2022 continued. Previous page. 30 June. We signed Anthony Georgiou on a one-year contract. The 25 year-old joined us last February and had been on trial since. A left back that can play on either wing. Wellens said "He is a player with a great attitude. In the games that we played behind closed doors against Brentford and Arsenal, he was excellent." "He's quick, he's got good energy and a good technical ability, he's the type of player we were looking for." "I like players that are flexible, and he gives us that." Matt Young joined Wealdstone on loan until January. Ryan Fallowfield who was linked with us joined York from Harrogate. 1 July. Sargeant signed a one-year contract and played in the friendly at Haringey where we won 1-2 with a début goal from Georgiou and a penalty from Nkrumah. First Half XI : Vigouroux, James, Beckles, Thompson, Wood, Coleman, Obiero, Young, Archibald, Fish, Georgiou. Second Half XI : Sargeant, Tanga, Sodje, Ogie, Sweeney, Brown, Pratley, Moncur, Nkrumah, Sotiriou, Smyth. Tomorrow they will jet off to Portugal and play at least two matches there against WBA and Peterborough. Someone who won’t be on the plane is Khan who signed a two-year deal with Grimsby. What chance of him scoring against us in the opening match of the season? James Dayton left Dulwich Hamlet for Enfield. James Alabi left Woking. Jamar Loza joined Barnet from Woking. The forward played one game with two from the bench without scoring in 2014 whilst on loan from Norwich. When he left us Norwich loaned him to Southend (twice), Yeovil, Stevenage, Maidstone and Woking before being signed by Billericay. He left them for Chelmsford and they loaned him back to Woking. In 2020 he signed for Kings Lynn and played for them for nearly six months before signing for Woking for a third time. John Marquis left Lincoln for Bristol Rovers. Tristan Abrahams joined Eastleigh after being given a free by Carlisle. We lost the behind closed doors match against WBA 1-2 (Georgiou). Moncur missed a penalty. Next match would be Friday 8th against Peterborough. Dale Gorman signed for Barnet after playing for Yeovil last season. We loaned him to Newport in January 2020 and after leaving them opted to play for Gentoran in the Northern Ireland Premier League. Josh Wright joined Ebbsfleet. Andy Scott was appointed Head of Scouting at Nottingham Forest back in January. James Alabi signed for Maidstone. He left Bromley making over 80 appearances for the Lilywhites after joining them in 2020. No doubt he will play against us in the friendly there on the 12th. We lost the last game of the Portugal matches to Peterborough 0-3. The word friendly seemed to have evaded the Posh players. Two matches on the 12th. One at Maidstone the other Potters Bar. Jamie Turley had to retire though injury. Victor Adeboyejo left Barnsley for Burton for free after failing to agree terms with the Tikes. 12 July. we lost 2-0 at Potters Bar. The starting line- up was Byrne, Thompson, Beckles, Happe, Wood, Trialist, Clay, Moncur, Archibald, Sotiriou, Georgiou but Archibald was injured in the warm-up whilst Sotiriou felt a hamstring stain. At Maidstone we drew 0-0. Sargeant, Sweeney, Ogie, Sodje, James, Trialist, Obiero, Pratley, Nkrumah, Trialist, Trialist. Subs: Phillips, Ojo, Fish, Koroma, St Louis, Tanga. One of the trialists was reported to be Dan Pybus from Dunfermline. Wellens was not happy “can’t pick a team that is functioning, not functioning as a team, need more players in, Smith and Drinan not fit tor the start of the season, Archibald and Sotiriou - need to find what the problem is.” Two days later he was talking about bring in a quality player plus maybe two cheap ones, Smith may start the season. Injury’s occurring outside a match. 