Previous page. Two friendlies tonight, away at Welling and St Albans. At St Albans we recorded a 1-5 win with four goals from Agyei and one for Kelman. Team(at start) Ashby-Hammond (Trialist) Hutchinson (Trialist), Beckles, Happe, Simpson, Brown, Welch, Galbraith, Agyei, Kelman, Bullas. Orient made eight changes in the 70th minute, with Smith-Kouassi, Hadjini, Wellens, Avgoustidis, Wright, Samuel, Knight and Anderson coming on for Beckles, Happe, Simpson, Galbraith, Brown, Kelman, Agyei and Welch. At Welling it was 1-1 with James getting our goal. Team (at start). Howes, James, Chinedu, Cooper, Sweeney, Pratley, Obiero, Jaiyesimi, Perkins, Pegrum, O’Neill. Orient then made wholesale changes with all of the outfield, other than George Moncur and Pegrum, being first or second-year scholars. Subs: Byrne, O’Keefe, Nzang, Oji, Moncur, Okafor, Sterling, A Archibald, Jhuti, Northwood. The next friendly is in Spain 25 July. 21 July. We had the only transfer news of the day. Right back cum midfielder Sean Clare was signed from Wigan. As he was only a year into a three-year contract so we paid a fee to sign him for three years. The 27 year-old 6’3” Sean James Kweku Clare started his career back in 2016 with Sheffield Wednesday but after 5 apps scoring a single goal he was loaned to Bury 4 app, Accrington Stanley 8 app 1 goal, Gillingham 21 apps 1 goal before being signed by Hearts in 2018. Two years there saw him making 54 apps with 7 goals. He left for Oxford in 2020 making 17 apps without scoring. He was loaned to Burton 20 apps 1 goal. Then signed in 2021 by Charlton 76 apps 2 goals before joining Wigan. Wearing the number 7 shirt he made 33 apps last season scoring a single goal. He likes a three-year deal as he had one with Hearts, Oxford and Wigan. Goals at Hearts. 24 July. We signed goalkeeper Zach Hemming from Middlesbrough on a season-long loan. In his seven years there he has not made an appearance. He has been loaned out to Darlington and Hartlepool without playing for them but he did make two with Blyth Spartans. Better luck when he was loaned to Kilmarnock where in two separate spells he appeared 54 times. Last season he was with St Mirren and played 46 times. 25 July. The friendly with Juventud de Torremolinos CF ended goalless. Wellens was not happy with the pitch, too small and dry or the referee. Nor was the opposition that friendly. Team: Hemming, Clare, Beckles (C) (Cooper 69), Happe, James (Sweeney 48), Obiero (Brown 60), Warrington (Pratley 72), Kelman, Perkins (Galbraith 56), O’Neill (Jaiyesimi 56), Agyei (Pegrum 72). Subs (not used): Phillips, Byrne, Bullas. 30 July. JE3 Trophy v Spurs U21 played at Dangenham’s ground 2-1 Kelman 2. Team: Hemming, Clare (James, 70), Simpson (Happe, 45), Cooper (Beckles, 70), Sweeney (Chinedu, 82), Brown (Bullas, 70), Warrington (Pratley, 70), Galbraith (Obiero, 70), Agyei (Pegrum, 70), Jaiyesimi (O’Neill, 70), Kelman (Perkins, 70). 3 August. Friendly at Dagenham 0-1 Cooper. Team: Hemming, Clare (Sweeney 73), Beckles (c) (Cooper 61), Happe, James (Jaiyesimi 73), Brown (Pratley 86), Warrington (Obiero 61), O’Neill (Moncur 86), Galbraith, Kelman (Pegrum 90+1), Agyei (Perkins 73). Subs (not used): Phillips, Welch. 5 August. Final friendly at Cheshunt. Fielding a youthful side they lost 2-1 after being two down. Avgoustidis got one back. 7 August. Jordan Brown signed an other two-year contract. 10 August. Home to Bolton (1-2 Kelman). Poor. Wellens said we needed to move the ball forward quicker. Début boys done bad. What appears to be two mistake from Hemming cost us the points. After eight minutes there appeared to be a lack of marking from Beckles and Clare to allow a shot on goal. Hemming appeared to think it was going wide and did not touch it. A distinct dearth of wide open spaces on the right meant every time Clare had the ball he had to pass left. There was no one in front of of on the right. Seven minutes from half time Happe’s cross evaded the head of the defender and found Kelman who made no mistake controlling the ball and putting it in the net. We were undone again when Hemming failed to clutch the ball to his chest, he flapped at one earlier, and it fell nicely for ex O sub Victor Adeboyejo. Team: Hemming, Sweeney, Clare, Beckles, Happe, Obiero, Brown, O’Neill, Kelman, Galbraith, Agyei. Subs: Howes, Cooper(Beckles 85), Jaiyesimi(Obeiro), James(Sweeney 77), Perkings(Agyei 73), Pratley(Galbraith 85), Warrington. Five players were booked, Sweeney, Happe, Beckles, Kelman and Galbraith plus Wellens. BBC report. Video highlights. Warrington did not play because he had not had a competitive game for eight months. In the post-match interview Wellens reported he wanted another 2/3 more players. Team: Hemming, Sweeney, Clare, Beckles, Happe, Obiero, Brown, O’Neill, Kelman, Galbraith, Agyei. Subs: Howes, Cooper(Beckles 85), Jaiyesimi(Obeiro), James(Sweeney 77), Perkins(Agyei 73), Pratley(Galbraith 85), Warrington. 13 August. Home to Newport County in the EFL Carabao Cup (4-1 Agyei, Jaiyesimi, Cooper, Kelman). All the fit players who did not play v Bolton had a game. Agyei scored after a minute. A long pass from Clare found Sweeney and Dan’s shot found the post and in. A cross from Clare found the head of Jaiyesimi and in. Cooper’s stooping header found the net after O’Neill’s cross. Some had Hemming blamed for the Exile’s goal but the resulting free kick found their centre half between James and Warrington. Finally a quick move out of defence found Perkins whose pass to Kelman. He took a touch before sliding the ball past the keeper. Team: Hemming, Sweeney, James, Clare, Cooper, Warrington, Jaiyesimi, Obiero, Perkins, Galbraith, Agyei. Subs: Howes, Beckles(Warrington 67), Welch, Brown(Clare 60), Chinedu, Kelman(Agyei 59), O’Neill(Galbraith 46), Pratley(Jaiyesimi 75). In the post match video Wellens hoped there would be signings before Saturday. BBC report. Video highlights. Three U18’s went out on month long loans: Hayden Bullas joined Erith Town while Reon Smith-Kouassi and Thomas Avgoustidis have joined Potters Bar. Earlier Byrne joined Bower & Pitsea for three months. 