bonne p). Book them Dano. This is a reference to the original series of Hawaii Five 0
in which McGarrett, played by Jack Lord, told his sergeant Danny Williams, played by James MacArthur to book the captured
criminal for his crimes at the end of most episodes. Referee Richard Hulme booked five players from Flyde and Clay, Ekpiteta and
Turley. But it was never a dirty game. Turley came off with what looked like a hamstring on 37 to be replaced by Dayton. But by
then we were 2-0 up through a header from Ekpiteta, a deflected header and a penalty from Bonne after Brophy had been upended.
It was a mystery why Koroma and Dayton were on the pitch given they did nothing, Koroma was lucky not to have been booked for
time wasting as he took an age to reach his position in the home half of the field after both goals and again when he was
replaced by Alabi on 61. With Harrold on a three match suspension Brophy started. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 15 Happe, 21
Ekipeta, 6 Coulson 23 Turley, 8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 19 Koroma, 9 Bonne, 16 Brophy. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 17 Gorman(Brophy
90+4), 11 Dayton(Turley 37), 27 Alabi(Bonne 90+3), 30 Simpson. Video highlights.
Two points clear at the top of league with two games in hand of both of our nearest rivals. Solihull could only draw with
Boreham despite going 2-0 up. Two away games next, Saturday to Barnet and Tuesday we are at Bromley.
30 March. Away to Barnet 0-0. Edinburgh said that this one would be tough and so it proved. Turley’s hamstring kept him out and
Lawless replaced him. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 15 Happe, 21 Ekipeta, 6 Coulson 4 Lawless, 8 Clay, 7 McAnuff, 19 Koroma, 9
Bonne, 16 Brophy. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 22 Lee(McAnuff 46), 11 Dayton(Lawless 80), 27 Alabi, 30 Simpson(Koroma 57). Video
highlights. Watching the video it appears Brill saved us on three occasions whilst Brophy, Lawless and Widdowson all missed the
target. To be fair those three are never going to score goals for according to Transfermarkt. Lawless has played 2496’ (divide
by 90 = 27 games) without scoring for us, Widdowson 6519’ (72 games) and Brophy has scored four goals in 3696’ (41 games). That
means if you played all three a goal would be scored every 35 games. Still top but lead now one point. Solihull scored a goal in
added time to get a point against Dover but this was not enough to keep them in second place as Salford beat our next opponents
Bromley. Solihull also had a man sent off. Of the top 11 clubs only Salford moved upwards The bottom four looked doomed to
relegation with Havant eight points away from safety and bottom club Maidstone 17 away. Between them are Aldershot and
Braintree.
The vultures are now targeting Happe. Norwich, Wolves and Brighton are the clubs linked to him.
The U18’s lost 0-2 to Plymouth Argyle. Team: Aridas Vilinauskas, Kyrell Palmer(Ben Young 69”)Wynford Marfo, Trialist, Jayden
Sweeney, Jeremie Sivi (Tom Mulqueen 69”)Brad McClenaghan, Brendon Shabani, Brian Ifeanyi (Jordan Adeyemi 60”) Lawrence Hammond,
Jayden Young (Lukas Rolfe 60”).
2 April. Away to Bromley. 2-1 (Coulson). Undone by old boys. Simpson was preferred to Koroma and Lee replaced the injured
McAnuff. Coulson put us ahead before the break but Ekipeta was sent off on 47, following a challenge on Porter giving away a
penalty in the process from which ex O Suntherland scored. Sixteen minutes later Bromley took the lead. Koroma and Alabi
replaced Simpson and Lawless four minutes later. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 15 Happe, 21 Ekipeta, 6 Coulson 4 Lawless, 8 Clay,
22 Lee, 30 Simpson 9 Bonne, 16 Brophy. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 11 Dayton, 27 Alabi(Lawless 67), 17 Gorman, 19 Koroma(Simpson
67). Video highlights. Looking at the highlights it was never a sending off. If it was then so was the tackle by Porter on
Koroma. Bromley has six booking to our two (Lawless and Brophy) plus the red card. Bonne has now gone nine matches without a
goal from the outfield. We need a plan B to get the ball our of defence into attack in a minimum amount of passes. Much like the
England team when picking the ball up in the oppositions half it was played to Kane whose one touch found Sancho whose one touch
found Sterling whose one touch found the back of the net. Bring back Bullock and Dunmore.