16 July. Home to Spurs U21 (3- 1 Sotiriou, Moncur, Thompson.) Spurs striker Kion Etete reacted fastest to a ball coming off the woodwork. Defence asleep. Sotiriou equalised when Wood’s header came off a post. James went off injured. Moncur put us in the lead from a free kick. Thompson wrapped it up with a deflected third. Orient XI : Sargeant, James, Happe, Thompson, Clay, Sotiriou, Archibald, Moncur, Pratley, Beckles, Nkrumah. Substitutes : Byrne, Ogie, Sodje, Wood, Tanga, Obiero, Coleman, Georgiou, Fish. Wellens was a bit more upbeat in the post match interview. Quad problem for Drinan. Smith calf/shin. Happe needs to be patient with his injury. Hoping to have one or two [more players] next week. Striker and midfield. They would be loan players as a permanent player may find his position in jeopardy when the injured return. Brown out for a month. 19 July. Home to Portsmouth. This was played behind closed doors due to the extreme heat. Supporters would be able to stream for free. Hope it would be better than the Spurs match which failed to get under way until well into the match. It wasn’t. Taken from the East Stand it could have been a phone on a tripod as there was very little zooming in and out. If any. Though a master class on focusing. We lost 2-5 and started with a fine own goal from Ogie followed by poor defending for two nil. Smyth played all 45 minutes and looked lively, so much so he put us back in it with a fine effort just before half time. First half team: Vigouroux, Wood, Thompson, Smyth, Trialist, Archibald, Moncur, Coleman, Pratley, Beckles, Ogie. Happe got on the score sheet but not before he had given away a penalty. The game finished in a 2-5 loss which is not surprising considering the second half team of Sargeant, Sweeney, Happe, Sodje, Trialist, Obiero, Ogie, Clay, Trialist, Fish, Sotiriou. Supporters considered the pluses were Smyth and Archibald with most of the others given an adequate rating with the exception of Sotiriou and all the trialists. Coleman didn’t rate that high among some. Wellens was still expecting two through the door and would hopefully play at Dagenham on Saturday. Poor considering he wanted his new signings in place by 2 July. 23 July. Friendly away at Dagenham 2-2 with goals from Thompson and a trialist in the closing seconds after being one up then 2-1 down. Vigouroux, Wood, Happe, Thompson, Smyth, Clay, Sotiriou, Archibald, Moncur, Pratley, Beckles. Substitutes : Sargeant, Coleman, Georgiou, Sodje, Sweeney, Ogie, Obiero, Trialist, Trialist. In the post match summary Wellens was happy enough with the first half but the lack of quality on the bench showed. He was still hopeful of a loanee with Martin Ling constantly on the phone but it seemed that the loanee’s club was dragging their feet. The following day at the Club Open Day the rumour was a new striker has been signed on loan and details will be announced officially by the club tomorrow. Drinan signed a two-year contract to keep him at the club until 2024. Danny Johnson was loaned to Walsall for six months. 25 July. The on loan player did not turn out to be Josh Sheehan at Bolton or Jack Turner from Southampton but Charlie Kelman from QPR. As a striker on loan to Gillingham last season he played 26 times for them scoring two goals. He started 16. Southend is where he started his career but after 18(17) and 8 goals QPR snapped him up but he has only started two games for them with another 13 from the bench without scoring. One of the games from the bench was against us in the EFL Cup in the 61’ last season. Having been sent off on Easter Monday for a rash tackle he will not finish his three match ban until after the Grimsby match. Born in Basildon but an American. Played 19 times for their U20 side scoring seven goals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZukBfEda04 His goal v Accrington Stanley. 26 July. Away to Walfthamstow FC (0-3 Fish, Tanga, Georgiou). Apparently No8, trialist A was Jake Turner. I didn’t think much of him yet he was on Wellens radar. Trialist B looked a better bet. Was called Ashle by Matt Harrold. Team: Sargeant, Pegrum, Trialist A, Trialist B, Georgiou, Sodje, Sweeney (C), Ogie, Fish, Obiero, Tanga. Subs: Phillips, Kwatchey, Saponara, Koroma, Avgoustidis, Clements. Next day we signed Rob Hunt from Swindon. The 27 year-old left-back, equally comfortable playing on the right, played 40 times in Richie Wellens' title- winning Swindon Town side from the 2019/20 SkyBet League Two campaign. An Essex lad, Hunt began his career as a youth player at West Ham United, before moving to Brighton & Hove Albion. He made five first-team appearances for the Seagulls, including a Football League début in the Championship away at Burton Albion in a 1-0 win in 2017. He moved on loan to Oldham Athletic in the same season, before making the switch permanent – racking up 90 appearances for the Latics. Gavin Massey joined Port Vale after being relased by Wigan. Crawley loaned Glenn Morris to Gillingham. Millwall did the same for Alex Mitchell sending him to St Johnstone. 