O's begin with a win over Hereford

4:52pm Saturday 9th August 2008

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Leyton Orient 2
Hereford United
(League One)

ORIENT begun the new season in winning ways after coming from behind to beat Graham Turner's newly promoted Hereford.

The O's carved out the first chance of the afternoon on three minutes. JJ Melligan's cross from the right was headed goalwards by Adam Chambers, and while Dean Beckwith was on hand to block his effort, skipper Stephen Purches followed up with a snap shot from the edge of the area that in the end was easily held by keeper Darren Randolph.

A long-range shot from Hereford's Kris Taylor then saw Glenn Morris having to make his first save of the afternoon on eight minutes, although that to proved a routine stop.

Orient fizzing the ball around nicely on a wet surface went straight back on the attack, through Purches in another advanced position on the right. He fired the ball across the goal, which Randolph parried to the edge of the area where Jason Demetriou let fly with a shot that was unfortunately blocked.

The Bulls looked dangerous on the break, with Richard Rose's ball from the right only just being cut out by Tamika Mkandawire in the 13th minute. From the resulting corner, however, towering defender Beckwith headed home Simon Johnson's flag kick.

The hosts continued to pass the ball around nicely and they levelled the scores after just 22 minutes. A lively looking Melligan sent another ball into the danger zone and while Adam Boyd looked to get on the end of it, his run proved enough to miss-foot Randolph who allowed the ball to squirm under him.

Boyd went close seven minutes later with a low shot that just fizzed the wrong side of the right-hand upright.

But the east Londoners were to take the lead right on the stroke of half-time after Mkanadwire's header from Melligan's cross was handled in the area by defender Richard Rose. Boyd stepped up to coolly slot home the resulting penalty inside Randolph's right-hand post.

The home side went close to extending their advantage five minutes into the second half, but Ryan Jarvis' powerful shot flashed just wide.

In a second half failing to live up to the opening 45 Taylor had the next chance of the game on 71 minutes, but his long range effort was easily saved by Morris.

Herford also had the next chance on 78 minutes, but again Morris easily save, this time from Toumani Diagouraga's free-kick.

Matt Done then attempted his luck with a shot from the edge of the area, although again it was easy for Morris to deal with.

And it was in fact the east Londoners, who came the closest to scoring two minutes from time. Demetriou's low cross was met by a sweeping shot from sub Wayne Gray that came back off the foot of the left-hand post.

Orient: Morris; Purches, Mkandawire, Saah, Granville; Melligan, Chambers, Terry (Thornton 79), Demetriou; Jarvis (Gray 70), Boyd (Pires 88). Unused: Jones (GK), Palmer.

Hereford: Randolph; Rose; Oji, Beckwith, Threlfall; Johnson, Diagouraga, Taylor, Done; Smith (Guinan 81), Ashikodi (Hudson-Odoi 70). Unused: Samson (GK), Easton, MacLeod.