6 April Home to Halifax. 2-2 (Koroma, Harrold). Shocking. We went a goal down in nine minutes and another 45+1. It was so bad I
went for a pee and missed Koroma’s shot from just outside the box in the third minute of added time. He struck it hard to the
goalie’s right. He got a hand to it but not enough to stop it going in. From the BBC “In the second half, Halifax goalkeeper Sam
Johnson faced a barrage of shots before Harrold forced the ball home at the death.” That was in the fourth minute of added time.
Ekipeta sat out a one match ban. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 15 Happe, 6 Coulson 4 Lawless, 8 Clay, 22 Lee, 30 Simpson, 9 Bonne,
19 Koroma, 16 Brophy. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 11 Dayton(Lawless 69), 10 Magire-Drew(Widdowson 85), 17 Gorman, 18 Harrold(Lee
77). Video highlights. Second after Salford beat Maidstone.
The U18’s went down 2-1 at Bristol Rovers. Aridas Vilinauskas, Jeremie Sivi, Trialist A, Wynford Marfo, Jayden Sweeney, Brad
McClenaghan, Trialist B (Tom Mulqueen 70”) Brendon Shabani, Lawrence Hammond (Brian Ifeanyi 54”), Jordan Adeyemi, Finlay Lovatt
(Jayden Young 70”). GOAL: Hammond 41”.
9 April. Home to Eastleigh. 3-2 (Koroma, Bonne, Brophy). Nearly undone by old boy. Again we went a goal down in under ten
minutes as McCallum put them ahead. He had already had one headed off the line. Poor defending by Ling and a poor clearance by
Lawless lead to the goal as Ling got in the way of Ekipeta and McCallum’s header looped over Brill. Again Koroma drew us level
after a long throw from Ling found the head of Bonne and his header to the far post was somehow touched home. Again McCallum put
Eastleigh into the lead on 21’ after poor defending from Ling when Happe was outjumped by McCallum. It was not until 57’ did we
draw level when at last we had a quick goal from defence to attack. Brill rolled the ball to Clay to Brophy and a first time
cross from Widdowson found Bonne in the box and he controlled the ball with his left and swivelled and shot with his right to
put a low shot into the net. That was his 22 league goal but his first from the outfield in 10 matches. Four minutes later with
ten Spitfires behind the ball we got the winner when Clay’s pass (he finally found on of our men!) to Dayton was passed to Ling
for him to return the ball but carried on going forward. Dayton backheeled to Ling and his low cross evaded everyone except
Brophy at the far post for a simple tap in. Game over. Though they did have two chances to win the match and for McCallum to get
his hat trick but his free header was a yard too high. Team: 1 Brill, 2 Ling, 3 Widdowson, 21 Ekipeta, 15 Happe, 6 Coulson 4
Lawless, 8 Clay, 9 Bonne, 19 Koroma, 16 Brophy. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 11 Dayton(Lawless 40), 10 Magire-Drew, 30 Simpson, 18
Harrold(Ling 80). Video highlights. Back on top, two points clear of Salford. No games in hand.
13 April. Away to Sutton. 1-2 (Happe, Bonne p) The curious case of a sending off. With Lawless injured Gorman came back into
the team. Koroma got a yellow card for arguing after five minutes and ten minutes later Ling went off with an injury to be
replaced by Dayton. On 52’ we went the customary goal down but Happe equalised 12’ later with a header from a Koroma free kick.
One for the quiz book. Which player got sent off whilst on a stretcher? On 76’ after a bad tackle Dayton was being stretchered
off when he threw a boot towards the ref for which he was sent off. Likely to be out for the rest of the season if the leg is
broken. A minute before time the substitute goalie gave away a penalty which Bonne put away for all the points and keep us in
top place. Team: 1 Brill, 2 Ling, 3 Widdowson, 21 Ekipeta, 15 Happe, 6 Coulson, 17 Gorman, 8 Clay, 9 Bonne, 19 Koroma, 16
Brophy. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 11 Dayton(Ling 15), 22 Lee(Koroma 74), 30 Simpson, 18 Harrold(Gorman 59). Video highlights.
