Second half substitute Lee Angol curled home a 65th
minute winner as Leyton Orient got the better of Hornchurch at Bridge Avenue in
both sides’ latest pre-season workouts in Upminster.
Both sides were playing their second games in their pre-season
schedules and the visitors were obviously looking to build ahead of their first
season back in the SkyBet Football League after winning promotion last
season.
Obviously, this game a day after the funeral of their much-loved
manager Justin Edinburgh so emotions no doubt were high and everyone at the
club will be looking to do him and his family proud this season.
For the Urchins it was preparation for another season in the
Isthmian Premier Division and a decent crowd were in to see this one, and it
was the hosts who had an early penalty shout turned down before a swift attack
minutes later saw an effort struck just wide of the visitors far post.
Orient then saw Matt Harrold head over from close range
before the Urchins fired another decent effort wide, and then after Harrold
again had glanced a free-kick wide of the far post, the hosts fired across goal.
Hornchurch went close again as a one two ended with a
powerful effort flying inches wide, and another hosts attack saw a left footed
effort saved. The home side were
certainly looking impressive and were taking the game to their higher league
opponents.
Moments later though it was the hosts keeper’s turn to be
tested as he had to save a decent effort from the O’s, and then moments later
the Urchins saw an effort blocked as the chance count continued to climb.
Orient then burst down the right but the cross was too high
and overhit, before Harrold saw a point-blank header at the back post brilliantly
saved by the home keeper, and then a great run down the right saw a cut back
find Harrold whose goal bound effort was blocked.
The Urchins then curled wide before Orient fired a ball
across goal to the far post were an effort was saved by the keeper, and then
back up the other end a promising Hornchurch attack ended with a defensive
block, before Orient then headed wide at the back post. It meant despite all the chances created by
both sides the half somehow ended goalless.
Half Time Hornchurch 0 Leyton Orient 0
The opening fifteen minutes of the second period saw little
in the way of goalmouth action, and then Orient changed pretty much their
entire XI for the final half hour as they looked to give all as many minutes as
possible.
The hosts made some changes too, but five minutes after
those wholesale changes from the O’s they took a 65th minute lead
when after the hosts had given the ball away, Angol composed himself before
curling a lovely effort beyond the keeper into the top corner and saw the
deadlock finally broken.
And Angol so nearly doubled the visitors lead when he
absolutely walloped an effort against the woodwork, and with the O’s now going
for a killer second, they curled a free-kick wide of the hosts goal.
Orient then sent a free-kick towards the back post and saw
it headed wide, they really should have hit the target, whilst the Urchins made
some more changes to try and finish the game strongly. They had been much less of a threat in this
half for sure as their professional opponent’s wholesale changes for the final
half hour certainly made it more difficult for the home side.
And with no more goals in this one it meant the O’s ran out
winners in this one in what was a very decent work out for both sides.
Full Time Hornchurch 0 Leyton Orient 1
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