30 July. Home to Grimsby (2-0 Moncur pen, James). With James only back in training on Monday and Hunt only joining two days ago I did not expect them to start, but they did. Ogie and Kelman were still suspended, Drinan and Brown still injured. Wood did not figure in the match!? Grimsby had their fair share of the chances but so did Smyth for us. A penalty for handball was put away by Moncur, the first converted penalty since Josh Wright in January 2020. Seven minutes later a clearance found the left foot of James who unleashed a 30 yard thunderbolt to make it 2-0. Everyone played their part and for me Thompson, Happe, Pratley and Beckles barely put a foot wrong. Moncur will get fitter. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 32 Hunt, 2 James, 5 Happe, 6 Thompson, 19 Beckles, Pratley, 14 Moncur, 7 Smyth, 20 Sotiriou, 11 Archibald. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 8 Clay(Hunt 59), 9 Smith(Smyth 75), 20 Georgiou, 24 Sweeney(Sotiriou 81), 29 Obiero, 26 Fish. BBC Report. Video highlights. Wellens still expecting a centre midfield signing at the moment held up by the parent club possibly seeking a replacement before getting rid of him. Danny Johnson scored a hat trick on his début for Walsall. At the end of the week nothing had changed on the new midfielder but Coleman went on a season long loan to Bromley. Wellens said he would return a better player as his time at Kings Lynn had been spent in a relegation fight and his time here was a struggle. Harrison Sodje went on a month’s loan to Heybridge Swifts with a month’s option. Nigel Atangana joined Eastleigh after being released by Exeter. He joined us from Portsmouth 20/01/2016 and stayed until 28/05/2017 when he joined Cheltenham. Andy Whing joined us on loan from Brighton 2/10/2010 and returned until the end of the season in 2011 playing in 19 matches scoring two goals. He later joining Oxford and is currently Banbury manager. Alex Lawless left the club’s youth team set up and joined Luton. 6 July. Away to Crawley (0-1 James). Kelman and Clay started replacing Smyth and Thompson. Goalless in the first half although Crawley had a chance breaking out of defence described on Sky Ports and having Orient “chasing shadows”. Hunt was on an awayday but if you play wing backs rather than full backs that is what you should expect. On 51’ was a repeat of James’s goal last week when a ball from a corner reached him on the edge of the area. This time a right foot shot flew into the net with the goalie motionless. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 32 Hunt, 2 James, 5 Happe, 19 Beckles, 18 Pratley, 8 Clay, 14 Moncur, Kelman, 20 Sotiriou, 11 Archibald. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 6 Thompson, 9 Smith((Kelman (64), 4 Ogie(Archibald 80), 7 Smyth(Sotiriou 52), 20 Georgiou, 24 Sweeney. BBC Report. Video highlights. In the post match interview Wellens said that Wood was told to find another club. He was happy with Hunt and James and had adequate cover in Ogie and Thompson. He was still waiting on the incoming midfielder though di not seem as confident it would happer. Nest match is away atForest Green in the Carabo Cup. Expect players on the edge to start. Maybe Sargeant, Thompson, Ogie, Fish, Georgiou, Obiero and Sweeney etc to start along with Moncur to get match fitness. Possibly Brown but too early for Drinan. Scoring ex O’s were the winner for Kashett, one for Kyprianou and another for Maguire-Drewe. MCullum scored his 39th gaol for Dagenham. Davis Watson reported that sadly, ex-Orient player Adrian Thorne passed away on 29th July 2022, following a long illness; he was just two days shy of his 85th birthday. Thorne played for the O's during the 1965/66 season after being signed by Dave Sexton. 