Every team has three games left and we are at home to Harrogate (6th place), and Braintree (23rd), and away to Solihull (3rd).
Salford appear to have an easier task but have away games at Boreham (18) and Hartlepool (16) and home to Flyde (5). Sutton were
bottom of the fairplay league having amassed 93 yellow cards, one yellow that turned red, three red cards and four yellow/red +
red. Barnet had least bookings.
U18’s lost 3-2 at home to Gillingham. A last gasp Gills winner overshadowed a super Orient performance, as Lawrence Hammond and
Brad McClenaghan hit the back of the net. Taking away the result, The O’s played some of the best attacking football they’ve
produced this season; moving the ball quickly and exposing the Gill’s defence. Team:Aridas Vilinauskas, Jeremie Sivi, Wynford
Marfo (Jayden Young 89”), Trialist A, Jayden Sweeney, Brendon Shabani, Matt Young, Brad McClenaghan, Jordan Adeyemi (Brian
Ifeanyi 54”) Lawrence Hammond, Finlay Lovatt (Anthony Papadooukos 73”). SUBS: Sean Campbell, Kyrell Palmer. GOALS: Hammond 56”
McClenaghan 60”.
20 April. Home to Harrogate 2-0 (Coulson, Harrold). Three points nearer promotion. This was over as early as the second minute
but not before Koroma and Bonne had chances. A short corner to the returning McAnuff found the head of Coulson to glance into
the net. Bonne had the ball in the net from close range that was ruled offside. Koroma wasted a chance to score but his shot was
too high. Bonne and Maguire-Drew at the far post was the better bet. Two minutes into added time in the second half Harrold
popped up to clinch the points. With Ling missing through another hamstring Maguire-Drew started. Turley replaced Dayton on the
bench after dislocating his ankle. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 21 Ekipeta, 15 Happe, 6 Coulson, 7 McAanuff, 8 Clay, 9 Bonne, 19
Koroma, 16 Brophy, 10 Maguire-Drew. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 23 Turley(Koroma 77), 22 Lee, 30 Simpson, 18 Harrold(Maguire-Drew
64). Video highlights. With Salford and Solihull both wining we need a point at Solihull on Monday to secure promotion. A defeat
and a win by Salford would see them top by a point.
22 April. Away to Solihull. 0-0. Crunch match. Depending on your age this might trigger memories of 1956 and 1962 or 2006 when
we needed two points for promotion and got them or 1974 when we needed two points for promotion and didn’t get them. I thought
for this match I would mirror the Club Twitter site. The only team change was Turley for Maguire-Drew. 7: CLOSE! Koroma's
initial shot is parried by Boot, McAnuff picked up the loose ball but Solihull see it clear after the skippers shot was blocked.
18: The O's counter, Brophy's goal-bound shot was blocked before Koroma's deflected effort was caught by Boot. 0-0. 31: SAVE!
Brill leaps to his right to palm the ball round the post from Osborne's free-kick. 0-0. Happe heads over from McAnuff's deep
corner kick. 0-0. Salford were 0-1 down at the break at home to AFC Flyde. 49: Brophy's cross caused panic in the Solihull end
before Bonne nodded wide of the target. 0-0. 53: Clay whips a cross in for Koroma but the forward is just below the ball and
heads over. 0-0. 6: Wright looks for Yussuf in the box but the combination of Ekpiteta and Coulson scramble clear. Excellent
defending. 0-0. 58: So close! Turley heads wide from the corner. 0-0. 59: Turley goes close again, this time his low shot is
held well by Boot. 0-0. 61: Brophy is next to test Boot, but he hold the wingers shot well. 64: DOUBLE O'S SUB Matt Harrold and
Charlie Lee replace Josh Koroma and Jobi McAnuff. 71: Brilliant save by Boot to deny Bonne. Brophy found the forward in the box
but the keeper made the save. 0-0. 76: Bonne heads across goal looking for Coulson in the centre of the box but Solihull clear.
