Previous page. Next page. Emmanuel Harvest signed his first profession (year-long) contract after suffering a heart problem which meant the club extended his time in the academy by a year. The new signings rumours were in full swing. Northern Irishman Glentoran winger Conor McMenamin being the latest. 21 June. The first signing of the summer was Max Sanders a 24 year-old centre midfielder from Lincoln on a two-year deal. Max started his career at Brighton before he was loaned to Wimbledon then joined the Imps in February 2021 for an undisclosed fee. His adult career sees 60 starts with a further 40 from the bench scoring three goals. In the EFL Trophy we were drawn with Gillingham, Portsmouth and one other which will be from a Premier League U21 team. Later announced as Fulham. 22 June. In the new fixture list we had three games out of the first four away from home. And we were away to Plymouth in the Carabao cup. Beckles signed a new two-year contract. As well as the Vigouroux rumour the new one was Smyth was interesting QPR. Some forum members thought that we could do better by having a player for the whole of two seasons rather than one starting 51 with another 17 from the bench. In an interview for BBC Radio London Wellens stated that we did not have a goalkeeper in the building as Vigouroux had gone to Burnley. He hinted that there would be another player signing a new contract the following day. This turned out to be Byrne on a two-year deal and Sodje on a one-year contract. 27 June. The departure of Vigouroux was officially announced. Happe signed a one-year extension with a years option. Wellens stated that the signing of a goalkeeper (on loan?) was all but complete. He would complete another week with his parent club before joining us. Rumoured to be Alex Bass at Sunderland. 28 June. Smyth joined QPR. Harry McKirdy at Hibs was the next rumoured loan. He may be the player mentioned by Wellens on Twitter to replace Smyth’s ten goals. The 26 year-old started life at Aston Villa before being loaned to Stevenage, Crewe and Newport before signing for Carlisle. He left them in 2020 and joined Swindon. Last September he joined Hibs. The right winger/centre forward has not done well for Hibs according to Transfrmkt being in the Squad: 22, Starting eleven: 5, Substituted in: 13, On the bench: 4, Suspended: 0, Injured: 2 whilst failing to score a goal. He left Swindon having racked up 22 goals in 37(3) apps with 8(1) in other matches scoring four goals. His year at Port Vale was also largely anonymous starting just two league games without scoring. Better at Carlisle: 26(12) 11 goals. Seems to be some doubt as to his temperament? Goals for Swindon. Or here. 29 June. Rumours continued. Frankie Kent a centre back at Peterborough, Rekeen Harper, midfielder from Ipswich but it was 26 year-old Dan Agyei from Crewe who signed a two year contract. This is my comment back in April after the Crewe game “Dan Agyei was their best player and the winger is out of contract in the summer.” I don’t have a trumpet but if I had……. Last season he made a total of 52 appearances scoring 16 goals. He cost Crewe a fee when signed in January 2022 from Oxford. Starting as a youth player for Wimbledon he was signed by Burnley in 2015 without making an appearance for the Dons. He only made three substitute apps for Burnley before being loaned to Coventry 15(4) scoring five goals. He was loaned to Walsall in 2017 (9(12) 5 goals) and Blackpool in 2018 (1(8) zero goals). Oxford signed him in 2019 on a free and he scored 11 goals from 26(67) in two and a half seasons. Conor McMenamin was still a name doing the rumour rounds but with a £100k price tag would seem a gamble. 7pm. A surprise signing that was on nobody’s radar. Ethan Galbraith a 22 year-old central midfielder from Manchester United. He spent last season on loan at Salford making 33(5) apps scoring four goals and racking up 12 yellow cards. He met Wellens whilst on loan at Doncaster in 2021-2022 making 28(7) appearances scoring a single goal but only nine yellow cards this season. The Northern Irishman signed a two-year contract. Ex O’s on the move included Harry Smith to Sutton, Danny Johnson to Walsall and Ousseynou Cissé to Ebbsfleet. Andy Whing: Solihull Moors name ex-Coventry and Brighton defender as boss. Whing resigned as Banbury United boss in May. Woking defender Dan Moss has extended his contract until the summer of 2025. 30 June. Sweeney signed a two-year contract. Craig Clay joined Harry Smith at Sutton. No new rumours. July 5. The news that everyone, it appears, hoped for, El Mizouni returned for another year-long loan despite alleged interest from Derby and Wycombe. From the club website “The Tunisian was ranked in the top ten for statistics in League Two last year for tackles won (75) and interceptions (74), as well as ranking highest for the O's in regard to successful passes per 90 (48.3) and had the highest average FotMob rating (7.36). El Mizouni was also awarded both Player's Player and Manager's Player of the Season at the Supporters Club Starman awards, and was named in the EFL League Two team of the season. The midfielder expressed his joy in returning to Brisbane Road stating, "Last season was an unbelievable season. I know the Gaffer and I know the players, it was an easy decision for me to come back. "I trust the Gaffer and he trusts me, he is a big part of why I came back here. "The success we had last season makes us more hungry this year. 6 July. We signed a goalkeeper but not the one we were expecting. Sam Howes was signed on a two- year deal from Wealdstone for an undisclosed fee. The 25 year-old left West Ham to gain experience. and was named Young Hammer of the Year in 2014. After a spell in the Watford academy, Howes joined Woking, before further spells with Dorking Wanderers and Horsham. Rumours on the loan goalkeeper have increased: Jamie Cumming is the latest favourite followed by Sol Brynn. Alex Bass seems to have dropped out of the reckoning. One player we won’t be signing is McKirdy as he had a medical, either for us or Colchester, which revealed a problem that needs surgery meaning he would be out of action for four months. Joe Pigott and Sam Noombe join the rumours. Koroma signed a further two- year contract for Huddlesfield. Wilkinson left Walsall for Motherwell. Seven 1st year scholars were inducted: Hayden Bullas, Devine Samuel, Freddie Norman, Reece Jhuti, Daniel Carter, Anduan Hajdini, Abdirahman Mahamud. Also in attendance as were our 2nd-year scholars: Makai Welch, Lenny Holden, Marley St Louis, Reon Smith Kouassi, David Agyemang, Ashley Koroma, Thomas Avgoustidis and Ivan Imasuen. Friendlies (I will add results and weave them into other news) 7th July – 7.45pm (A) – Billericay Town – New Lodge. 0-0. A different team in each half. Two trialists in the first and three in the second though whether they were five different trialists is unknown. Speculation was that one was Charlie Wellens, one Josep Yarney and a third Bobby Duncan. Moncur and Archibald did not play. El Mizouni and Happe were rested as it was an artificial surface whilst Thompson was injured and may be out four months. Happe was having specialist training. 