Another late late show in the Capital gives Orient the Blues

Last updated : 21 January 2009 By Shrimpers24
Leyton Orient, who had parted company with manager Martin Ling on Sunday, looked set for a victory that would have lifted them out of the bottom four after Adam Boyd opened the scoring on 11 minutes.

But caretaker boss Kevin Nugent's hopes of starting with a win were cruelly wrecked by Walker's last-gasp strike and sent the 1,000 (and 34) Blues supporters mad for the second time in 17 days after a stoppage time equaliser in London.

Blues made three changes from Stockport. Francis for Clarke and Moussa for Macca was expected, Betsy for Stanislas not so, but it showed how Walker had dropped down the striking pecking order.

In a frenetic derby duel, the game was only 11 minutes old when Adam Chambers saw his pass deflected by Johnny Herd and it fell neatly into the path of top scorer Boyd, who slotted home for his ninth league goal of the season.

United were forced into an early change when veteran striker Dougie Freedman was replaced by Lee Barnard.

With the Shrimper faithful singing non-stop in a great show of support for their struggling side, Southend tried to pass their way through the home defense, equally lacking in confidence, but it resulted in far too many hopeful crosses or long range efforts which went flying high.

And just when we needed it, a Tilly side seemed to lose the power of a finding their own team mates, giving away possession on far too many occasions. I'm not sure Grant and Christophe can play in the same midfield but we have little choice at the moment.

Boyd did see a snapshot tipped away by Steve Mildenhall in the visiting goal, while Harry Baker, who was making his full league debut for the home team, saw two efforts go close.

Southend almost levelled just before the break when home keeper Glenn Morris blasted a clearance against Alex Revell but the ball rebounded just wide of the post.

After the interval, Kevin Betsy shot across the face of the Orient goal, while at the other end Boyd had a shot tipped away.

Alex Revell, who had another good game, injured himself as he blasted over in the second half after a great move and was stretchered off, resulting in six minutes of injury time.

Enter the man who seemed destined for Yeovil, James Walker. Not any more.

Borient were hanging on in the closing stages but when Jean-Francois Christophe had a goal disallowed in the 94th minute, for a foul in the box only the referee saw, they looked to be on their way to their first win in nine games and only their third all season.

But there was still time for a sting in the tail when Walker, who had previously been on loan at Orient, raced down the left, cut in and fired a fierce shot from 18 yards that exploded into the net to give the Blues a deserved point.

Barnard even had a half chance right at the end that a fitter Lord might have put away, but that would have really been rubbing it in. Shame.

Too early to say this is our season turning around, especially with a squad more resembling the cast of Casualty than a football team, however it was a late draw at this ground last season that saw the start of a run of 1 defeat in 15 and ending in the play-offs.

I think Uncle Ron will have to spend some of that cup money if we are going to see that repeated, but it does stop the rot. A loss here would have seen us continuing a horrible run. It's only a point, but it could be a very importanrt one.

"History, we've got history" shouted the Borient nutter on the tube platform after the game. Mate, I hope your history keeps you warm on the long trip home from Macclesfield next season.

Coca-Cola League One, Tuesday, 20th January 2009 @ 19:45; Matchroom Stadium
Click for Leyton Orient squad list
Boyd 11
Walker 90
Click for Southend United squad list
Starting Line-ups
1Morris 6
20Demetriou 6
4Thelwell 6
5Mkandawire 7
2Purches 6
25Daniels 6
8Chambers 6
24Baker (Cave-Brown 90)7
11Morgan 7
23Jarvis (Terry 90)6
18Boyd 7
Substitutes
12Jones
6Saah
16Cave-Brown (Baker 90)
17Terry (Jarvis 90)
7Melligan
10Goal Attempts12
5On Target7
5Off Target5
0Hit Woodwork0
3Offsides6
7Corners5
7Fouls11
Starting Line-ups
1Mildenhall 6
15Sankofa 6
18Herd 6
2Francis 8
6Barrett 7
20Christophe 6
21Betsy 6
14Moussa 7
7Grant (Walker 63)6
11Revell (O'Keefe 84)7
16Freedman (Barnard 21)5
Substitutes
24Joyce
30O'Keefe (Revell 84)
12Scannell
10Walker (Grant 63)7
9Barnard (Freedman 21)6
Referee
O Langford, W Midlands 7
Attendance
3835
Leyton Orient Cards
Chambers27unsporting behaviour
Southend Utd. Cards
Grant17unsporting behaviour
Christophe35unsporting behaviour
Barrett74unsporting behaviour