0-0. 76: BRILL! I don't know how but he's saved it. Vaughan reached the by-line and crossed for Hylton in the centre of the net,
two yards out and Brill made the block. 0-0. 80: ORIENT SUB Maguire-Drew comes on in place of Jamie Turley. 0-0. 84: Lee's long
throw finds Harrold at the back post, he is beaten to the ball by Williams but the ref has awarded a goal-kick. 0-0. 89: Orient
break with Maguire-Drew and Bonne but the former can't get the ball out his feet in time to have an attempt. 0-0. 726 away fans.
You have been brilliant all game! FULL TIME: Solihull 0-0 Leyton Orient. Team: 1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 23 Turley, 21 Ekipeta, 15
Happe, 6 Coulson, 7 McAnuff, 8 Clay, 9 Bonne, 19 Koroma, 16 Brophy. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 10 Maguire-Drew(Turley 80), 22
Lee(McAnuff 64), 30 Simpson, 18 Harrold(Koroma 64). Video highlights. Top of the league three points clear on 88 and with a
goal difference of +38. Salford were beaten at home by AFC Flyde 0-1 now have 85 points with a goal difference of +33 and
Solihull in third place with 85 points and a goal difference of 30. This means that we are promoted as champions unless we lose
0-3 at home to relegated Braintree and Salford win 0-3 away at Hartlepool.
Much has been made of the fact that Braintree have won five of their last eight games and they did win 0-3 at Sutton. Salford
have won six out of their last eight and the only time they have
won 0-3 away from home was at Brisbane Road!
27 April. Home to Braintree 0-0. Shocking but PROMOTED. Clay,
Koroma, Turley and Lee had left their shooting boots at home as
balls sailed into the crowd and wouldn’t even have got points in
a rugby match. A wonderful through ball from Bonne found
Widdowson clear of the defence but he failed to shoot or cross
the ball and it came to nothing. Widdowson has never scored a
league goal. Salford got off to a flyer going into the lead
after three minutes. A nervous 40 minutes was had until news
filtered through that their forward Green had been sent off.
Five minutes later
Hartlepool equalised.
Brophy was having a
nightmare whilst Koroma
did nothing up front. Clay
sprayed passes about but
too many to the
opposition. After 69’ the
Pools went into the lead
and six minutes later went
three up to loud cheers of
“We are going up” and “
top of the league”.
Harrold came on with six minutes to go and made an immediate impact but not enough to get a
goal. Salford got a goal back but with Solihull drawing at Dagenham they went third. Team:
1 Brill, 3 Widdowson, 23 Turley, 21 Ekipeta, 15 Happe, 6 Coulson, 7 McAnuff, 8 Clay, 9
Bonne, 19 Koroma, 16 Brophy. Substitutes: 24 Sergeant, 10 Maguire-Drew(Brophy 88), 22
Lee(McAnuff 71), 30 Simpson, 18 Harrold(Koroma 84). Video highlights. In the divisions
below us Torquay and Stockport were promoted, not that it affects us! Teams we won’t be
playing Yeovil and possibly Notts County (or Macclesfield) and Lincoln and two of Bury, Mansfield and MK Dons. Coming down from
League One are Bradford and any three from Walsall, Southend, Wimbledon, Scunthorpe, Plymouth, Wycombe, Rochdale and Accrington
Stanley.
The following players are out of contract at the end of June: Charlie GRAINGER, Joe WIDDOWSON, Charlie LEE, Alex LAWLESS, Craig
CLAY, James DAYTON, Matt HARROLD, Jobi McANUFF, Jamie TURLEY, Jay SIMPSON. I wouldn’t offer a contract to Clay or Lawless and it
is a pity Gorman has not proved to be an able replacement for either. I suspect Grainger, Lawless and Harrold will go though I
would be unhappy to see Harrold, Lee or McAnuff leave.