10 July. Goalkeeper Sol Brynn has joined on a season-long loan. 22 year-old Sol spent last term on loan at Swindon Town. Goalkeeping Coach Simon Royce said "Sol's stats were at the top end of the division for goalkeepers, and he was always our number one target." Looking at the picture left I would suggest he is already in Spain as the background does not look like Middlesbrough. Or Leyton! Unless of course he took the shirt with him to Portugal to train with Middlesbrough. 11th July. A match at Brentwood ended us the winners. We put out a youth team. 14th July – 11am CEST / 10am BST (N) – Charlton Athletic –originally planned for Marbella Football Centre Spain. Played over two hours with 30 minute halves was drawn 1-1 with a Drinan goal. 18 July. Ogie was sold to Gillingham for an undisclosed fee. In a Wellens interview some time back he called him out over the way he was training. Supporters were, in the main, dismayed he was leaving though he was wont to the odd mistake. I think his sending off at the end of 2021/2022 which RW described as avoidable may also gone against him. Sam Sargeant joined Waterford. Jamie Jones left Wigan after six years and got a one-year contract with Middlesbrough. Dan Kemp was loaned to Swindon. Another player we won’t be getting on loan is Harvey Blair as he suffered a meniscus tear or needed heart surgery depending on your source. Goalie Sam Sargeant joined Waterford. 19th July – 7.45pm – Chelmsford City (A) – originally planned for the Melbourne Community Stadium was moved to Coggeshall Town. Lost 2-0. Howes, Hunt, Brown, Light, Sodje, Pratley, Sanders, Archibald, Moncur, Obiero, Trialist. Subs: Byrne, Uko, St Louis, Agyemang, Avgoustidis, Imasuen, Pegrum. 19th July – 7.45pm – Ebbsfleet United (A) – The Kuflink Stadium. Lost 3-2 (Sotiriou, Tanga). Brynn, James, Beckles, Happe, Sweeney, Galbraith, El Mizouni, Agyei, Sotiriou, Trialist, Drinan. Subs: Phillips, Bullas, Makal, Tanga, Koroma, Kwatchey. 21 July. We signed 29 year-old Joe Pigott on a free from Ipswich. The six foot two striker started his career at Charlton back in 2012 but only made 2(12) in his four years there scoring a single goal but he was loaned out to Gillingham, Newport, Southend x2, and Luton before signing for Cambridge in 2016. Making 9(8) and scoring a single goal in his year there but again was loaned out. He spent four months at Maidstone scoring six goals in his 16(1) apps making Maidstone sign him in 2017. After scoring 11 goals in 30 apps Wimbledon signed him in January 2018. In three and a half years there he made 130(27) scoring 54 goals. In July 2021 he signed a three year contract with Ipswich scoring three goals in his first five matches. Then he went out of favour starting only a total of 14(15) with just three goals. Losing his father during this time cannot have helped. He was loaned to Portsmouth starting 16(28) with seven goals. He signed a two-year contract. Goals. Goal for Newport. Ten for the Dons. 22 July. A behind closed doors match was arranged against Southampton. We won 0-4 with goals from Archibald with a cross that went all the way in. Pegrum, Drinan and James. 24 July. The death of Trevor Francis, the first £1m player, at the age of 69 and on the same day that of 49 year-old Chris Bart-Williams in the USA. This from club historian Davis Watson: “One of many players to come through the club’s academy, Bart-Williams made his début for Orient aged just 16, being substituted on for winger Greg Berry in 2-2 draw at Grimsby Town in October 1990. Manager Frank Clark handed him his first start just a few months later at home to Tranmere Rovers. Bart-Williams marked the occasion with a goal in an impressive 4-0 victory. After just twelve months in the O’s first team, Bart-Williams had made forty appearances, scoring two goals. Trevor Francis decided to sign the seventeen-year-old, paying Orient an impressive £275,000 fee.” 25th July – 7.45pm – Dagenham & Redbridge – Chigwell Construction Stadium. Ended in 1-1 with Moncur equalising. Starting line-up: Brynn, James, Beckles, Happe, Hunt, Pratley, Galbraith, Agyel, Moncur, Archibald, Pigott. Those that also played were: Howes, Sodje, Sweeney, Brown, Pegrum, Harvest, Tanga, Oberio, Drinan, Sotirou and a trilaist believed to be Josh Martin once of Norwich. He did quite well according to attending supporters and the Dagenham audio commentators. Scott Kashket joined Sutton after being released from Gillingham. Another player we would not be signing was Frankie Kent when he joined Hearts. 29th July – 3pm - Colchester United (A) - Jobserve Community Stadium. Lost 2-1 (Pegrum p) with Archibald sent off for two bookable offences in as many minutes. Wellens described the ref as inept making 90% of his decisions as wrong. He wasn’t complimentary about the yellow, dry pitch either. Team: Brynn, James, Beckles, Happe, Hunt, Pratley, El Mizouni, Agyel, Moncur, Sotirou Pigott. On the bench were: Howes, Sodje, Sweeney, Galbraith, Brown, Pegrum, Harvest, Tanga, Oberio, Drinan. Also in the post match interview Richie said that an offer to Josh Martin had been rescinded. 1st August – 7.45pm (A) – Bishop’s Stortford – ProKit UK Stadium. Team: Howes St. Louis, Imasuem, Sodje, Aguemang, Harvest, Nallo, Obirio Pegrum, Avgoustious. Subs: Philips, Koroma, Bullas, Hadjioni, Sameul, Oji. Ed Turns returned on a season long loan from Brighton. Ed joined Brighton as a 14-year-old, progressing through the academy before making his first team début in a 2-0 win over Swansea City in the League Cup in September 2021. 2 August. We signed 28 year-old Jordan Graham from Birmingham on a two year deal. His best season was for Gillingham 2020-2021 scoring 13 goals from 44 matches. He started his career at Aston Villa 2012-2013 but only ever played on loan as a substitute three times between them for Ipswich, Bradford and Wolves before signing for Wolves in January 2015. But in 4 ½ years he made just 14(3) apps scoring a single goal. They sent him out on loan to Oxford x2, Fulham x2, Ipswich and Gillingham and between them he made 25(13) apps scoring a single goal for Oxford. Gillingham signed him and he made a further 41(3) apps scoring 13 goals for them. Birmingham signed him on a free in June 2021 but he failed to score in 34(20) apps. Video. The Club have signed a new twenty-year lease in E10, ensuring that Brisbane Road will remain the home of the O's for the foreseeable future. Post match Wellens revealed that Agyei could be out five months and Drinan 8-12 weeks but hopefully ten. Both Graham and Turns were not up to match fitness. 