16 August. Spurs left back/attacting midfielder/striker 19 year-old Jamie Donely joined on a season-long loan. The Northern Ireland/England U17/U18/U19 international has played just three senior games for Spurs. 17 August. Away to Charlton (1-0). “Not brave enough” was Wellens verdict. Let down by a goal in the second minute of added time. Galbraith was injured and Donely went straight into the side. Team: Hemming, James, Clare, Happe, Cooper, Brown, Obiero, O’Neill, Kelman, Donely, Agyei. Subs: Howes, Beckles(Cooper 66), Warrington(Obiero 66), Perkins(O’Neill 70), Sweeney(James 47), Jaiyesimi(Donely 70), Pratley. BBC report. Video highlights. 20 August. George Moncur was loaned to Southend for the rest of the season. 24 August. Home to Birmingham (1-2 Gailbraith). Keeper blunders. Galbraith returned but James was dropped after a poor game at Charlton according to Wellens. Both keepers made mistakes that led to goals. First Hemming continued his poor form and made a short pass too close to a Brum attacker, then made an ineffectual tackle. Then their keeper dallied too long and the ball found Obiero and Galbraith scored from his pass. A Comedy of errors gave them the winner. Agyei made all the difference when he came on for the last 19’. Not sure there is any merit in bringing on three players on 89’. Team: Hemming, Sweeney, Clare, Happe, Cooper, Brown, Obiero, O’Neill, Kelman, Donely, Galbraith. Subs: Howes, Beckles, Warrington, Perkins(Kelman 89), James, Agyei(Obeirio 71), Jaiyesimi(O’Neill 89), Pratley(Brown 89). BBC report. Video highlights. Es O’s on the score sheet were Palmer, Pigott for Aldershot and Sadlier for Wycombe. 27 August. Away to Millwall in the EFL Carabao Cup (0-1 Agyei). Wellens promised that all fringe players would get a game and so it proved. Neither goalkeeper had to make a save. On 14’ Agyei got the ball from Obierio, took it on his right, moved to his left and left-footed it into the far corner. Supporters were impressed with Beckles who had been dropped for two matches, Pratley and Obierio. Team: Hemming, Sweeney, Cooper, Beckles, James, Warrington, Jaiyesimi, Obiero, Pratley, Agyei, Perkins. Subs: Howes, Clare, Brown(Pratley 82), O’Neill(Jaiyesimi 77), Simpson, Sterling, Kelman(Perkins 77), Donely(Agyei 81), Galbraith(Obiero 82). BBC report. Video highlights. 30 August. The last “exciting” signing of the summer was 21 year-old keeper Josh Keeley this despite Wellens appearing not to have a problem with Hemming. Born in Dunboyne, Republic of Ireland Keeley played 17 games for Barnet last season and that is the sum total of his senior appearances. Jack Currie a left back 21 year-old was signed from Oxford on a season-long loan. He started his career at AFC Wimbledon playing 87(8) times scoring two goals. Whilst there he was loaned to Eastbourne playing five times. He signed for Oxford for an undisclosed fee in July this year. Ex O’s movement. Duke-McKenna joined Hartlepool. Dan Kemp joined Stevenage and Alex Revell who is the new manager there. Myles Judd joined Welling. Last season he played 21 times scoring two goals for Hemel Hempstead Town. Ryan Allsop left Hull for Birmingham. He played 24 games in goal for us between July 2012 and January 2013 and played for 11 other clubs since then. Antony Papadopoulos left Welling after two years and joined Crawley. Jayden Stockley joined Port Vale for an undisclosed fee leaving Fleetwood. In 2013 he started a single game for us and joined eight others from the bench scoring a single goal. He has played for ten other clubs since leaving us. Matt Young joins Folkestone Invicta from Haringey Borough where he scored 15 times in 44 appearances last season. Rob Hunt joined Colchester. Tom Carroll left Exeter for MK Dons. Marvin Ekpiteta has joined Hibernian on a three-year deal. Nigel Atatanga joined Havant & Waterlooville. Luke Summerfield joined Kidderminster. Ethan Light joined Hemel Hempstead. Alex Finney was released by Eastbourne Borough. Idris El Mizouni left Ipswich for Oxford for £400,000. Ebou Adams left Cardiff for Derby. Undisclosed fee. John Marquis joined Shrewsbury after being released at Bristol Rovers. Lawrence Vigouroux signed for Swansea for an undisclosed fee. Lee Angol joined Morecambe and became manager Derek Adams 17th signing of the summer. Goalie Jamie Jones left Middlesbrough after a year without a game and joined Salford. Anthony Georgiou joined Wealdstone. Dan Adu-Adjei joined Carlisle on loan. Conor Wilkinson left Colchester by mutual consent and joined Solihull on a years contract. Otis Khan joined Oldham also on a years contract. Shaq Forde joined Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee. Sam Dalby was loaned to Dundee United for a year. Rumour Mill. I will keep this up to date until the window closes but I do think some journalists have to write anything to justify their wage. 23 year-old Jack Nolan a winger who played for Accrington last year. He joined Gillingham. Joe Whitworth an inexperienced goalkeeper from Crystal Palace (he joined Exeter on loan) and Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo a 22-year-old who has been released by Arsenal ahead of the 2024/24 campaign. He joined Wrexham. Mikey Moore, Spurs youngster, playing for England U17's, 8 goals in 9 appearances. Never joined anyone. Some supporters will not be happy in employing inexperienced players. Dunfermline Athletic defender Josh Edwards. He joined Charlton. 