Under 18s lost 7-3 away at Forest Green. The home side were dealt an blow as they fell behind early on through forward Finley
Lovatt, despite dominating the early proceedings.wo late goals from both Orient’s Lawrence Hammond and Hendy’s second of
the game respectively, would see both sides level at two apiece at half time. Orient were able to break
with pace down the other end and find their third, with captain Brad McClenaghan finishing
calmly one-on-one against Dec Lehmann.
Injury watch, hamstrings and groins only, all matches presuming they are fit but excluding added time: Ling hamstring 5 + 45
minutes and 2 and 75 minutes, Koroma, hamstring 7 games and 41 minutes. Turley, groin 4 and hamstring 2+37 mins, Coulson,
hamstring 6 matches +26 minutes. Judd hamstring 18, Elokobi, hamstring missed 13 matches + 87 minutes. Simpson hamstring 3 + 6
minutes, Brophy, hamstring. missed eight matches + 18 minutes. Harrold, hamstring. missed five matches this season alone.
The picture left has nothing to do with football but more to do with the integrity of MP’s
who refuse to obey the will of the people because in their eyes our vote to leave was
the wrong decision and they are doing their damnedest to reverse. If that happens then
it will not only be the end of democracy in this country but the rest of the world.
Connor Essam is one of 11 players to be released by Dover. Sammy
Moore has stepped down as Concord Rangers manager due to ongoing
personal problems. He was then appointed as new manager of Hemel
Hempstead Town who are also in the National League South. HH
finished 16th this year, Rangers 6th and would have been in the
play-offs but they could not compete in them after failing
ground grading requirements i.e. failing to provide 500 covered
seats meaning only FIVE teams will be involved in the play-offs.
They were also deducted three points for fielding an ineligible
player. Northampton have released eight and put a further three
up for sale, Carlisle eight and Grimsby four.
10 May. Friendly at home to Aston Villa U23’s. 3-1 (Maguire-
Drew, Happe, Harrold. Team:: Brill (Sargeant 62), Coulson
(Lawless 57), Clay (Gorman 68), Bonne (Harrold 57), Maguire-Drew
(Alabi 70), Happe (Ogie 68), Brophy (Sweeney 68), Koroma
(Simpson 57), Ekpiteta (Ling 62), Lee (Shabani 78), Turley
(Sotiriou 84)
GOALS: Maguire-Drew (11), Happe (22), Harrold, 77).
Salford beat AFC Flyde 3-0 to gain promotion with us. McAnuff,
Bonne and Brill were named in the Vanarama National League Team
Of The Season. Deadlines for the 2019 summer transfer window:
League Two Clubs will have until 5pm on Monday 2 September,
2019, due to August 31 falling on a Saturday.
We also finished top of the attendance table:
1. Leyton Orient 5,444
2. Wrexham 5,145
3. Chesterfield 4,504
4. Hartlepool United 3,124
5. Salford City 2,509
Return of Leyton Orient by Sky. Livingston have announced that
Hibernian midfielder Marvin Bartley will join them on a three-
year deal in the summer.
19 May. V AFC Fylde at Wembley FA Trophy in front of 42,962.
Three shots from Koroma sailed hopelessly over the crossbar as
did a free kick from McAnuff whilst Brophy’s weak shot was
easily gathered by the keeper. Flyde had a defender taken off
after a clash of heads but we could not take advantage. The
second half was worse at we hit the uprights three times but
never looked like scoring. Ekipeta gave away a free kick from
which they scored and took the trophy. Team: 1 Brill, 3
Widdowson, 23 Turley, 21 Ekipeta, 15 Happe, 6 Coulson, 7 McAnuff, 8 Clay, 9 Bonne, 19 Koroma, 16 Brophy. Substitutes: 24
Sergeant, 10 Maguire-Drew(Turley 45), 22 Lee(McAnuff 78), 2 Ling, 18 Harrold(Happe 68). Video highlights.
The departure from the club of Lee, Grainger, Simpson and Lawless was announced. Clay was given another two year deal. Wouldn’t
have been my choice, can’t tackle, head a ball or score goals. PLAYERS WHO ARE OUT OF CONTRACT BUT HAVE BEEN OFFERED NEW DEALS:
Joe Widdowson, Jobi McAnuff, James Dayton, Matt Harrold, Jamie Turley, Hector Kyprianou (professional), Arthur Janata
(professional), Brendon Shabani (professional) Jayden Sweeney (professional). James Alabi has been transfer listed.