9 August. Away to Forest Green Carabao Cup (2-0). We went a goal behind on 17’ and further on 50’. The team was much as expected with more minutes for Smith, Smyth, Brown, Thompson, Ogie and starts for Sweeney, Obiero and Georgiou. Only three shots on target out of 18. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 2 James, 6 Thompson, 4 Ogie, 19 Beckles, 24 Sweeney, 29 Obiero, 20 Georgiou, 9 Smith, 7 Smyth,14 Moncur, Subs: 1 Sargeant, 18 Pratley(Moncur 57), 12 Brown(Georgiou 69), 3 Wood,32 Hunt, 23 Kelman(Smyth 58), 11 Archibald(Smyth 58), 26 Fish, 30 Tanga. BBC Report. Video highlights. Wellens was still waiting on the midfielder. Clay would be out of action for 2/3 weeks with a quad problem. 12 August. Idris El Mizouni joined from Ipswich on a year-old loan. See Rumour mill 3 on the previous page. 13 August. Home to Mansfield 1-0 (Kelman). Vigouroux won man of the match aster saving a penalty that he gave away and making two fine saves to keep us in the match. El Mizouni started. With only six shots on goal all match you can imagine what the first half was like. They had 16 shots. Kelman did have a chance after an excellent ball from Beckles but decided to take a further touch rather that shoot and the ball was deflected for a corner. Second half was much the same with some players, Happe in particular, having an off game. El Mizouni pick up the ball on 63’ and ran the length of the half drawing up two defender before passing to the unmarked Kelman. His calm finish secured all three points to put us on top of the league as the only unbeaten side. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 32 Hunt, 2 James, 5 Happe, 19 Beckles, 18 Pratley, 15 El Mizouni, 14 Moncur, Kelman, 7 Smyth, 11 Archibald. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 6 Thompson(James 83), 9 Smith((Kelman 83), 4 Ogie, 10 Sotiriou(Moncur 76), 12 Brown(Smyth 73), 24 Sweeney. BBC Report. Video highlights. To paraphrase James Cagney in the 1949 film White Heat “Top of the league Ma”. Sonny Fish heads out to Isthmian Premier League, Bowers and Pitsea on a months loan deal with an option of an extension. Byrne joined Canvey on loan. 16 August. Away to Swindon (1-1 Smyth). A goal down after four minutes was equalised by Smyth three minutes later from an Archibald cross. We dominated the the game without further score. Two points lost said Wellens in the post match interview. He bought on Smith with 18 minutes to go and was disappointed that the team then played the long ball to him. Basketball is how he described it. Smyth came off with nothing more than cramp and Brown showed in one pass why Wellens appears to rate him. Happe was rested and Ogie started. Looking at their goal I would suggest he should have intercepted the cross had he not be ball watching. Playing wing backs will leave you exposed on the counter attack. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 32 Hunt, 2 James, 4 Ogie, 19 Beckles, 18 Pratley, 15 El Mizouni, 14 Moncur, Kelman, 7 Smyth, 11 Archibald. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 6 Thompson, 9 Smith((Kelman 73), 5 Happe, 10 Sotiriou(Smyth 67), 12 Brown(Pratley 60), 24 Sweeney. BBC Report. Video highlights. Extended highlights. 10% more possession 18 shots, half of which were on target. Second on goal difference to Salford. Away to Colchester on Saturday. They beat Bradford this evening. Jephte Tanga heads out on loan to Southern League Premier side Royston Town for initially 28 days. Ex O’s captain Steve Castle is the manager there. 20 August. Away to Colchester 1-3 (Own goal, Archibald, Kelman). More to come said Wellens. Nice little one two with Archibald saw Smyth’s low cross turning into his own net by Chalmers though Kelman was waiting to pounce behind him. That was the scoring done for the first half though Colchester scorned their chances as a smart save by Vigouroux and a scuffed shot by Sears kept a clear sheet for us. Archibald made it 0-2 following Smyth’s low cross. On 90’ Kelman turned his man and calmly slotted home into the far post. Six minutes into added time Colchester pulled one back. Just under 1400 travelling O’s fans in the crowd of 4,340 despite a train strike. Happe returned replacing Ogie. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 32 Hunt, 2 James, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 18 Pratley, 15 El Mizouni, 14 Moncur, Kelman, 7 Smyth, 11 Archibald. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 6 Thompson(James 71), 4 Ogie, 10 Sotiriou(Smyth 82), 12 Brown(Pratley 75), 29 Obiero 24 Sweeney. BBC Report. Video highlights. Extended highlights. Back to top on goal difference with Stevenage second after Doncaster beat Salford. Home to the monkey hangers Hartlepool next Saturday. Abrahams scored his first goal for Eastleigh. Anthony Papadopoulous scored the winner for Welling. James Sendles-White also plays for them. Rumours are still rife. Alex Gilbey of Charlton has apparently turned us down in favour of Lincoln whilst we are interested in 22 year-old QPR midfielder Stephen Duke-McKenna. He began his career at Everton and was brought to west London in 2019 after being released by Bolton. He made four first- team appearances for the R’s, all as a substitute, and spent the second half of last season on loan at Torquay United appearing 13 times scoring three times. Plus seven appearances on loan at Hemel Hempstead Town. Played 11 times for the Guyana national team. Ex player Charlie Lee has taken up the role of Youth Development Phase Lead Coach working mainly with the 12- 16’s but also be in working with the U18’s a couple of days a week. He replaces Alex Lawless who joined Luton. The U18’s went out of the Youth Alliance League Cup 0-3 at home to Plymouth. Team: Phillips, Kwatchey, Hajdini, Ogbebor, Ojo, Clements, Pegrum, Nallo, Avgoustidis, Scott, Francis. Subs: Holden, Matejko, Nioko, Samuel, Davies. Portsmouth defender Kieron Freeman is another linked to us but at 30 years-old I somehow doubt it. 27 August. Home to Hartlepool (4-2 Moncur pen, Kelman, Smyth, Sotiriou). Moncur put us in the lead in the fourth minute as Ke;man was deemed to have be fouled. Looked a bit harsh. Pool equalised 30’ later. On 38’ a ball from Archibald found Kelman and his first time shot found the net. 2-1. Archibald then found Smyth three minutes into the second half and he made it 3-1 at the second attempt after their goalie saved with his legs. On 69’ El Mizouni gave away a penalty after losing the ball in midfield. The this from the BBC “Substitute Sotiriou restored the two-goal cushion 16 minutes from time as Orient protected their unbeaten league record with their fifth victory, leaving Hartlepool still seeking their first win of the season.” Team: 22 Vigouroux, 32 Hunt, 2 James, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 18 Pratley, 15 El Mizouni, 14 Moncur, Kelman, 7 Smyth, 11 Archibald. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 6 Thompson, 4 Ogie, 10 Sotiriou(Archibald 70), 12 Brown(Moncur 76), 8 Clay(Pratley 76) 9 Smith(Smyth 85). BBC Report. Video highlights. Extended highlights. Still top, a point clear of Barrow as Stevenage lost at Salford. Away to Oxford in the Papa Johns Trophy on Tuesday then a home match against Tranmere. They were at home to Colchester today and won 2-0. 30 August. Away to Oxford, Papa Johns Trophy (5-0). Where we made 11 changes from the Saturday team League One Oxford made four. Goals came on a regular basis on 4. 