29 year-old Jack Payne ex Charlton midfielder. He joined Cambridge. Callum Burton a goalkeeper, ex Plymouth. Has 78 apps in the last five years. He joined Wrexham. Of course El Mizouni and Vigouroux got a mention. Sheffield Wednesday’s Tyreeq Bakinson. He joined Wycombe and according to Wellens they paid 20% more wages than we offered. Goalkeepers: Joe Wildsmith released from Derby He joined WBA. Jordan Archer back up goalkeeper at QPR is potentially a free agent this summer. He joined Portsmouth. Blondy Noukeu ex Southend loanee. Only played 13 senior games. He joined Sunderland. Mo Eisa MK Dons Striker now plays Persian Gulf Pro League club Nassaji Mazandaran. Keenan Appiah- Forson Young West Ham CM, who spent last season on loan at Daggers. He joined Southend. Dave Beacontree, centre back from Ware FC. We are paying 180k. From the TC9 site which is apparently notorious for getting rumours wrong: Barrow striker Emile Acquah for a fee in the region of £200k. Contract agreed, medical taking place now. We shall see. We didn’t, he stayed at Barrow. Ben Woodburn, 24 year old PNE midfielder. He joined Salford. Middlesbrough defender Paddy McNair is 29. He will join Major League Soccer club San Diego FC ahead of their inaugural season on 1 January 2025. Caolan Boyd-Munce a defensive midfielder at St Mirren. A £175,000 bid was allegedly turned down. Can’t see us offering that sort of money nor bidding higher. Never scored a goal at any level and never left St Mirren. Alfie McCalmont midfielder for Carlisle where he is still under contract. He moved to a club in Australia. 22 July (I should have put a date on all these rumours) Noah Chilvers at Colchester and we are “ verge of completing a deal” according to English 3rd Tier site. He went to Scotland and Ross County. 29 July: Tyreece John-Jules was the rumour on one of the forums. A 23 year-old injury prone striker. He has previously played for Arsenal and has played on loan to Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich Town and Derby County. Serious injuries at Blackpool and Derby. He was released by Arsenal following the expiration of his contract. He joined Crawley. August 19: defender Reece Welch on loan from Everton. 29 August from the the72.co.uk/ site: Reece Welch, Bradford were also interested. He Joined a Belgium club on loan. 29 August: Josh Onomah a free agent midfielder once with Spurs, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham and lately with PNE. On 27 June 2023, it was confirmed that he would leave Preston upon the expiration of his three-month contract. In a career spanning ten years he made 173apps scoring 10 goals. He joined Blackpool. Transfer window closed 30 August at 11pm. Though there were 15 deals done after!? 31 August. Away to Shrewsbury (3-0). Both teams were without a point before the match. Wellens: “Too slow, too lethargic, didn’t do the basics, worse display since I came here”. 72.3% of the play, 1 shot on target. Too many inexperienced players, no experienced striker. Agyei hit the woodwork and that was about it. Neither new signing took any part in the game. Team: Hemming, Sweeney, Happe, Cooper, Clare, Galbraith, Brown, O’Neill, Donely, Agyei, Kelman. Subs: Howes, Beckles(Happe 49), Warrington, Jaiyesimi(O'Neill 52), Obiero, Pratley(Brown 52), Perkins(Sweeney 80). BBC report. Video highlights. Charlie Pegrum joined National League South club Welling United on an initial three-month loan deal. Phil Chinedu, has also headed out on loan to the National League South. He joined St Albans City. Great start to the U18s season with four wins in four in all competitions beating Forest Green Rovers 4-1 at home on Saturday. Scorers Oji 2, Devine Samuel, Carter. Club no longer gives line ups. Previous wins were against AFC Wimbledon at home 1-0 (Hambury), away at Portsmouth 0-1 (Abdi Mohamud) and home to Newport County 3-1 (Aaron Sterling 2, Abdi Mohamud). 3 September. Home to Arsenal U21 in the Carabo Cup 1-2 Happe). A goal down after three minutes. We equalised on 26’ when Dan Happe headed from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Tom James with a cross following a corner. On 55’ they went back into the lead. On 90’ Agyei missed a penalty. Currie appeared to be at fault for both goals. Team: Howes, Currie, James, Simpson, Happe, Pratley, Obiero, Jaiyesimi, Perkins, Kelman, Agyei. Subs: Hemming, Welch(Simpson 75, Sterling, Brown, Carter, Clare(Pratley 72), Donely(Perkins 62). 7 September. There was no football for us or Peterborough and the match was rearranged for the 24 September. Ex O’s on target were Palmer, Stockley, Sotiriou and McCallum. Harry Smith was sent off for violent conduct. Charlie Pegrum opened the scoring for Welling. Ex O’s: Gavin Massey signed for AFC Fylde. Maguire-Drew left Yeovil after negotiating to get out of his contract. Bonne joined Southend on a year-long contract with an option for another year. On the 9th Steven Alzate left Brighton for Hull for free. 10 September. We signed free agent 29 year-old defensive midfielder Dom Ball who was last at Ipswich. He started his career at Spurs though does not appear to have played for them but was loaned to Cambridge 9(2) in 2015 then to Rangers 24(6) later that year. The following year he signed for Rotherham but played just 14(1) in the three years he was there but was loaned to Peterborough 6(1), Aberdeen in two loans 42(17) 2017-2019. He got a free transfer in 2019 to QPR and there made 74(25) scoring four goals according to Soccerbase. In 2023-2024 Transfermkt has him playing in 16 games, substituted 3 times and coming on ten times in all competitions playing 541 minutes. In November 2022 he sustained a knew injury that required surgery and did not return until the following March playing just 151 minutes the rest of the season. He has a contract until the end of the season. 