5 August. Away to Charlton. Team: Brynn, Happe, Beckles, James, Sweeney, Hunt, Prately, El Mizouni, Sotiriou, Archibald, Pigott. Subs Howes, Turns, Brown, Moncur, Galbraith, Graham, Pegrum. Beckles and El Mizouni were booked in the first 15 minutes. On the stroke of half time we went a goal down. Happe and El Mizouni playing statues. That is how it stayed. Moncur came on for Pigott on 70’. Graham came on for James and Brown for Hunt on 81’ and a minute earlier Galbraith replaced Prately. On 90+2 Pegrum replaced Archibald. Video higlights. BBC report. Post match interview with Richie revealed they would bring in a striker on loan. This was rumoured to be Watford German Kwadwo Baah. Ten other teams failed to pick up a point. Top scorers were Barnsley who beat Port Vale 7-0. Ogie and Coleman were booked at Stockport but they did win. Smyth and Kelman played 45’for QPR as they went down 4-0 at Watford. Duke-McKenna replaced Smyth on 45’. New boys to the league Notts County and Wrexham took a hammering beaten 5-1 and 3-5 to Sutton and MK Dons. For Sutton Harry Smith got off the mark and Harry Beautyman also scored. They fielded five Ex O’s, Clay, Kashket and Angol being the others. Johnson scored for Walsall but they still lost. A change in the rules for time wasting was in force for the first matches of the season. That meant some went into nine minutes of extra time. 8 August. Away to Plymouth in the EFL Cup (2-0). Nine substitutes were allowed but with Sanders still injured and Turns not fit enough(?) we could only call on seven. Archibald, El Mizouni and Sweeney were on the bench replaced by Graham, Galbraith and Brown. Prately was rested. Two goals down by the 38’ put paid to a favourable result. But we were two nil up on bookings (Brown and Pigott). After five minutes of added time Archibald replaced Graham at the break. On 60’ Happe went off with an injury replaced by Sweeney. Seven minutes later Sotiriou was replaced by El Mizouni and Moncur by Pegrum. On 72’ Obiero replaced Pigott. On 85’ Sodje replaced Galbraith because of an injury. Team: Howes, Happe, Beckles, James, Brown, Hunt, Moncur, Graham, Sotiriou, Galbraith, Pigott. Subs Brynn, Sweeney, Obiero, Archibald, El Mizouni, Pegrum, Sodje. 12 August. Home to Portsmouth (0-4). Beckles nightmare + shambles = defeat. Injuries are mounting up. With Thompson, Drinan and Agyei out long term and Graham and Pigott not fully fit. Prately did not play as he was unwell at Plymouth and returned home. Galbraith got concussion at Plymouth and would be out for the next two matches. James pulled out during the warm up and Brynn injured his foot on Friday. Turns returned after a scan showed nothing. We only named six subs. The first goal just trickled into the net. The second there was no marking from Hunt and according to the BBC report Howe was hesitant. It did not improve after the break when Beckles put into his own net then gave away a penalty. Team: Howes, Happe, Beckles, Sweeney, Brown, Hunt, Moncur, Sotiriou, Archibald, El Mizouni, Pigott. Subs Byrne, Sanders(Moncur 69), Turns(Sweeney 69), Obiero, Pegrum(Pigott 69), Graham(Brown 78). Video highlights. Supporters were not happy blaming a variety of players in Howe, Sweeney though some made him man of the match, Hunt, Beckles, Moncur and Sotiriou. 14 August. We signed a 19-year-old from Watford but it wasn’t someone on anyone’s radar. Forward Shaq Forde joined on a year-long loan. His only adult experience is last season for York when he played 13(7) scoring 9 goals though he has appeared twice from the subs bench for the Hornets. He became a fans favourite at York City after his impressive performances, and became the club’s youngest ever player to score a hat trick in a 4-1 victory over Maidstone United last season. 15 August. Away to Wycombe Wanderers (3-2 Sotiriou 2). Four games now wins, goals against 10 goals for 2. We are one of three teams without a point. If it was not bad enough new-boy Ford picked up an injury in the warm up and did not play. We went a goal down on 15’ with poor marking from Archibald but he is not a defender. Sotiriou put us level with a marvellous volley from an Archibald pass from the left. Five minutes after half time it went belly up when Happe was sent off. It looked a bit soft. Pigott was sacrificed and replaced by Hunt. On 68’ they went back into the lead when Leahy crossed to the right hand post and Low put the ball into the net again. No marking from James. They went further ahead on 84’, no marking from Beckles, before Sotiriou scored again. Terry and Wellens were shown the red card after the match when they had words with the ref. Sanders did not feature in the match. Turns replaced Hunt. Team: Howes, Happe, Beckles, James, Turns, Brown, Moncur, Sotiriou, Archibald, El Mizouni, Pigott. Subs Byrne, Forde, Hunt(Pigott 54), Obiero, Galbraith(Brown 78), Pegrum, Graham(Moncur 74). Video highlights. BBC report. 5 GOALS 3 REDS! | Wycombe Wanderers v Leyton Orient extended highlights. Someone on a forum pointed out we failed to win any of our first six games when we were promoted in 88/89 tough we did draw three of them. Beckles ability in this division has been called into question with a poor backpass, own goal and a penalty offered as evidence. 19 August. Away to Blackpool (0-0). Someone worked out we had nine players injured/suspended which is why we could only name six subs. Nine shots on goal with two on target compared with 15 and five from the opposition plus just one corner compared to their eight. Penalty for a blatant puss in the back against Pigott not given. Team: Howes, Beckles, James, Turns, Brown, Moncur, Sotiriou, Galbraith, Archibald, El Mizouni, Pigott. Subs Byrne, Forde(James 77) Obiero, Sodje, Pegrum(Moncur 81), Graham(Pigott 64). Video highlights. BBC report. Not playing: long term were Drinan, Agyei and Thompson. Sanders and Prately off sick and the water at the training ground being checked. Hunt and Sweeney have concussion injuries. Brynn has a recurrence of an old foot injury. Happe suspended. Nine unavailable. Wellens talking about getting two players in and we have already broken into the January budget. Ethan Light joined Hendon on a 28-day loan. Dan Kemp scored twice for Swindon against Wrexham in a 5-5 draw. With Bonne joining Gillingham, Baah joined Burton on loan so another two forwards we won’t be signing. Former loanee Alex Mitchell joined Lincoln on loan. 26 August. Home to Cambridge (2-0 Forde, Archibald). Flawless. Wellens said afterwards that “we were brilliant”, opposition manger Bonner said “they were brilliant.” The two players that supporters were wondering whether they could hacket in this division Hunt and Beckles were dropped to the bench. Forde replaced Pigott and Graham came in for Moncur. Brynn returned as did Happe. We dominated from start to finish and ended with 68% of the play. Great play by Archibald on the right when his cross found Graham on the far post but his shot was blocked but he put the rebound across the goal mouth and Forte put it in the net. Archibald continued his good form when his shot from outside the box hit the crossbar. In the second half he did it again. Later a James pass found Archibald and he made it two nil, putting the ball past their keeper from 15 yards. Team: Brynn, James, Turns, Happe, Brown, Forde, Sotiriou, Galbraith, Archibald, El Mizouni, Graham. Subs Howes, Beckles, Pratley(Brown 87), Hunt, Obiero, Moncur(Graham 79), Pigott Forde 84). Extended highlights. BBC report. The youth team beat Brentford 2-1 but I could not find a reference to the match on the club website until Wednesday. Jerome Thomas and Avgoustidis put us two up at half time but the report did not include line ups. Crawley loaned Sonny Fish to Worthing. Ryan Allsop left Cardiff for Hull. Dane Scarlett was another forward we were linked with and he joined Ipswich on loan from Spurs. If we are to make any more signings we have another one day as I write. At 22.35 we signed Swansea defender 23 year-old Brandon Cooper on loan until January. A striker did not materialise. Martin Ling explained the decision was due to Thompson’s injury could be longer than expected. League and cup he has played 64(6) games 8(3) with Swansea and the rest on loan with Yeovil, Newport, Swindon and Forest Green. 