5:04pm Saturday 10th October 2009
Defeat today should not be too bitter for Orient after this match between two sides in good form and different ends of the table.
Geraint Williams had beaten the U's two times as O's boss before Saturday.
But this encounter promised to be the toughest yet, and so it proved.
Colchester arrived at Brisbane Road for this League One clash as one of the division's in-form sides.
Now it is four wins in a row for U's, as Kayode Odejayi's 54th minute header spoilt Orient's run of three wins in four games.
The U's always looked the side most likely to score in this entertaining if stop-start encounter.
Chances were at a premium for Orient and there no clear-cut opportunities for James Scowcroft and Scott McGleish, and later Adrian Patulea.
Boss Adi Boothroyd had guided them to six games without a defeat and into the play-off places.
Ryan Jarivs started on the right wing as Jason Demetriou and JJ Melligan were each banned.
Orient had to soak a lot of pressure during the first half as Colchester foraged ahead using all their midfield and at times the left back too.
They were shaken by the loss of Jamie Jones in the opening minute, but regained their composure and defended well as a unit, often inside their own area.
In an entertaining first 45 minutes, Colchester struggled to produce end product, and Orient looked to James Scowcroft as target-man to start many of their moves.
The O's rode out the storm and went on to create several chances of their own, as winger Andros Townsend grew into the game.
At half time, Orient had cause to be happiest as Colchester Kayode Odejayi spurned chances to open up a lead with his head.
Scowcroft, Scott McGliesh and Townsend all tested U's keeper Ben Williams.
Orient suffered a blow with the very first phase of play. Keeper Jones was knocked out in a goal-line tussle ionvolving Andy Wordsworth and relpaced by Glenn Morris.
Jones lay prone on the grass of his six yard area for a worringly long time before he was stretched off to applause wearing an oxygen mask.
Referee Danny McDermid ignored calls by the Colchester players that the ball had crossed the line.
Orient had to be switched on the opening minutes against Colchester. Ben Chorley used brain and brawn to better Kayode Odejayi.
Luke Summerfield and James Scowcroft combined well on seven minutes on the edge of Colchester's box. Scowcroft's overhead flick was just too heavy With Andros Townsend the sole outlet for real pace in the side on the left wing, Scowcroft was the target of Morris' kicking and always often double marked.
The opening Period belonged to the visitors. There were extended spells of play inside Orient's area when even Scowcroft was back defending.
But Orient's goal was not peppered with shots. Two wide headers and high half volley by John-Joe O'Toole were all the U's managed in the opening 20 minutes.
Townsend took time to get into the game and on 20 minutes was too keen to try and beat his marker when a first cross, after good hold-up play by Scowcroft, would have done fine.
Soon afterwards he sent a inviting crossing fizzing in front of the U's goal after being released down the wing by a delightful bending ball.
Then he slammed a low shot towards the far corner which keeper Ben Williams spilt in saving. That sparked a scramble where Scowcroft was mobbed and ended with a yellow card for a most displeased Scott McGleish.
Jarvis had made the corner, darting in from the right wing.
All through the half, the way Colchester's defenders grabbed and restrained Scowcroft drew blasts from O's fans and the bench alike.
Near the half hour mark, Mkandawire had to be sharp to clear when Clive Platt dashed onto a high ball.
Colchester were censured by the ref for trying the same tactics on Morris goal at corners as they used on Scowcroft up front.
Odejayi should have put the U's ahead on 40 minutes from Wordsworth's corner but unmarked he headed wide from 10 yards.
McGleish shot wide from a tight angle soon afterwards, as Orient refused to sit back and defend.
Then on 40 minutes Scowcroft could not get enough on Summerfield's low cross six yards out under pressure.
It was an action packed spell. Odejayi headed straight into Morris' arm and O'Toole blazed over after Chorley had tried on let the ball run through to Morris 10 yards out.
Close to half time, Scowcroft also fired high after McGliesh.
The second half was a stop-start affair thanks to McDermid's whistle. The goal was a rare highlight Odejayi finally struck with his head to put the U's ahead on 54 minutes from a corner when he met Wordsworth's flick inside the six yard box. 1-0.
Smith was floored by O'Toole as he surged towards the box on 65 minutes. Substitute Loick Pires, on for Jarvis, was outmuscled by Phil Ifil at the far post.
Soon afterwards at the other end, Chorley was out run by Odejayi whose low cross was blocked by Daniels.
Orient seemed to lose some purpose after the goal. Townsend's pace and step-overs became their biggest threat but his final ball was wayward.
Williams brought on Adrian Patulea in place of Scowcroft to add more bite up front on 73 minutes.
He immediately became embroiled in a spat with Kem Izzet and had a rare, for him, quiet game.
On 82 minutes, Townsend turned his marker on the edge of the box and whipped a shot which Williams got fingertips to turn it over.
Although impressive, the Spurs loanee ran into defenders as much as he left them for dead.
He could be the key to Orient putting this defeat behind them next Saturday with the visit of Brentford.
Jones (Morris 1), Chorley, Mkandawire, McGleish, Daniels, Jarvis (Pires 62), Summerfield, Cave-Brown, Smith, Scowcroft (Patulea 73), Townsend Attendance: 5,412, of which 1,065 U's' fans.
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