14 September. Away to Reading (0-1 Kelman). Finally a piece of good goalkeeping luck. On 27’ Kelman’s shot from the edge of the area somehow evaded the inexperienced keeper. Six bookings in the match which were mainly avoidable, not retreating from the ball fast enough etc. Graham returned albeit from the bench. Supporters are wondering why O’Neill is not taking on the defence. Team: Hemming, Currie, James, Beckles, Happe, Clare, Brown, Kelman, Galbraith, Agyei, O’Neill. Subs: Howes, Ball(Brown 74), Perkins(Agyei 67), Graham(O’Neill 65), Simpson(Happe 70), Pratley, Donely. BBC report. Video highlights. Ex O’s in the news were Coleman who got sent off for Gillingham, Two goals for Koroma and Wilkinson. Danny Johnson scored the winner for Walsall against Bradford. He scored another on Tuesday. 17 September. Away to Brentford (3-1 Cooper). Wellens: “Three soft goals” “80% of the goals conceived has been through naivety.” We went ahead on 7’ when a cross from James evaded everyone but found Cooper at the far post unmarked. They drew level 6’ later via a overhead kick from Fábio Carvalho who was responsible for the final two goals. Brentford signed winger Fabio Carvalho from Liverpool in a deal worth £27.5m in August. That goal was from a misplaced pass in midfield from (I think) Warrington. He did not seem in any hurry to atone for the error and took a gentle jog back towards defence and just about made the penalty spot when the goal went in. The second was a complete lack of marking from Jaiyesimi. Supporters were not impressed with Jaiyesimi or Perkins. Jury was out for some on Obiero. Nobody impressed them enough to warrant a place on the team on Saturday at Stockport. Things hadn’t started well with four fouls committed in seven minutes. It did not improve when captain Simpson picked up a second yellow card on 69’ which killed off any chance of a come-back. Wellens decided to pick those players that did not feature on Saturday and only James survived. With Howes sent on a two-month loan to Wealstone, Keeley started and did well to keep the score to three. Team: Keeley, Sweeney, James, Simpson, Cooper, Warrington, Obiero, Jaiyesimi, Perkins, Ball, Donely. Subs: Hemming, Galbraith(Jaiyesimi 53), Graham, Beckles(Obiero 72), O’Neill, Clare, Pratley(Ball 71), Agyei(Donley 72), Kelman(Perkins 54). BBC report. Video highlights. 21 September. Away to Stockport County (1-4 Galbraith 2, Agyei, Clare). This was not the score that most supporters were expecting (from both sets of fans). Stockport came to the match following three wins and two draws from the last five games. Wellens opted for the same team that won at Reading. The game was effectively over by the 17’. Galbraith scored on 12’ after a James cross found him unmarked at the far post. Five minutes later Kelman latched on to a back heel and his shot could only be parried by the keeper and Galbraith followed it up. County regrouped at half time and got a goal back after Clare had fouled up and a lack of defending at the far post. James was the only defender marking three County players. We made two changes seven minutes later with Cooper replacing James and Ball on for O’Neill. It paid immediate dividends as Ball found Agyei on the edge of the area and it took two touches before he placed the ball wide of the keepers left. The game was wrapped up on 81’ when Agyei found Clare who shot home from an acute angle. Team: Hemming, Currie, James, Beckles, Happe, Clare, Brown, Kelman, Galbraith, Agyei, O’Neill. Subs: Phillips, Ball(O’Neill 57), Perkins, Graham(Clare 84), Donely(Brown 89), Warrington(Agyei 84), Cooper(James 57). BBC report. Video highlights. Possibly a tougher test on Tuesday when we play the re-arranged home match against Peterborough. How did the ex O’s players and those on loan do? Koroma scored one and missed a penalty as Huddersfield lost, Howes let in three goals to top of the table Barnet, Bonne provided as assist as Southend beat Wilkinson’s Solihull. Smyth didn’t make the starting line-up for QPR’s draw but came on for the last half hour. Vigouroux’s Swansea won at Coventry, Kemp didn’t start for Stevenage as they lost at Exeter. Sotiriou lasted 80’ before he was replaced by Forde as they lost at Peterborough. Sadlier rattled the wood work as Wycombe beat bottom placed Cambridge. Craig Clay joined Dunfermline on a year-long contract. 24 September. Home to Peterborough United (2-2 James, Kelman). I missed this one due to illness. Again and unchanged team was announced and Tom James got the first goal from an assist by Galbraith after 20 minutes. Posh equalised on 42’ the keeper Hemming gave away a penalty to go 1-2 down on 45’. Eight minutes after the restart Kelman equalised. Neither team could find another goal. Team: Hemming, Currie, James, Beckles, Happe, Clare, Brown, Kelman, Galbraith, Agyei, O’Neill. Subs: Phillips, Ball(Brown 60), Perkins, Graham(Agyei 80), Donely, Warrington(Clare 91), Cooper(O’Neill 79). BBC report. Video highlights That one point put us five places up the table to 16th. 28 September. Home to Wrexham (0-0). Again all over a team but cannot score against them. Kelman fired wide when it was easier to hit the target. Cooper missed from yards out. The moment when Agyei and Graham came on any hope of a result faded. Happe was concussed and did not play. Ball looked in a class of his own. Team: Hemming, Currie, James, Beckles, Cooper, Simpson, Clare, Ball, Kelman, Galbraith, Donely. Subs: Keeley, Brown(Clare 41), Pratley, Graham(Donley 70), Warrington(Clare 91), Agyei(Cooper 59), O’Neill. BBC report. Video highlights We went down three places to 19th. 1 October. Home to Exeter (0-1). I missed this one through family illness. Same as Saturday but we let a goal in. That was achieved five minutes before the break. Brown, playing at right back made little attempt to prevent a cross and Currie was marking space rather than the scorer. We did have a chance in the second half but Currie got in the way of an Agyei cross. Team: Hemming, Currie, Brown, Beckles, Simpson, Warrington, Ball, O’Neill, Kelman, Galbraith Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Clare(Ball 63), Graham(O'Neill 63), Obiero, Perkins(Simpson 