Sorry O's crash to Stockport defeat (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Sorry O's crash to Stockport defeat

4:57pm Saturday 13th September 2008 in

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Leyton Orient 0
Stockport County 3
(League One)

ORIENT'S recent unbeaten record came to an end after a below-par display allowed Stockport to wrap up an easy win.

The Hatters got in an early shot when Dominic Blizzard fed the ball to Anthony Pilkington in the second minute, but he couldn't keep his shot down as he fired high over the bar.

The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute, after Brian Saah turned Tommy Rowe's corner into his own net under pressure.

Orient finally carved out their first opening in the 20th minute, as Saah fed fellow defender Aiden Palmer but he blazed well over from 20 yards out.

O's boss Martin Ling was then forced into an early change after having to introduce new loan signing from West Ham Jack Jeffrey for JJ Melligan, who had struggled to shake off an earlier knock.

Just 60 seconds later and Jason Demetriou fired in a low free-kick from 25 yards that was just deflected past the target by the edge of the wall.

A minute further on and Paul Terry fired in a low effort from the edge of the area, but Stockport keeper Owain Fon Williams was able to save easily.

But the visitors could have doubled their lead in the 28th minute, when Leon McSweeney crossed from the right and Rowe's stooping header had to be tipped around his right-hand upright by Glenn Morris.

Stockport went even closer on the half-hour mark, as Michael Raynes' header from Pilkington's corner crashed against the top of the bar.

An excellent block tackle by Adam Chambers on Pilkington almost certainly prevented a second goal for the visitors, after Morris got caught out of his goal after making a hash of a clearance outside of his area.

The hosts pushed for an equaliser before the break, but Jeffrey could only fire wide at the back post on the stretch to meet Stephen Purches' cross from the right.

A foul by Demetriou on Pilkington then presented the visitors with a free-kick in a dangerous position on the stroke of half time. Pilkington took the kick himself from the right and whipped in an excellent ball into the box that was powerfully headed home by an unmarked Jim McNulty. Stockport went back on the attack early in the second period, but Leon McSweeney fired wide from 20 yards out in the 47th minute.

The O's then had what looked a legitimate penalty appeal turned down. Chambers played a neat one-two with Adam Boyd before racing into the area where he was seemingly pulled down by McSweeney but ref Robert Shoebridge waved play on.

The dangerous Pilkington jinked his way into the home box down the left on the hour mark, but his powerful low shot was brilliantly tipped around his post by Morris.

Stockport were able to increase their lead in the 70th minute, as sub Stephen Gleeson fed Rowe and he clinically smashed home into the right-hand corner of the net with his left foot.

Boyd and then Loick Pires then fired in half chances, but they were high and wide respectively.

Orient continued to press, but Demetriou's 25-yard effort on 82 minutes was bravely blocked by Raynes.

Demetriou then put over a dangerous ball from the right on 87, but Boyd couldn't keep his half volley on target.

It was again Demetriou, who went close a minute from time after he burst into the box in the right but his shot was saved by Fon Williams.

Then on full time Pires fired a long-range effort just wide of the left-hand upright.

And the O's looked to have got a consolation deep into stoppage time, when Fon Williams fumbled Demetriou's free-kick, but Dominic Blizzard was on hand to clear off the line.

ORIENT:Morris, Purchase, Saah, Thelwell (Ashworth 71), Palmer; Melligan (Jeffery 24), Chambers, Terry, Demetriou; Jarvis (Pires 71), Boyd. Subs: Jones (GK), Cave-Brown.