48, 57 66 and 84.Team: Sargeant, Ogie, Wood, Thompson, Sweeney, Brown, Clay, Obiero, Sotiriou, Drinan 74`, Georgiou, Smith. Subs: Drinan(Sotiriou 74), James Wood (67`), El Mizouni(Clay 66), Kelman, Smyth. Vigouroux, 5 Happe. With the transfer deadline approaching (1 Sept) there were a flurry of rumours. Charlton’s Alex Gilbey opted to join Stevenage. Chelsea striker Jayden Wareham was linked as was Plymouth Argyle striker Luke Jephcott. But as it turned out only Stephen Duke-McKenna (see previous rumours) and Wareham signed, both on year-long loans. Harry Smith joined Exeter also on a year-loan. Young keeper Noah Phillips joined Bishop's Stortford on a one month work experience loan, as cover for usual Blues keeper Jack Giddens. Josh Koroma joined Portsmouth on loan. 3 September. Home to Tranmere (2-0 Own goal, Smyth). Drinan was on the bench, Archibald and Thompson injured. Wellens was quick to praise Happe and Beckles for their performance. On 36’ Smyth crossed the ball which fell awkwardly for a defender and own goal was the result. This was a struggle from the first minute but Smyth put the game beyond doubt as he smashed the ball into the net from the right wing. Drinan made an impact when he came on, something that Sotiriou had failed to do. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 32 Hunt, 2 James, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 18 Pratley, 15 El Mizouni, 14 Moncur, Kelman, 20 Sotiriou, 10 Sotiriou, 7 Smyth. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 16 Drinan(Sotiriou 52), 4 Ogie, 12 Brown(Pratley 73), 8 Clay(Moncur 74), 13 Wareham, 40 Duke-McKenna(Kelman 90+3). BBC Report. Video highlights. Extended highlights. Still top, three points clear of Stevenage. Away at Wimbledon next Saturday. The U18'S beat Brentford 3-2 in their first league match of the season thanks to a late goal from Francis. Team: Holden, Kwatchey, St Louis, Ojo, Ogbebor, Nallo, Clements, Pegrum, Davies, Obiero, Avgoustidis. Subs: Sworder, Saponara, Welch, Campbell-Jones, Francis. Ex O’s: Palmer scored two for Wrexham. Johnson missed a penalty. Kororma got an assist after coming on from the bench. Brophy and Smith did not play. 8 September. The death was announced of Queen Elisabeth II. She was 96 and reigned 70 years, the UK’s longest serving monarch. As a mark of respect all football matches were cancelled for the weekend. Wellens won the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month award after six wins and a draw. The Orient Outlook Podcast - Richie Wellens Interview can be heard here. 13 September. Away to bottom of the table Rochdale (0-1 Moncur). Sweeney replacing Hunt was the only change in the side. It took 35 minutes to score what would be the only goal of the match when Monocur took a pass from Sweeney . His shot found the far back of the net. Sotiriou had a snap shot well saved but Rochdale posed no threat until in a moment of madness three minutes in added time. Happe chose not to punt the ball into the next street but to kick it over his head back into play. Beckles took the header but it fell short of Vigouroux who clattering into the attacker. Luckily he saved the resulting penalty. Wellens said of the incident "Dan [Happe] and Becks [Omar Beckles] were outstanding and one should put it in row Z and Becks should probably head it wide, but he's probably heard a shout that he should go back to Vigs.” Supporters were not enamoured with Sweeney despite his assist. Too may stray passes was the main moan. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 24 Sweeney, 2 James, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 18 Pratley, 15 El Mizouni, 14 Moncur, Kelman, 20 Sotiriou, 10 Sotiriou, 7 Smyth. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 16 Drinan(Sotiriou 60), 4 Ogie, 12 Brown(Pratley 69), 8 Clay(Smyth 77), 11 Archibald(Kelman 70), 40 Duke-McKenna. BBC Report. Video highlights. A closer look from a Rochdale point of view. Still top, still three points clear of Stevenage. Home the Walsall next. 17 September. Home to Walsall (1-0 Beckles). The team was unchanged. Sotiriou had a great chance pass to the unmarked Kelman to score but failed miserably. Goalless at half time it took another 13 minutes before a return pass from James found Moncur. He cross eventually found Beckles to force the ball over the line. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 24 Sweeney, 2 James, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 18 Pratley, 15 El Mizouni, 14 Moncur, 23 Kelman, 10 Sotiriou, 7 Smyth. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 16 Drinan(Sotiriou 60), 4 Ogie(Happe), 12 Brown(Pratley 76), 8 Clay, 11 Archibald((Smyth 76), 40 Duke-McKenna. BBC Report. Video highlights. A closer look. Still top four points clear of Barrow after Stevenage lost to Bradford. Away to Barrow next. The U18’s lost 2-1 at MK Dons despite being a goal up at half time. Team Holden, St Louis, Kwatchey, Saponara, Ogbabor, Nallo, Clements, Obiero, Pegrum, Tanga, Avgoustidis. Subs: Phillips of Eastman after a second poor foul the first on the last on Smyth, Nioki, Davies, Koroma, Chinedu. Goal scorer Avgoustidis. For those interested in the womans football this is the link to the results and tables. 20 September. Home to Sutton EFL Papa Johns Trophy (3-1 Wareham 2, James). Two quick goals from Wareham in the first ten minutes put paid to Sutton though they got one back early on thanks to Ogie who chested the ball down for the striker. James put the game beyond doubt from a free kick following the sending off of their Eastmond following a second bookable foul. The first on Sweeney and the second on Smyth. He only came on at half time. Archibald and Clay hit the woodwork. Team: S Sargeant, S Duke-McKenna(sub I El Mizouni 22), J Sweeney, S Ogie, D Pratley(sub T James H-T), J Brown, J Wareham, C Clay, A Drinan(sub C Kelman 70), R Sotiriou(sub P Smyth 70), T Archibald. Subs n/u R Byrne, C Wood, Z Obiero. Booked: Sotiriou, James his fifth of the season, Sargeant. Video highlights. 24 September. Away to Barrow (0-2 Smyth, El Mizouni). The Orient Express rolls on. Not much experience on the back line. Wellens seems reluctant to share injuries with us but said this in the post match statement “Rob Hunt has a chance for the Newport game, Adam Thompson is in and out at the moment; we have to make sure he is right before he can train again. Ant Georgiou (hamstring) will be another four weeks, and Duke-McKenna will likely be two to three weeks, which isn’t as bad as we initially thought”. With James injured or suspended after five bookings, Brown took his place with Sweeney on the other side. Archibald replaced Sotiriou. Barrow made all the running for the first 20’ but on 36’ Smyth gave us the lead. Clay came on ten minutes after half time and I thought we would go back on defence but El Mizouni scored from outside the box 15’ before full time. Wellens said later that he took Pratley off as the re had booked him an seemed to want a reason to send him off. Archibald picked up his fourth booking of the season after an altercation with Kay who got sent off on 87’. Team: 22 Vigouroux, 24 Sweeney, 12 Brown, 19 Beckles, 5 Happe, 18 Pratley, 15 El Mizouni, 14 Moncur, 23 Kelman, 7 Smyth, 11 Archibald. Subs: 1 Sargeant, 16 Drinan(Kelman 67), 4 Ogie, 8 Clay(Pratley 55), 20 Sotiriou(Smyth 73), 29 Obiero, 13 Wareham. BBC Report. Video highlights. A closer look. Still top five points clear of Northampton who beat Stockport. Home to Newport next Saturday. The woman’s team won. The link to their league is here. The U18’s won 0-1 at Cambridge thanks to a first half goal from Sahid Nallo. Team: Sworder, Kwatchey, Saponara, Ogbebor, Nallo, Welch, Clements, Pegrum, Avgoustidis, Tanga, Omotosho. Subs: Koroma, Holden, Hajdini, Campbell-Jones, Nioki. Youngters Jephte Tanga, Matt Young and Rhys Byrne returned from their loan spells. Interesting interview with Martin Ling and later with with Joe Mayo who was at Walsall when John Smith was there. Described him as “a great guy”. 1 October. Home to Newport County (1-2 Drinan). Two silly mistakes cost us this game. The writing was on the wall early on when a poor pass from James was intercepted. The resulting cross fell between Happe and Sweeney but the striker shot wide. Happe had still failed to the learn to put the ball into row Z when under pressure and gave away a sloppy corner. The cross fell between James and Pratley and Vigouroux was nowhere near it. Four minutes Vigouroux’s poor first touch from a Beckles back pass lead to a penalty. He saved the last two penalties he gave away, not this time. Wellens took off Sweeney so that Archibald could operate as wing back but two down was a mountain to climb despite 70% of the game and 20 shots at goal and a Drinan tap in when Previous page. Next page.

Wareham

DUKE-McKENNA