77), Donely(Agye 63), Cooper(Warrington 46). BBC report. Video highlights We went down a place to 20th. Supporters are not happy with DJ (unfit), O’Neill (not the player he was last season). Perkins (seems to lack interest). Graham (no point in crossing the ball if there is nobody in the middle). Warrington (lacks match fitness and seems ordinary). Donely (the answer to nothing in particular). Currie (mistake prone). Pratley (needs to play more). Scott Kashket signed for Hornchurch. Still only 28. Jordan Maguire-Drew has joined Weymouth, his 13th club. 5 October. Away to Lincoln (2-1 Agyei). The Imps were 4th in the table. "We`ve got a soft underbelly" said Wellens after the match. He was disappointed for the supporters who had to endure sideways and back football with 64.7% possession. James returned from injury but Happe was still missing. We were told pre match that Clare was carrying a injury but a scan had come back clear. He had to play when Galbraith pulled out through an injury in the warm-up. James hit the bar in the first half but three minutes into the second half they scored. Currie did not jump high enough. They scored another on 77’ but Agyei got one back three minutes later with a smartly taken effort. Simpson was substituted according to Wellens because he was close to a red card. Team: Hemming, James, Currie, Beckles, Simpson, J. Donley, Ball, O’Neill, Kelman, Clare, Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Brown(Clare 46), Obiero(Ball 71), Perkins(Simpson 77), Jaiyesimi(O'Neill 71), Pratley(Donley 81), Cooper(Warrington 46). BBC report. Video highlights Despite the loss we went up a place as Northampton lost 4-1 at Wrexham. Woking have signed defender Adam Chickson loan from Notts County until January. He played nine times for us in two loan spells in 2012 and 2015. Playing at home to Colchester in the EFL Trophy - Southern Group E on Tuesday and Wellens has told, at least the supporters, that players need to claim the shirt and it appears many of them are not wanting it. No match Saturday so now is their chance. 8 October. Home to Colchester in the EFL Trophy - Southern Group E. (1-1 Obiero, wining on penalties). If there were any wanting the shirt most supporters could not see who. Here are some comments: Jayeseimi totally anonymous. Not much effort out there. Sloppy. Must feel they’ve done enough. Direr and direr. Not much coming from Perkins apart from one decent effort. Us 6 shots on target, 1 goal. CU 1 shot on target 1 goal. It’s happening time and time again. Orient have the greater possession. Orient spend a lot of time passing it sideways and backwards. Orient waste a few good chances. Opposition have a single chance and take it. Orient ruin the result. We got off to a good start after 30 minutes when Obiero scored at the second attempt from a Sweeney cross. Graham hit the post then missed a sitter. It went to pot when a free kick crashed off the bar but there was not one defender anywhere near the ball and it was nodded home by their centre half. Their 9 Tovide should have got sent off but the female referee decided otherwise. We get an extra point for winning on penalties but that is probably not enough to get us through to the next round. Team: Hemming, Sweeney, Simpson, Cooper, Ball, Warrington, Pratley, Jaiyesimi, Obiero, Grahman, Perkins. Subs: Phillips, Agyei(Graham 75), Brown(Pratley 66), Donley, (Ball 71), Beckles,(Cooper 83), O'Neill(Jaiyesimi 74), Kelman(Perkins 74). Video highlights. Penalty shoot out. We drew Boreham Wood away in the FA Cup. Winning clubs in the first round proper will receive £45,000 from the FA Cup prize fund, with losing teams collecting £15,000. The fixture will take place at Meadow Park on the weekend of 2nd/3rd of November. Midfielder Reon Smith-Kouassi has joined Isthmian League North Division side Grays Athletic on a two-month loan deal. 19 October. Away to Northampton (1-0). One forum member forecast this to a tee. He said we would concede within ten minutes of the second half starting and lose. And so it came to pass. Another and my brother said they didn’t turn up for the second half. Happe returned from injury and Keeley got the keepers slot. Agyei decided to take a touch rather than shoot and hit the side netting. A long throw did for use with zero marking in the middle. Team: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, James, Browm, Ball, O’Neill, Galbraith, Kelman, Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Graham(O'Neill 62), Pratley(Happe 82), Donley(Brown 62), Cooper, Obiero(Ball 73), Simpson(James 62). Perkins. BBC report. Video highlights. 22 October. Home to Rotherham (1-0 Happe). Dire but three points got us just out of the relegation zone. Clare would be out 2-3 months with a groin problem. Graham had a hamstring and DJ was also injured. James picked up a fifth booking so misses the next game at Wycombe. To be honest nobody played well. James distribution along with Happe and Beckles was hopeless. Currie seems to be liked but his defending leaves a lot to be desired for me. O’Neill had his best game of the season but Agyei took two touches rather than one and failed to score twice. Their goalie did well to save three certain goals whilst Keeley had little to do. Brown was anonymous. Pratley was man of the match. Kelman did little on the wing. A set piece won it for us when Happe headed home a James free kick. Team: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, James, Browm, Pratley, O’Neill, Galbraith, Kelman, Agyei. Subs: Hemming, Ball(Pratley 81), Cooper, Sweeney(Agyei 93), Obiero(Ball 73), Simpson, Perkins. BBC report. Video highlights. A closer look. 26 October. Away to Wycombe (3-0). According to the stats we have only gained one point from a losing position so this game was effectively over when we conceded after five minutes. There was another on 45’+5 and a third