4 September. Home To Stevenage (0-3). I missed this one and my brother said I missed nothing other than the beer in the clubroom. Wellens took the blame and had toyed all week about playing Beckles. Too many young players and not enough experience was his thought. Goals on 21’, 44’ and 79’ two from set pieces. No height in defence. 68% possession, no goals and only two shots on target. Galbraith wasted in defence, square peg, round hole. Team: Brynn, James, Turns, Happe, Brown, Forde, Sotiriou, Galbraith, Archibald, El Mizouni, Graham. Subs Howes, Beckles(Turns 53), Pratley(Brown 87), Hunt(Brown 59), Sanders(El Mizouni 74), Moncur(Graham 53), Pigott(Forde 59). BBC report. Video highlights. 5 September. Away to Gillingham EFL Trophy (2-1 og). The Gills fielded four ex Os in Morris, Ogie, Coleman and Bonne. We went into the break a goal up via a Moncur shot hitting Morris on the shoulder and into the net. Then it all went bellyup. Forde got sent off for Violent conduct on 62’ with Galbraith booked for time wasting a minute earlier. On 65’ Sanders got into an argument and he was booked. Four minutes later Cooper, already booked in the first half also got sent off for violent conduct. Terry also found his name into the refs book. Gillingham rained 12 shots with only four on target as opposed to our two neither of which were on target. They equalised through a penalty then Beckles put through his own net. Team: Brynn, Hunt, Pratley, Sanders, Cooper, Forde, Moncur, Galbraith, Beckles, Pegrum, Pigott. Subs Howes, Obiero, James(Pigott 69), Graham, Archibald(Moncur 69), El Mizouni(Hunt 75), Sotiriou(Pegrum 69). 9 September. Away to Exeter (1-2 Pigott, Sotiriou). The Grecians were top of the table. By all accounts we outplayed them. The had five shots while we had 19. Changes were made in the side with Hunt, Sanders, Forde, Galbraith and Pegrum taking a back seat. Beckles and Cooper both hit the bar. Three minutes after the break they went into the lead when a pass caught James knapping. It only lasted seven minutes when a cross from Graham found Pigott. He chested the ball down and volleyed it straight into the net. Five minutes into added time Sotiriou went forward and shot from 30 yards. The ball took one bounce before it hit the net. Only two games were played in our division and none in the two divisions above, such is the impact by foreign players on international duty. Two were missing from the Exeter line up. Team: Brynn, James, Pratley, Cooper, Moncur, Beckles, Archibald, El Mizouni, Sotiriou, Pigott, Graham. Subs Howes, Brown(Moncur 69), Hunt(Cooper 86), Sanders, Galbraith(Graham 86), Forde(Pigott 90+5), Sweeney. BBC report. Video highlights. Connor Wood joined Tranmere who promptly sacked their manager. Sutton took a 5-3 pounding from Swindon with Smith, Clay and Kemp finding the target. Paul McCallum is now playing for Eastleigh and they got thumped 0-6 at home to Gateshead. Southend are bottom of their division following ten point deduction over their tax debt. They face being wound up unless they find a new owner by 4 October. Reading were docked three points for failing to deposit wages. Another player that won’t be joining us is Sadlier who left Bolton for Wycombe. 16 September. Away to Peterborough (1-1 Beckles). They were two points and three places above us. United’s Peter Kioso got a booking in the sixth minute. Kyprianou put Posh into the lead on 21’ after Brynn had flapped at a cross but Beckles drew us level on 33’ after a Graham cross. An unchanged team though Drinan was on the bench and Turns was back on the bench following his call up to the Wales U21 team. Team: Brynn, James, Pratley, Cooper, Moncur, Beckles, Archibald, El Mizouni, Sotiriou, Pigott, Graham. Subs Howes, Brown(Pratley 75), Hunt(Archibald 63), Galbraith(Moncur 58), Forde, Drinan(Pigott 75). Turns. Happe and Sanders did not make the bench. BBC report. Video highlights. Craig Clay gave away a penalty as Sutton lost at Accrington to leave them at the bottom of their division. Brophy got a penalty for Cambridge but it did not stop them losing. Managers jobs in danger might be Mark Hughes at Bradford and Salford’s as they languish in 17th and 19th place. 19 September. Home to Fulham U21 EFL Trophy. 2-2 (Galbraith, El Mizuni). Won 5-4 on penalties. Archibald was the only survivor from Saturdays starting line up. Galbraith put us in the lead but Fulham scored two. Bad back pass from Sanders El Mizouni drew us level in the 95th minute. Wining via penalties meant our progression in the cup was still alive. Team: Howes, Hunt, Turns, Happe, Sweeney (Graham 66'), Brown (Moncur 66'), Sanders, Archibald (Pegrum 55'), Galbraith, Obiero (El Mizouni 60'), Drinan (Pigott 45'). Subs: Pigott, Moncur, El Mizouni, Beckles, Graham, Byrne, Pegrum. In the post match interview Wellens thought that bar Galbraith, none of the fringe players were up to speed. Our 12 yards specialists were George Moncur, Jordan Graham, Pigott, Galbraith and El Mizouni. Video highlights. Players released during the summer included Lyden, who joined Hereford. Matt Young is at Haringey whilst Georgiou is playing in Cyprus with Paraliminiou. News reached us that goalkeeper Mike Pinner died on May 2nd. Pinner, pictured left saving from Jimmy Greaves, spent his early career with Boston Grammar School, Wyberton Rangers, Notts County, Cambridge University, Hendon, Pegasus, Aston Villa and Arsenal. He later played for Sheffield Wednesday, Corinthian-Casuals, Queens Park Rangers, Manchester United, Chelsea, Hendon, Swansea City and Lisburn Distillery. Pinner combined his amateur playing career with his day job as a lawyer, and he later became a property developer, living in London after retiring. He played 77 times between 1962–1965. 