Widdowson signed a two-year deal with Harrold and McAnuff signing for a further year while Physical Performance Coach Michael
Amoah has departed the Club. Maybe the 73 matches and 335 minutes missed through hamstring and groin injuries alone had
something to do with it?
The vultures are once again circling Bonne and now being targeted by Charlton Athletic, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and
Middlesbrough, while Sheffield United and Leicester City are also interested. The clubs have been buoyed by the news Bonne has a
£200,000 release clause, which will allow them to snap up the talented forward on the cheap. Leyton Orient are believed to have
offered their star striker significantly improved terms to counter the incoming offers.
However Bonne made this statement “I can’t thank everyone at Orient enough for doing that for me. Now I can show everyone in
League Two what I can do, hopefully. “Where else would I want to be? I’m the main man at the minute. My eyes aren’t being
wondered whatsoever.”
Meanwhile Sunderland have been credited with an interest in Josh Koroma. They failed with a £300,000 bid back in January, but
they’re looking to go back for the striker this summer as they look to bolster their attack for the upcoming season, be it in
League One or the Championship. For how much he contributed on Sunday he can go for me.
Tristan Abrahams left Norwich. This from the Yeovil website.:Former Yeovil Town loanee Tristan Abrahams has become a free agent.
The 20 year old former Leyton Orient winger/striker was named by Norwich City on their list of released players at the end of
the 2018-19 season. Mainly used as a right-winger during his time at Huish Park, the Lewisham-born player scored three times
during the 15 appearances he made for the club, shortly after curtailing a similar loan agreement with Exeter City.
Abrahams never got as far as the Norwich City first team, having joined them for an undisclosed fee from Leyton Orient in the
summer of 2017. During the 2017-18 season he was part of Norwich City's Under-23 set-up but for the campaign just gone most of
his football was gained via his two loan clubs in the West Country. He is one of a number of Norwich players who have been
released.
Livingston have announced that experienced Hibernian midfielder Marvin Bartley will join them on a three-year deal in the
summer. Frankie Sutherland was released by Bromley where Porter was given a further contract. Tom Parkes left Carlisle for
Exeter. A pin-point cross from Jake Caprice helped Tranmere into League One whilst Dean Smith’s Aston Villa also got promotion
in their play-off. Solihull Moors signed Paul McCallum on a two-year deal after he turned down a contract offer from Eastleigh.
He was the top scorer for the league with 27. Bonne managed 23 thanks to the last three months of the season (15 matches) where
he only scored one goal from open play plus two penalties.
Nicky Adams (Bury) and Alan McCormack (Luton) joined Northampton. From Aug 29 2003 McCormack made 11 appearances for us
(amassing six yellow cards and two reds) before his loan expired. Both helped their respective clubs win promotion last season.
Ryan Hedges left Barnsley for Aberdeen. He played 17 games for us in 2015 scoring two goals. Leaving us he also had loan spells
with Stevenage and Yeovil before joining Barnsley from Swansea. Jordan Bowery left Crewe for MK Dons.
How Leyton Orient won the National League - 2018/19 Season Review. From BT. Leyton Orient - 2018/19 - Goals of the Champions
3 June Justin Edinburgh was taken to hospital after returning from the Champions League Final in Madrid in which his former club
Spurs lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
8 June From the Club website: It is with profound and utmost sadness that Leyton Orient announces its manager Justin Edinburgh
has passed away. Justin suffered a cardiac arrest last Monday and passed away on Saturday.
“We are completely heartbroken by this tragedy”, said Orient chairman Nigel Travis. “All our thoughts and love are with the
Edinburgh family and we know from the messages that have flooded into the Club over the last week that the wider football world
will share our sentiments.
“The success that Justin brought to Leyton Orient was incredible, but more importantly the impact he had on us all as a winner
and a wonderful, inspirational human being will be his legacy and will stay with us forever.”
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Jayden Sweeney