on 59’. With James suspended Ball was preferred to Sweeney and that was the only change to the line up. Graham and Warrington returned to the bench but Simpson did not feature. At half time we had had 3 shots with 1 on target, after 80 minutes we have had 3 shots with 1 on target. Team: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, Ball, Brown, Pratley, O’Neill, Galbraith, Kelman, Agyei. Subs: Hemming, Warrington(Brown 92), Cooper(Ball 46), Sweeney, Obiero(Pratley 55), Graham(Agyei 55), Perkins(Kelman 63). BBC report. Video highlights 3 November. Away to Borehamwood in the FA cup 1st Round (2-2 Perkins, Agyei). A banana skin. Two days earlier National League Tamworth, who are 57 places below Huddersfield dumped the League One promotion hopefuls out. Northampton went out to Kettering and only a James Brophy goal against Woking kept Cambridge in the next round. Currie supposedly cup-tied was replaced by Sweeney. A goal on 12’ from Perkins put us in the lead and he assisted Agyei for the second. They got one back on 69’ Wellens made two substitutions before their goal and another two after. Then they got the equaliser and it went to extra time then penalties after six minutes of added time, no replays any more. Sweeney was sent off on 102’. Kicking the ball away after being booked earlier. Fool. Borehamwood missed three of the penalties and we went through to the next round to play Oldham at home. Team: Keeley, Sweeney, Cooper, Beckles, Ball, Simpson, Perkins, O’Neill, Galbraith, Donley, Agyei. Subs: Hemming, Warrington, Brown(Cooper 66), Happe(Simpson 87), Obiero(Donley 65), Jaiyesimi(Perkins 72), Pratley, Welch, Kelman(Agyei 72). BBC report. Video highlights Lots of uninformed supporters out there as to how our transfer system works. Some weeks back Marshall Taylor on a podcast stated we do business the same way as every other club and there is no transfer committee. However he did not elaborate. But this appeared on a forum posted by billericayo summing up the situation: for the umpteenth time they will tell us that Richie says what he wants, the scouts, analytics team, Ling, possibly some players and of course Richie, will all feed names in and then Richie will ask Ling to approach them. Ling makes contact with agents, sometimes we get a deal, but more often it’s outside our budget and so we go down the list until eventually we sign someone. Might be Richie’s first choice, but more likely 3rd or 4th, such is the money floating around league 1 this season. That’s what we will be told, that is what I believe to be the truth, but some will still see some sort of conspiracy and that Ling alone picks the squad. The board must be bored with all this. 9 November. Home to Blackpool (3-0 Perkins, Kelman, James). Finally we started getting the ball out of defence quickly. Currie’s pass out of defence found Agyei who out muscled the defender to send in a low bouncing cross that beat the keeper but not the incoming Perkins who found the net with some ease. It took us another 37’ to get the second when Kelman, on for Perkins latched on from another Agyei low cross to net from close in. Again another punt out of defence, this time by Happe. Five minutes later pressure by Agyei paid off and O’Neill’s low cross was only parried out to the incoming James and his left foot shot nestled into the corner of the net. Team: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, James, Warrington, Pratley, O’Neill, Galbraith, Perkins, Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Obiero(Galbraith 97), Jaiyesimi(Agyei 80), Graham(Agyei 55), Simpson(Warrington 66), Donley(O'Neill 96), Kelman(Perkins 66). Video highlights. BBC report. 12 November. Away to MK Dons in the EFL Trophy (1-3 Kelman, Perkins, Agyei). We need to win this one to progress in this cup and others to win and that is what happened. All three goals, according to Wellens, came as a result of pressing. The first came after 6’ when Kelman dispossessed a defender and beat the keeper. We went two up 15’ later when Kelman,s pass found the offside looking Perkins who was lucky to have a second bite of the cherry to score. MKD got one back on 33’ through a fine strike from outside the area. In the second half we found the net twice but each time ruled offside. Happe went close from a header but Agyei missed a sitter from the six yard box as the ball sailed in the empty stand. He atoned 90+3 when a pass from Jaiyesimi found him unmarked and he raced into the area to score. Galbraith was away on international duty so the team was: Hemming, James, Happe, Cooper, Currie, Obiero, Perkins, Warrington, Graham, Donley, Kelman. Subs: Phillips, O’Neil(Perkins 57), Jaiyesimi(Graham 57), Pratley(Warrington 67), Agyei(Donley 67), Beckles, Sweeney(Obiero 77). Video highlights. BBC does not report on these matches at this level. Next round is knockout. Wellens does not like the set up at the big clubs where they don’t have a reserve team but prefer to loan players out and have U21 teams who only get to play other youngsters and therefore gain little experience. We all learn from older people. Proof: non league Wealdstone beat Southampton U21 3-1. Barrow beat A Villa U21 3-0. Huddersfield beat Manchester United U21 4-1. Lincoln beat Manchester City 5-0. Notts County beat Leicester City 1-0. Colchester beat Arsenal U21 3-0 which is one of the reasons we are in the next round. 