Thornton's double is sweet for Orient (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Thornton's double is sweet for Orient

12:43pm Monday 15th March 2010

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Leyton Orient 2
Walsall 0
League One

SEAN Thornton’s second double of the season inspired Leyton Orient to a crucial victory over a distinctly average Walsall side at Brisbane Road on Saturday.

The O’s dominated proceedings for large periods of the game and Thornton's second half double helped add some much-needed breathing space between Orient and the dreaded League One relegation zone.

The hosts started brightly and made their first opening of the half on six minutes. Scott McGleish got to the byline and sent a low cross into the middle which Jonathan Téhoué met, only for Walsall keeper Rene Gilmartin to deny him four yards out.

Téhoué then had another chance to give Orient the lead just one minute later, but the Frenchman’s 20-yard shot was comfortably saved by Gilmartin at the near post.

Chances were few and far between for the visitors in the first half, with the Saddlers forward Troy Deeney’s clever spin in the box falling fortunately into the arms of Orient’s stand in goalkeeper, Glenn Morris.

Orient frontman Téhoué was at it again on 26 minutes, almost profiting from some some great build up play from the O’s. Jason Demetriou slid the ball through to Charlie Daniels, with the left back’s cross falling to the feet of the striker, whose chipped effort was tipped round the past.

Daniels was then the architect for another good chance, with the defender's free-kick reaching McGleish at the back post, whose looping header was cleared over his own cross bar, by Walsall midfielder Josh O'Keefe.

The former Spurs man seemed itching to get in on the goal-scoring act himself, when his 15-yard pile driver beat Saddlers keeper Gilmartin, but unfortunately only found the side netting.

The home side's final chance of the half fell to winger Aaron Doran, when Téhoué’s shot was deflected into the path of the on loan Blackburn man, but his effort was deflected over the bar.

However, it was Walsall who could have gone in at the break one up. Deeney put strike partner Alex Nicholls through but the forward's shot flew well over the bar in first half stoppage time.

The O’s continued to build the pressure after the interval, Tamika Mkandawire finding himself in an advanced position, but his cross was headed just wide by McGleish.

It was then the visitors turn to threaten.. First, winger Steve Jones cut in from the left, only for his scuffed shot to dribble wide of Morris’ post. Then on 56 minutes, Deeney’s cheeky back heel fell nicely for former Birmingham City winger Julian Gray, however his attempt sailed into the stands.

Back came Orient with Téhoué once again at the centre of the action. His cross hit the raised arm of Walsall's Darryl Westlake, but referee David Phillps waved away the striker's animated appeals for a penalty.

The away side were creating very little in the final third, with a Netan Sansara shot and an optimistic Jones free-kick the only danger they posed to Geraint Williams' team.

The home side finally grabbed the goal that their superior possession warranted on 62 minutes. McGleish knocked the ball through to Doran, whose shot was deflected off Gilmartin and fell kindly to Thornton, and the midfielder slid the ball into the empty net from close range.

The O’s could have so easily doubled their lead just two minutes later when Téhoué’s shot fell to the back post, however his strike partner McGleish couldn’t get a telling touch to the effort and the chance went begging.

The confidence was starting to flood back into the Orient side and wingers Demetriou and Doran looked rejuvenated in the second period, with the former creating the team's next opportunity. The Cypriot cut inside full-back Westlake before unleashing a savage right-footed drive, which flew just wide of the mark.

The game was then effectively over as a contest when Thornton grabbed his and Orient’s second of the game on 73 minutes. The lively Téhoué slipped in the area with the ball eventually falling to Thornton in the box, who set himself excellently before coolly sliding the ball under Saddlers’ keeper Gilmartin.

The visitors’ afternoon could have got a lot worse, had Gilmartin not prevented midfielder O’Keefe’s attempted chest-back from falling into his own net after substitute Ryan Jarvis’ stinging cross caused panic in the area.

With the points already safe, Thornton seemed eager to grab his first professional hat-trick and he could have so easily done so had his half volley from 20 yards not flown wildly over the bar in the 92nd minute.

In the end, the Irishman was made to settle for two as referee Phillips called an end to proceedings and the home side recorded their first league victory in eight games to move themselves eight points clear of the relegation zone and up into 14th place.

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