22 September. Home to Shrewsbury (1-0 Sotiriou). Slow. That is how Wellens described our play going towards goal. The team was the same as last Saturday;s. Town were quick of the block forcing three corners in quick succession. A smart pass by El Mizouni caught their defence knappng and Sotiriou’s left foot shot found the roof of the net for the only goal of the match. Team: Brynn, James, Pratley, Cooper, Moncur, Beckles, Archibald, El Mizouni, Sotiriou, Pigott, Graham. Subs Howes, Brown(Pratley 56), Hunt(Archibald 63), Galbraith(Sotiriou 78), Forde(Moncur 62), Drinan(Pigott 62), Happe(Archibald 78). BBC report. Video highlights. A closer look. Ex player Daryl McMahon was named as set piece coach. He as last employed as manager at Dagenham. 30 September. Away at Fleetwood (1-0). They were bottom but one and in the first 11 minutes we had six shot and forced a corner. By half time we had 59% of the play with 11 shots of which only three were on target. We then knew hat was to transpire. There was no change to the line up or the bench but by minute 53 Richie had seen enough and shunted on Brown, Galbraith and Drinan, yanking Prately, Moncur and Pigott. Three minutes later they got the only goal of the game. The forums were calling for Galbraith to replace Moncur but this won’t happen in the next match as he was sent off along with their Johnston in the ninth minute of added time. Three other players were booked and both Sotiriou and Archibald are one way from suspension. Dangerous as if their replacement does well they may not get back into the squad let alone the team. In a pre match interview Moncur thought he needed to get his balance between defence and attack. Team: Brynn, James, Pratley, Cooper, Moncur, Beckles, Archibald, El Mizouni, Sotiriou, Pigott, Graham. Subs Howes, Brown(Pratley 53), Hunt, Galbraith(Moncur 53), Forde(El Mizouni 63), Drinan(Pigott 53), Happe(Beckles 60). BBC report. Video highlights. Expect changes for the Tuesday night visit of Lincoln. Charlie Pegrum was sent on a two-month loan to Tonbridge Angles whilst Sahid Nallo and Marley St. Louis when on intial one- month loans to Erith and Belvedere. Sonny Fish terminated his contract at Worthing on 29 September, and he immediately moved on loan to Tonbridge Angels. Scott Wagstaff also plays for Tonbridge. Tanga scored his first goal for Welling. 3 October. Home to Lincoln. As expected there were team changes. Back came Happe to replace the injured Beckles. Out went James, Pratley, Moncur and Graham. In came Sanders, Turns, Hunt and Brown. Forde had a infected knee wound. Sanders and Happe were impressive and I kept a close eye on Pigott as some forum members were negative about him. I saw nothing to question his ability. His passing and work rate were beyond criticism. Cooper on the other hand had four passes out of five finding the opposition in quick succession. Nowhere near finding a red shirt. Pigott put us into the lead ten minutes in following a daisy cutter pass from Pigott to tap in. Can you have daisy cutter passes on a plastic based pitch? Ten minutes before time supporters appeared on the pitch in the east stand and then from the north stand. Wellens shepherded them off possibly believing them to be part of some sort of protest. Then I spied what I took to be a medic with a large bag making his way along the north terrace. The ref attempted to restart the match but it appeared that a supporter had been taken ill with a heart attack and from my view directly opposite in the west stand I could clearly see that the supporter had be taken to the side of the pitch and CPR was being administered. The game was abandoned at 10.25. Sadly supporter Derek Reynolds (pictured) did not survive. He was 74. RIP Derek. 7 October. Home to Reading (2-1 (Brown, Moncur). A minutes applause at the start of the match and another on 84 minutes was given to remember our fallen colleague. No changes were made to the side. I thought Galbraith’s suspension was only one match but he did not feature. Pigott rattled the bar before Brown struck a fine shot into the net. Sanders went off injured with what looked like a hamstring. An amount of dithering in defence let Reading back ten minutes before the break. Some blamed Turns, Others Archibald. Moncur found the net after a bit of a scramble on 90’ to seal the points. Sotiriou got booked for the fifth time this season and due a suspension. Team: Brynn, Hunt, Happe. Turns, Brown, Cooper, Archibald, El Mizouni, Sanders, Sotiriou, Pigott. Subs Howes, Pratley(Moncur 90+2), James(Happe 68), Moncur(Sanders 30), Drinan(Pigott 67), Sweeney, Graham(Hunt 68). BBC report. Video highlights. Away to Carlisle next Saturday. Could lose at least Turns on international duty. Seven postponed from the our division already. Five survive. No matches are being played in the divisions above us. On Wednesday and Thursday three managers lost their jobs. How did their teams fare? Gillingham sacked Harris despite being just four points from the top. They beat MK Dons with Bonne scoring one. Hughes was dismissed at Bradford and they beat Swindon. Xisco Munoz lost his job at Sheffield Wednesday and they drew. Southend have new owners. Whether they move from Roots Hall is unknown as it seemed at one stage to be a stumbling block in the take over bid. Today’s win took them out of the relegation zone but they could only name four subs. Smith scored two for Sutton to get them off the bottom of the table. Clay started with Beautyman and Angol late playing subs. 14 October. Away to Carlisle (0-1 Sotiriou). Only change to the team was Galbraith replaced the injured (hamstring) Sanders. Forde returned to the bench replacing Prately there. As it happened: 8’ Happe had a header saved and El Mizouni hit the bar from a corner. 9’ Sotiriou’s header saved. 21’. Sotiroiu scored from a through ball from Pigott. 38’ Brown was booked after a foul. 40’ another through ball from Pigott to Sotirou was saved. 45+1 Pigott’s shot is blocked. 45+6 A headed pass from Pigott found El Mizouni but he shot high and wide. There were only four matches in our division due to international call-ups but Blackpool and us were the only scorers. 51’ Game stopped due to an injury to Cooper. 56’ An assist from Cooper found El Mizouni’s header was too high. 58’ Drinan replaces Soririou. 63’ an assist from Pigott finds El Mizouni but he missed. 75’ Turns booked for a foul and immediately replaced by James. 77’ a shot from Galbraith is saved. 80’ Shaq Forde replaces Joe Pigott. 81’ Jordan Graham replaces Rob Hunt. 90+3’ El Mizouni booked. Team: Brynn, Hunt, Happe. Turns, Brown, Cooper, Archibald, El Mizouni, Galbraith, Sotiriou, Pigott. Subs Howes, Forde(Pigott 80), James(Turns 75), Moncur(), Drinan(Sotiriou 58), Sweeney, Graham(Hunt 81). BBC report. Video highlights. Next day we drew a home tie with Carlisle in the FA Cup. Winner gets £40,000. EFL decreed the Lincoln game be replayed. Only took them two weeks to make that decision. In the post Barnsley interview Wellens stated that both teams had been approached by the EFL last week regarding the Lincoln match. We wanted the result to stand in respect to our fallen colleague. Lincoln wanted it replayed. 