23 November. Away to Stevenage (0-0). Dire apparently. PA for the BBC (amongst others) had this to say: Stevenage and Leyton Orient ground out a goalless draw at the Lamex Stadium in a game that was devoid of quality. Even Wellens described it as pretty poor. Our one shot on target came on 90+’ from a James free kick. Three in total and seven shots in the match. O’Neill was booked for the fifth time this season and will miss the match at home to Huddersfield on Tuesday. Wellens went with the same team that beat Blackpool: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, James, Warrington, Pratley, O’Neill, Galbraith, Perkins, Agyei. Subs: Hemming, Obiero, Jaiyesimi, Graham, Simpson, Ball(Warrington 60), Kelman(Perkins 64). Video highlights. BBC report. Crawley’s win meant we slipped into a relegation place. Ex O’s in the news. Drinan scored but Swindon still lost. Dalby scored for Dundee United and Marquis for Shrewsbury, Palmer for Wrexham. El Mizouni played just 17’+ in a 2-6 drubbing by Middlesbrough. 26 November. Home to Huddersfield (0-2). Stretchers x 2. Their Miller went off on 26’ and Graham lasted three minutes before a recurrence of his knee injury reduced us to ten men. Town went into the lead on 26’. Then on 90’ slack play by Simpson meant Keeley’s clearance rebounded off their player and into the net. Again we reverted to playing across and back in front of goal and then Keeley kicks the ball up field. Maybe it was a time wasting tactic? Nobody covered themselves in glory. Or anything close. Simpson had a shocking 45’ when his first pass went into touch he followed it up with another two plus a corner when he failed to control the ball. Controlling the ball was a problem Perkins had and he was replaced at half time. Team: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, James, Warrington, Brown, Kelman, Galbraith, Perkins, Agyei. Subs: Hemming, Jaiyesimi(Perkins 46), Graham(Brown 68), Simpson(Happe 46), Ball(Warrington 46), Cooper(James 68), Pratley. Video highlights. BBC report. Graham Injured the same knee that he had been recovering from. 1 Decenber. Home to Oldham FA Cup 2nd Round (2-1 Keeley, Agyei aet). Added time x 2, penalty missed, goalie scores from a header. This was a tie with it all. Oldham went into the lead when a throw in was allowed to enter the net unplayed. Not that the referee or his colleagues spotted this. After 90 minutes another ten were added. Nine minutes into it Keeley went up for a free kick and his head found James cross to make it 1-1, cue pandemonium and extra time. The referee also dismissed what seem a perfectly good goal by Beckles. A penalty was given but Agyei’s silly run up plus the referee allowing two Oldham subs before the kick was a mistake. Notwithstanding their 14 was nearly level with Agyei. One minute into added time after 120 minutes a corner found Perkins on the far post and his header found Agyei to head us into the next round. Team: Keeley, James, Cooper, Ball, Simpson, Jaiyesimi, Pratley, O’Neill, Kelman, Galbraith, Agyei. Subs: Hemming, Brown(Pratley 83) Beckles(Cooper 59), Perkins(Jaiyesimi 59), Carter, Donely(Kelman 72), Lamb, Sweeney, Warrington. Video highlights. BBC report. 3 December. Home to Bristol Rovers (3-0 Happe, O’Neill, Agyei). Super goals. Despite losing Pratley after eight minutes we took Rovers and Sotiriou and Forde apart. On 17’ Forde committed a foul near their area and James cross evaded Agyei but not Happe just behind him. His header hit the upright and nestled in the far corner of the net. Twelve minutes later O’Neill dispossessed a slow defender. He went towards the bye line then doubled back and a fine shot found the far post net. A minute into added time Agyei did the same to a defender trying to play the ball into touch but Agyei took the ball off him and hit a fine shot from an acute angle into the far netting. That was the end to the scoring but their keeper stopped it being 6 or 7 and kept Agyei from a hat trick. Currie returned to the line-up after being cup tied. Ball was outstanding. No Galbraith due to what Wellens described as the Tom Tits. Team: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, James, Ball, Pratley, O’Neill, Donely, Perkins, Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Jaiyesimi(O'Neill 86), Obiero, Simpson(Happe 57), Sweeney(Currie 86), Brown(Pratley 8), Kelman(Agyei 85). Video highlights. BBC report. A closer look. 7 December. Away to Wigan (0-2 Sweeney, Jaiyesimi). High winds in Wigan. With gales across the UK forcing postponements we swept to three points in Lancashire. Early on O’Neill had a chance one on one but the keeper made a save. Sweeney scored his first for the club on 41, when Perkins found James whose first time pass found Agyei. He out muscled his defender to find Sweeney at the near post and his left foot shot put us in front. No idea what he was doing so far up front. Seven minutes earlier Ball was booked when according to BBC’s PA Media he “hacked down” Rankine. Kelman had a golden opportunity to make it two when O’Neill dispossessed a defender to put him clear but he missed by a yard. Two minutes into the 90 of added time Keeley’s goal kick carried in the wind and hesitancy between defender and keeper was seized on by Jaiyesimi and he right footed into an empty net. Currie was out with the same problem as Galbraith had the last match. Team: Keeley, Sweeney, Happe, Beckles, James, Ball, Brown, O’Neill, Donely, Perkins, Agyei. Subs: Hemming, Jaiyesimi(Agyei 90), Obiero, Simpson(Happe 57), Galbraith(Perkins 71), Cooper, Kelman(Donley 80). Video highlights. BBC report. 10 December. Away to Charlton in the EFL Trophy (Vertu Cup) (0-2 Kelman, Agyei). Added time scores again. Both sides made nine changes from Saturday. With nearly 60% of the play we bombarded their goal with 26 shots but it was not until Agyei came on 77’ and the third minute of added time that we went into the lead though Kelman whose shot hit a defender on the way in from an Agyei pass. Two minutes later Agyei took the ball just inside our half, beat their man for pace, evaded two others and sent a left foot shot into the far netting. Team: Hemming, Currie, Cooper, Simpson, Obiero, Jaiyesimi, Pratley, Kelman, Galbraith, Donely, Perkins. Subs: Phillips, Brown(Pratley 77) Beckles, Agyei(Perkins 77), O’Neill(Jaiyesimi 77), Sweeney, Warrington. Video highlights. 