Orient held at home by London rivals Millwall (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Orient held at home by London rivals Millwall

4:59pm Saturday 22nd November 2008 in

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Leyton Orient 0
Millwall 0
(League One)

IT proved honours even in this London derby as Millwall brought an end to Orient's recent winning run, following this stalemate at Brisbane Road.

The visitors carved out the first opening of this derby clash on six minutes. Defender Paul Robinson punted a long ball forward to pick out David Martin down the right, he beat Stephen Purchase before squaring the ball to Neil Harris, but the strikers lobbed effort easily cleared the home bar.

Martin again carved out another effort for Harris on 14 minutes, but his curling effort from the left-hand edge of the box fell easily for keeper Glenn Morris.

Marc Laird then attempted his luck from 30 yards out on 18 minutes, but his effort was always rising and cleared the bar easily in the end.

The O's finally created their first chance of the afternoon on 21 minutes after Sam Parkin showed good footwork on the edge of the area to beat two defenders, but he dragged his low shot just wide.

Orient then appealed for a penalty after JJ Melligan appeared to be bundled over in the box, but ref Dean Whitestone waved play on.

Martin Ling's men looked to have broken the deadlock in the 31st minute after Lions keeper David Forde got caught out coming for Sean Thornton's looped ball across the box. Adam Boyd turned the stopper and blasted the ball towards goal but defender Robinson was on the line to clear. Jason Demtriou followed up and fired the ball back across goal from the left, but it proved too high for Sean Thornton who headed wide on the stretch.

The O's continued to keep up the pressure with Boyd firing an effort from 25-yards out just wide of the left-hand upright on 35 minutes. Back at the other end and Laird let fly from just outside the box but his shot flew wide of the mark.

But it was the east Londoners who finished the half the stronger, with Thornton unlucky to see two efforts bravely blocked by Robinson in the closing minutes.

The first chance of the second half finally arrived in the 59th minute, when Demetriou fired in an excellent curling effort from the left side of the box that sailed agonisingly just the wrong side of the right-hand upright.

The next opening also fell the way of the home side, but Boyd's shot on the turn from the edge of the area lacked the power to trouble Forde.

And it was a similar story just seconds later as Orient sub Dean Morgan attempted his luck from 20 yards out.

Millwall's first opening of the second half finally arrived in the 76th minute from Adam Bolder's corner, but the hosts were just about able to scramble Robinson's header clear.

But the visitors looked like they might take the lead four minutes later as O's old boy Gary Alexander's first real action after coming on as a second half sub saw him find Lewis Grabban down the right. He had the pace to outstrip Danny Granville, but with just Morris to beat he somehow managed to fire wide.

Sub Ryan Jarvis was next to try his luck with a left foot shot from 20 yards, but Lions stopper Forde was down well to make the save and what proved the final goalbound effort of the afternoon.

Orient: Morris; Purches, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Granville; Melligan (Dawkins 86), Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou; Boyd (Jarvis 77), Parkin (Morgan 67). Subs: Jones (GK), Cave-Brown.