21 October. Home to Barnsley (1-1 Pigott pen.). Ironic. Third placed Tykes coach caught fire two weeks back and lost their third kit and players boots. They replaced the boots but not the shirts so the EFL asked if we would play in white, which we did. One change to the line-up, Graham for Turns. Brynn redeemed himself when he dropped the ball by palming away the resulting shot. We went into the lead thanks to a hand ball penalty by the on loan McCart on 27’. Galbraith had a shot saved but there were too many players afraid to shoot at goal. Another wonder shot gave them a point and denied us a seventh place. Their Cosgrove was booked in the 89th minute for a foul and two minutes later was again shown the yellow card for dissent, resulting in his dismissal. Team: Brynn, Hunt, Happe, Brown, Cooper, Archibald, El Mizouni, Graham, Galbraith, Sotiriou, Pigott. Subs Howes, Forde(Galbraith 88), James, Moncur(Sotiriou 89), Drinan(Pigott 68), Sweeney. BBC report. Video highlights. Later that day the death was announced of one of the greatest players we have ever produced, that of Bobby Charlton. He was 86 and played for England Youth, Schoolboys and U23’s before playing 106 times for his country scoring 49 goals. For Manchester United he played 606 times scoring 199 goals. He also scored eight goals for Preston in 38 appearances before becoming their manager in 1973. A real sportsman and epitomised the English Gentleman. RIP. Ex O’s in the news. For managerless Lincoln Mitchell scored his first league goal. Smith got one for Sutton but they still lost and are still bottom. Second from bottom Colchester sacked their manager after losing at home to Harrogate. McCallum scored another two at Eastleigh making it nine in six matches. Southend celebrated their sale by beating third placed Solhull Moors 5-0 with Charlton Athletic loanee Daniel Kanu marking his home début for Southend United with a four-goal salvo. 24 October. Away to Northampton (2-2 Hunt, Forde). They were 19th. Turns returned as did Drinan replacing Archibald and Pigott. Drinan would not be most supporters choice and to be honest the choice was baffling. Wellens said later it was because of playing three games a week. It started well with Hunt putting us in the lead on 14’ from a shot just inside the area. It stayed that way until half time. At one stage we had 58% of the play. In a three minute spell after the resumption we went 2-1 down. First took a huge deflection and the second was a poor challenge by Graham which gave away a penalty. Wingers should stick to the wing and not play defender. A red card six minutes later saw the Cobblers down to ten men. We had 19 shots on goal and one found the back of the net six minutes into added time. Graham’s cross was met by Forde for his second goal for the club. Turns was booked and misses the next match. Wellens blamed the decision making [in all area. Team: Brynn, Hunt, Happe. Turns, Brown, Cooper, Drinan, El Mizouni, Graham, Galbraith, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Archibald(Hunt 64), Forde(Drinan 73), James(Happe 73), Moncur, Pigott(El Mizouni 66), Sweeney. BBC report. Video highlights. 28 October. Away to Burton Albion (0-0). Hunt was ruled out and replaced by James. The suspended Turns by Archibald. After 13’ Graham was stretchered off with a suspected ACL injury which would effectively end his season. Moncur replaced him before being replaced himself 53’ later by Forde. Prately was back on the bench and replaced Brown on 79’. Sotiriou was well placed to win us the match with only the keeper to beat but his touch, as quoted by a supporter was that of an elephant or another saying he couldn’t trap a bag of cement. Galbraith had a shot well saved. Brown was booked for the fifth time and will miss next weeks FA Cup match. Prately, Turns or Sanders could replace him. Archibald is on four bookings as is Sotiriou and El Mizouni, Beckles on three as it Galbraith. Only six subs named. Team: Brynn, James, Happe. Brown, Cooper, Archibald, El Mizouni, Pigott, Graham, Galbraith, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Drinan, Forde(Moncur 66), Prately(Brown 79, Moncur(Graham 13), Sweeney. BBC report. Video highlights. Ex O’s on target were Bowery for Mansfield, Beatyman for Sutton and Palmer for Wrexham. Two managers left their club at the end of the day. Grimsby’s and Ainsworth at QPR. Next day another two, that of Cardiff and Bristol City. ACADEMY FA YOUTH CUP O’ win 2-1 V AFC SUDBURY. No match report but here are the highlights. 4 November. Home to Carlisle FA Cup (3-0 Pigott p, Drinan, Sotiriou). We went into the lead on 11’ with a penalty scored by Pigott after a high challenge. Carlisle lost the services of Guy on 20’ who was stretchered off following a tussle with Archibald. Pigott missed a great chance to make it two but shot wide. Forde got himself needlessly booked. If forwards are to tackle they need to do so in their own half and then just make a nuisance of themselves. Drinan replaced him at half time. Poor marking on the far post lead to the equaliser on 50’ but 15’ later Drinan put us back in the lead following a fine cross from James. Sotiriou pounced on poor defending to put us 3-1 up driving the ball between Holy's legs one minute into added time. Hunt and Sanders were still injured, Forde replaced Sotiriou, Turns returned. El Mozouni was booked for the fifth time but can still play in the league. Team: Brynn, James, Turns, Happe. Brown, Cooper, Archibald, El Mizouni, Pigott, Forde, Galbraith, . Subs Howes, Drinan(Forde 42), Sotiriou(Pigott 77), Pegrum, Prately(El Mizouni 90+2), Moncur(Galbraith 77), Sweeney(Cooper 63). BBC report and video highlights. Away to Chesterfield in the next round. Home next Saturday to Oxford. Kemp scored two for Swindon but they went 4-7 down to non league Aldershot. Dalby scored for Wrexham. Kyrell Lisbie, son of ex- Charlton player Kevin, was involved as his cross is turned in for an own goal by defender for Cray Valley PM against Charlton to set up a nice pay day in the replay. Atangana scored for Eastleigh as did Marquis for Bristol Rovers whilst Smith scored two for Sutton. There was a report of the U18’s match away at Luton but no line-ups. They lost 1-0. 7 November. Home to Portsmouth EFL Trophy (1-2 Pigott). Out of the cup. Despite being down to 10 men after 20’ we failed to capitalise. This was the chance for any player on the periphery of a starting spot to step up to the plate. They spurned that chance. Team:Howes, James, Beckles, Turns (Galbraith 45'), Sweeney, Pratley, Brown (Happe 69'), Archibald (Pigott 45'), Moncur, Sotiriou (Pegrum 69'), Drinan. Subs: Brynn, Happe, Pigott, Galbraith, Pegrum, Welch, Mohamud. Match highlights. 