14 December. Home to Burton Albion (0-0). Dross, abysmal, dire, choose what adjective or noun you fancy but it still amounts to same thing. We went backwards, literally. Against Bristol Rovers in the first half I counted 75 backward or sideways passes but this match would have surpassed that. Sweeney played statues when it came to throw ins and reminded me of Joe Widdowson. It was almost as if they were afraid of passing forward. As PA Media put it for the BBC “ An uninspiring first half with a series of ill-directed passes brought an untidy nature to the game with few chances created”. Nobody played well. Ball picked up his fifth booking so will not play at seventh placed Barnsley next Saturday. Team: Keeley, Sweeney, Happe, Beckles, James, Ball, Brown, O’Neill, Donely, Perkins, Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Jaiyesimi(O'Neill 75), Simpson, Pratley(Brown 75), Galbraith(James 66), Currie(Sweeney 75), Kelman(Perkins 67). Video highlights. BBC report. Ex O’s hitting the net were Dalby, two for Dundee U, Kemp for Stevenage but goal for the day goes to Smyth who hit the target from the half way line. Sotiriou did not feature for B Rovers and will now need to impress a new incoming manager. Josh Wright became the new manager at rock bottom Ebbsfleet. 21 December. Away to Barnsley (0-4 Donley, Beckles, Kelman, Perkins). Another windy day up north. Three loanees score, must be a first. Donley started us off on the sixth minute when he stooped to meet an O’Neill corner. As the commentator on the EFL highlights put it “they didn’t learn from the first goal“ as Beckles on 22’ met a corner also on the far post this time from from Donley. Six minutes after the restart Donley found Kelman and his right foot lob went over the keeper into an empty net. Three minutes into added time Perkins completed the rout when the keeper parried a cross onto his chest and he had the easiest task to tap it into the net. Team: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, Galbraith, Pratley, Brown, O’Neill, Donely, Kelman, Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Jaiyesimi(Donley 81), Simpson(Happe 83), Obiero(Agyei 93), Cooper(Currie 93), Sweeney, Perkins(O'Neill 93). Video highlights. BBC report. A closer look its over 10 minutes - but not of the match. 26 December. Home to Crawley (3-0 Kelman, Agyei, Beckles). This match was fog free but matches up and down the country were affected with games at Tranmere and Oldham called off. Nobody, in including the manager was sure why we didn’t score more in our 22 attempts. Kelman got us off in the 33’ but not after Agyei had one cleared off the line and the keeper was booked after a foulon O’Neill just outside the box when he was clear through from a Brown(?) pass. A Donely pass found O’Neill and his cross found the incoming Kelman who scored from a couple of yards out. Not until the 50’ minute did we add a second when Currie went on a 60 yard run and his pass to Donely eventually found Agyei who mad no mistake. Five minutes later a Donely free kick was cleared but only as far as Beckles studs and the ball found the net. Clare and Ball returned to the bench after a suspension and injury. Team: Keeley, Currie, Happe, Beckles, Galbraith, Pratley, Brown, O’Neill, Donely, Kelman, Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Jaiyesimi(O'Neill 76), Simpson(Happe 69), Clare(Brown 82), Ball(Pratley 83), Sweeney, Perkins(Agyei 77). Video highlights. BBC report. A closer look. Due to the 1pm KO for this match it propelled us to 10th in the table however results in the 3pm kick offs we finished 13th. Ex O’s news. Kevin Nolan was appointed Northampton manager. Smith scored for Swindon and Duke-McKenna for Harrogate. Most of the players were on the bench. Ogie came on for Gillingham on 86’ got booked and gave away a goal. Bonne came off the bench on 71’ and also managed to get booked. No place for Moncur. Pigott came on after 40’ and Drinan got 66’ on the pitch. 27 December. Sad news reached us of the death of Mickey Bullock after suffering from liver cancer. Mickey joined us from Oxford in October 1968 signed by Jimmy Bloomfield who played with his brother Peter at Birmingham. Mickey made three hundred and eight appearances, scoring sixty-nine goals. None of the control the ball to pass for Mickey, his was the one touch pass. A master of the ball in the air and the finest header of the ball I have seen in an Orient shirt. And he was no slouch on the ground. Against QPR he took the ball on the edge of the area and curled it past keeper Phil Parkes. Others I remember was one at home against Shrewsbury to stay in the division. He nearly took the net out. Of course the game against Chelsea, a little tap in. Like all of the 69/70 team this man was our hero. As were they all. 29 December. Home To Cambridge (2-0 O’Neill, Donley). The U’s were three from bottom and it showed. Agyei run the defence ragged and on 32’ he ran past two on the wing and burst into the penalty area. Kelman should have buried the pass but missed. O’Neill didn’t. We needed another but had to wait until 70’ when Kelman’s pass found the incoming Donely. If he was offside the officials didn’t give it. Agyei was named man of the match but for them it was 23 year-old left back Liam Bennett. As some on the forums have pointed out, he is out of contract in the summer. Simpson replaced Happe and Ball was in for Pratley. Team: Keeley, Currie, Simpson, Beckles, Galbraith, Ball, Brown, O’Neill, Donely, Kelman, Agyei. Subs: Phillips, Jaiyesimi, Simpson(Happe 69), Clare(Brown 75), Pratley(Ball 59), Sweeney(Kelman 84), Perkins(O'Neill 84). Video highlights. BBC report. A closer look. We finished the year in 10th place on 31 points along with three other clubs. January transfer rumours: 17 Dec by TC9, £250k to sign AFC Wimbledon striker Matt Stevens. Set to sign a three year deal to go through on 1st January. Next year.