Leyton Orient 1 (Thorpe) Oxford United 2 (Scott, Crosby pen)

What a difference a year makes!! This was a professional performance form a OUFC team that had the
skill but just as importantly the belief, to beat a Leyton Orient side that was a vastly superior outfit
to the Boston side who capitulated during the first half. It's been a long time since the U's have won 3
away games on the bounce! 
Ian Atkins named an unchanged side, which suggested either that some kidology was involved or that these
players desperately want to play.
The game started brightly with Orient's Fletcher nodding wide before Scott went tumbling in the box
following a ball in form Oldfield but no penalty was forthcoming.
Carl Hutchings was making good runs from the midfield which the OUFC defence were finding difficult to pick
up but on 7 minutes Oxford took the lead.
Scott took the ball on the left and made a strong run into the box. He ignored the option of squaring to
Oldfield in favour of shooting low past Morris into the bottom right corner. One wonders whether he would
have gone for goal 2 weeks ago.
Oxford were controlling the game a Orient's sole attacking option was right winger Campbell-Ryce whose
mazy runs were proving to be a thorn in the side.
After 35 minutes a superb ball by Oldfield put McNiven through but Morris easily gathered his shot.
On 38 minutes Orient had their best chance of the half, and to be frank it was the OUFC fans chance to
find out what watching Steve Anthrobus was like.
As an away fan! Campbell-Ryce crossed and the defence missed another Hutchings run into the box.
The former Brentford midfielder was unmarked in the centre, 6 yards out yet succeeded in kicking over the ball!!
A minute later Campbell-Ryce wriggled past Powell but Woodman got down well to smother his shot.
The half ended with the U's midfield moving the ball beautifully to the delight of the travelling fans and
to the frustration of Dickie Attenborough and the Orient fans.
The second half started with Orient throwing on Ibehre for the plodding Fletcher but the attacking
tactic remained getting the ball to Campbell-Ryce to whip in a cross that the OUFC defence would deal with
with cool aplomb.
After 49 minutes another incisive ball from Oldfield found Scott but his 25-yard shot was deflected just
wide.
Orient's stultified attacking was frustrating the supporters and their players.
This manifested itself in hurried play resulting a poor final ball, which was easily picked up by the U's.
On 56 minutes Savage put in a cross from the right, which Scott did, well to control before sprinting into
the box. He went down under a challenge from Smith and Referee Prosser had no hesitation in pointing to the
spot. Crosby converted coolly sending Morris the wrong way, putting the ball into the bottom left corner.
If Americans have no understanding of irony then I would suggest they attend an Oxford United away game.
Last season the fans yelled, "4:4:2," this time the chants were, "5:3:2," and," You're worse than we were
last year." A master class in English language!!
Orient continued to attack principally through Campbell-Ryce but were repulsed by excellent OUFC
defending and began to run out of ideas.
However being an OUFC fan is never straightforward.
Hell if it were we'd all be paying 50 quid to watch them beat Real Madrid and the natives wouldn't be half
as nice.
In the last minute Orient crossed the ball in with little or no thought as to who the pass was aimed at.
The former OUFC target stuck out a despairing boot and the ball looped over the diving Woodman and into the
left corner. The Oxford fans and bench were forced to sweat for 30 seconds before Prosser called time and
Atkins literally jumped for joy.
To close, a word about the Orient fans. They are some of the greatest fans football has. They like the
Oxford fans have been to Hell and back (Remember "Leyton Orient, Yours for a fiver?") and have come out
of it with their humour intact. I've been to Brisbane road several times now and always enjoyed the
experience. Good luck to them apart from when they play us!

 

Leyton Orient Glenn Orient Matthew Joseph Dean Smith Andy Harris Carl Hutchings Lee Thorpe Matthew Brazier Billy Jones Gary Fletcher Jamal Campbell-Ryce Justin Miller Subs Scott Barrett Kevin Nugent (for Jones  60 ) John Martin (for Joseph 40 ) Jabo Ibehre (for Fletcher HT ) Donny  Barnard Bookings Campbell-Ryce (dissent 27) Ibehre (violent conduct- pushing 89)

Oxford United Andy Woodman Scott McNiven Paul Powell Andy Crosby Matthew Bound Adrian Viveash Dave Savage Bobby Ford James Hunt David Oldfield Andy Scott Subs Dean Whitehead Sam Ricketts Manny Omoyinmi Jefferson Louis Simon King Booking Scott (elbow 46) Hunt (violent conduct-pushing 89) Viveash (dissent 90)

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