11 November. Home to Oxford (2-3 O/G, Sotiriou). Brynn kicks away a point. I missed this one but my brother tells me it was good to watch. Bar the result. We were doing well for 32’ but Cooper decided on a back pass under no pressure rather than a forward pass and Brynn’s kick went directly to one of their players for the goal. We were three nil down by 47’. Fighting back we got an own goal after an excellent cross by James. Sotiriou smashed home a second but we couldn’t find a third on the 26’ left though Happe hit a post. Wellens got booked after asking why there were only five minutes of added time. Apparently they allow a minute for every substitution, there were seven that half and another minute for every goal of which there were four. Time wasting by the keeper when unpunished. I think Richie had a point. Team: Brynn, James, Turns, Happe. Brown, Cooper, Archibald, El Mizouni, Pigott, Drinan, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Hunt, Prately(Brown 71), Moncur(Galbraith 77), Sanders(El Mizouni 84) Forde(Drinan 83), Galbraith(Turns 71. BBC report. Video highlights. Supporters view was that Archibald is no wing back and his time would be better spent covering for the injured Graham so we have at least one winger. Galbraith was awful. The match at Port Vale was postponed due to international call-ups. 21 November. Home to Lincoln (0-1). Supporters were unanimous in their opinion: Negative, boring football. The players did not fare well in the ratings which according to one boarder were: Brynn average, Cooper average, Happe Dog 5hit, Tom James OK, Hunt forgot he was playing, Pratley to old, El Mizouni worked & Ran, Sweeney poor, Sotoriou 5hit, Pigott 5hit, Drinan 5hit, Galbraith other than the shot, why is he here ? Turns stinks, Sanders average, Forde if he had any sense he'd be driving back to Watford. I didn’t rate El Mizouni at all and other supporters thought he was our best player which indicates what I thought of the others. Archibald was injured as was Brown so we were without any width. Team: Brynn, James, Hunt, Happe. Cooper, Prately, El Mizouni, Pigott, Drinan, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Turns(Sweeney 74), Moncur, Pegrum, Sanders(Pigott 64) Forde(Drinan 81), Galbraith(Pratley). BBC report. Video highlights. 25 November. Home to Wigan (1-1 Forde). Despite having three times the amount of shots and three time the amount on target than Wigan it was still a draw. Back came Archibald, Turns, Forde and Brown with Hunt, Prately and Drinan demoted to the bench. No sign of Sanders. Brynn gave away a penalty in the second minute but Humprhreys hit the post. He made amends scoring in the first minute in added time but we were already a goal up when Sotiriou’s pass found Forde. PA Media for the BBC described it as a “a sublime strike“. The good news was that Agyei returned. We had five players booked which leaves Archibald and James on four booking, one short of suspension. Team: Brynn, James, Happe. Cooper, Turns, Brown, El Mizouni, Pigott, Forde, Archibald, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Moncur(Sotiriou 83), Agyei(Forde 83), Hunt(Cooper 68), Prately, Drinan(Pigott 68), Galbraith. BBC report. Video highlights. 28 November. Away to Bristol Rovers (1-1 o/g). With 16% more of the play, 10 shots at goal with only three on target, 11 corners it would seem that McMahon’s influence on set pieces seems to be negligible according to the Leyton Laureate who has investigated and found have we scored 1 goal from 87 corners this season. Moncur was ill and Galbraith out with a back spasm. Sweeney and Sanders returned to the bench and Drinan started in place of Pigott. Cooper’s poor form in the previous match cost him his place, Hunt deputised. Agyei’s seven minutes plus added time in the last match was increased to 15’. Again we went behind to a goal before the break, apparently for the fourth time this season. Someone on the forum predicted that the only way we would score was with an own goal and so it proved in the third minute of added time. Post match Wellens updated us on James who would be fit for next Sunday and Drinan who has a hamstring injury and would not. Sanders and Sweeney had replaced them. Beckles is out long time injured. Team: Brynn, James, Happe, Hunt(Cooper 68), Turns, Brown, El Mizouni, Forde, Drinan, Archibald, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Sweeney(James 37), Agyei(Forde 75), Prately, Sanders(Drinan 45), Pigott(Sotiriou 75), Cooper. BBC report. Video highlights. 3 December. Away to Chesterfield FA Cup (1-0). The draw for the third round was drawn before our match had started so should we win it would be away to Watford. The team did not inspire me. James and Galbraith were fit to return. Sanders started, Drinan would be out for 6-8 weeks with a hamstring. Cooper replaced Happe. Thompson was on the bench. Paul McCallum scored two to put Reading out of the cup. After 30 mins we had not a single shot towards goal. Agyei replaced a possible injured Sotiriou and produced our sole shot in the first half but not before Cooper’s own goal which was later amended to El Mizouni’s own goal. Pigott replaced Fords and Pratley Sanders at half time. Later Moncur replaced El Mizouni and Galbraith Archibald. One forum member summed it up as “there is no service, it's slow, ponderous, predictable, so easy to defend against.” Another “We just have zero goal threat. Nothing. Forde out muscled. Isolated. Midfield no creativity.” The match ended with just four shots from us, only one of which was on target. The problem is for all to see, how we solve it in the transfer window in January is another matter. Team: Brynn, James, Hunt, Cooper, Turns, Brown, El Mizouni, Forde, Sanders, Archibald, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Sweeney, Agyei(Sotiriou 41), Happe, Prately(Sanders 45), Moncur(El Mizouni 67), Thompson, Pigott(Forde 45), Galbraith(Archibald 67). BBC report and video highlights Home to Derby on Saturday. Wellens post match: “I thought in the first-half we were a disgrace.” “In the first six or seven minutes we were okay, I thought we were in control of the game, but then they ran a little bit harder, fought a little bit harder, and we didn’t react.” “I spoke to the players at half-time and said try to put it into perspective. It is a freezing cold weekend and our supporters have saved up, worked overtime in the current crisis when it is coming up to Christmas. That first-half was not acceptable. Nowhere near. “I am gutted for our supporters, for our owners, we wanted a cup run this year. We gave it a go in the second-half, we dominated territory more or less apart from a few counter-attacks, but again we needed to be brighter. We need some quality in January.” We finally got sponsorship for the Stadium and it is named the Gaughan Group Stadium after the Buckhurst based construction business. It runs for three years until the summer of 2036. 10 December. Home to Derby (0-3). This was all about the 44th minute when Cooper elbowed James Collins off the ball and was sent off. That is his second sending off in 16 matches. His loan is up next month so we may have seen the last of him. For me his distribution was lacking. But nine minutes earlier Derby went into the lead following poor tackling by James and backing off from Happe. Happe has been accused by Wellens as not being aggressive enough. Poor defending by Cooper and lack of marking by Happe should have lead to a second. Poor defending by James and Happe could have lead to a third. In a strange substitution Moncur was replaced by the returning Beckles. Almost as if we were defending a one nil defeat. If so it did not work. Two minutes into the second half they made it two with zero defending from James side of the pitch. The final goal was a complete debacle as James’ corner was well short of El Mizouni and zero Orient players in our half led to a runaway goal. Team: Brynn, James, Hunt, Cooper, Happe, Brown, El Mizouni, Moncur, Archibald, Pigott, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Sweeney, Agyei(Archibald 62), Prately(Pigott 53), Forde(Sotiriou 62), Beckles(Moncur 45+1), Galbraith. BBC report. Video highlights. Away to bottom team Chltenham next Saturday. Daryl McMahon left the club. 16 December. Away to Cheltenham (1-2 Forde, Galbraith). They were bottom of the table. The had a man sent off in the 18th minute. After an hour the had three shots at goal. Five from both teams, none on target despite our 72% of the play. Prately gave away a penalty on 68’. We plummeted to 18th place. Lucky? on 89’ a Forde shot took a deflection, 1-1. Five minutes later a Galbraith shot took a deflection, 1-2. Up to 14th. By all accounts this was poor and even Wellens admitted we only made the right decisions in the last 15’. Experience, sadly lacking until now was remedied with the starting of Prately, Beckles and Moncur. But it was not until the introduction of the five substitutes that any headway was made on the ten men. Team: Brynn, Hunt, Beckles, Happe, Brown, El Mizouni, Moncur, Prately, Agyei, Archibald, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Turns, James(Hunt 62), Sanders(El Mizouni 84), Forde(Prately 74), Pigott(Agyei 65), Galbraith(Moncur 65). BBC report. Video highlights. A John Marquis goal helped Bristol Rovers beat Bolton and they are our next opponents. Cole Kpekawa who we had on loan back in 2015/2016 from QPR has joined Oxford City on an initial 28-day loan. He played 8(1) games for us then joined Barnsley for £450,000 in 2016. he only played four games for them and hasn’t played much more than four games for the six other teams he has turned out for. The exception being Maidenhead playing 25. Boreham Wood have signed Wealdstone defender Charles Clayden for an undisclosed fee. He never played for our first team. Boreham is the sixth club he has played for since leaving us in 2018. Manager ins and outs have been on a regular basis. Here is the outs list from August: Julen Lopetegui - Wolves, Lee Bradbury - Eastleigh, Dean Holden - Charlton, Lee Johnson - Hibernian, Michael Morton - York. September: Scott Brown - Fleetwood, Ian Dawes - Tranmere, David Unsworth - Oldham, Wade Elliott - Cheltenham. October: Michael Beale - Rangers, Mark Hughes - Bradford, Xisco Munoz - Sheff Wed, Neil Harris - Gillingham, Adam Murray - AFC Fylde, John Eustace - Birmingham. November: Liam Manning - Oxford United, Matt Taylor - Rotherham, Darren Sarll - Woking, Derek Adams - Morecambe, Mark Bonner - Cambridge United. December: Michael Duff - Swansea, Tony Mowbray - Sunderland, Paul Heckingbottom - Sheffield United, Dino Maamria - Burton Albion, Alex Neil - Stoke City, Matt Gray - Sutton, Steve Cooper - Nottingham Forest. Steven Schumacher - left Plymouth to join Stoke. David Horseman - Forest Green. Neil Wood lost at home 1-5 to Tranmere and promptly lost his job at Salford. Lee Johnson at Fleetwood. 22 December. Away at Bolton (3-2 Forde, Archibald). Wellnes made four changes to the team and in ten minutes we were 3-0 down. And that you may have thought was that. But on 55’ Forde got one back and Archibald another five minutes later but we could not manage an equaliser. Poor defending from: James for the first, Brown the second and Hunt the third. El Mizouni replaced Brown on 45 but was then replaced himself 23 minutes later. Sotiriou was also taken off on 45’ after a yellow card. Team: Brynn, Hunt, Beckles, Happe, Brown, James, Forde, Archibald, Galbraith, Pigott, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Turns, Sanders(El Mizouni 68), El Mizouni(Brown 45), Moncur(Hunt 89), Agyei(Pigott 72), Prately(Sotiriou 45). BBC report. Video highlights. Charlie Pegrum joined Aveley on an initial 28-day loan. 26 December. Home to Charlton (1-0 Beckles). Awful first half and both teams were not worthy of a win. Passing, close control and first touch worthy of schoolgirls (the ones that don’t play footbal). Rubbish passing in the most especially from Prately when a 30 yard pass went straight to a Charlton player and then Prately followed up by marking the man with the ball rather than the player who eventually got a shot off. Finally Agyei who had been had been on for two minutes wriggled past one defender to pass to Beckles to fire home. He was the one piece of class on the pitch and a later move reminded me of Jonathan Touhoue’s move v Arsenal in the FA Cup. I though the ref was set on giving no cards which he managed in the first half allowing lots of niggling fouls to go unpunished. We managed to win 5-1 on yellow cards in the second half. Danger men May and Blackett- Taylor were well marshalled and Wellens pleased with the play. Team: Brynn, Hunt, Beckles, Happe, Prately, James, Forde, Archibald, El Mizouni, Galbraith, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Turns, Sanders(El Mizouni 85), Brown(James 70), Moncur, Agyei(Galbraith 78), Pigott. BBC report. Video highlights. 29 December. Home to Wycombe (0-0). “They came for a point” said Wellens. Hunt would be out for four weeks with a calf problem. Brown took his place. After 30’ there wasn’t a single shot on target from either team and only three in the match. Accordning to the BBC report “They owed their point to Stryjek, who pulled off two outstanding saves from Orient full-back Tom James and was also perfectly positioned to thwart striker Shaq Forde on two occasions when the home side stepped up the pressure in the second half.” Sotiriou’s was another injury and he was replaced by Agyei on 35’. Team: Brynn, Brown, Beckles, Happe, Prately, James, Forde, Archibald, El Mizouni, Galbraith, Sotiriou. Subs Howes, Turns, Sanders(Prately 61), Sweeney, Moncur(El Mizouni 76), Agyei(Sotiriou 35), Pigott(Archibald 61). BBC report. Video highlights. That was the last game of 2023 leaving us in 13t place on 29 points. We need four points to go up another place and are away to Cambridge on the 2nd. The transfer window opens on the 1st and closes on the 1st February. With two new injuries we may need more than the winger and striker Martin Ling said we were after in a podcast. We already have the maximum loanees with five though Cooper could return to Cardiff following his ban. Smith got sent off for Sutton for the second time. Kemp scored his 12th and 13th goal of the season for Swindon. To 2024.

Harvest

Sanders

El Mizouni sporting the new home kit.

Cooper