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

Unlucky O's crash to Leicester defeat

4:57pm Saturday 20th September 2008 in

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Leyton Orient 1
Leicester City 3
(League One)

ORIENT would have felt hard done by to lose this one 3-1 after more than matching Leicester during the 90 minutes of this entertaining clash.

The Foxes had the first chance of the afternoon after just two minutes when Max-Alain Gradel's cross from the right was struck goalwards first time by Matty Fryatt but keeper Glenn Morris easily saved.

The O's came within inches of breaking the deadlock 60 seconds later after Paul Terry headed JJ Melligan's corner just over the bar.

Leicester went even closer to taking the lead a minute later in what was proving a lively opening to events at Brisbane Road. Fryatt had got in behind the home defence on the right and his snap shot was brilliantly kept out by Morris, who somehow tipped the ball onto his bar before it was scrambled to safety.

But it wasn't long before the dangerous looking visitors raced into an 11th minute lead. Steve Howard found Lloyd Dyer in space down the left and with O's skipper Stephen Purches left well in his wake, the winger had time to coolly fire low past an exposed Morris.

Orient attempted to hit straight back as Aiden Palmer fired the ball into Adam Boyd, who flicked it up and saw his volley go just the wrong side of the right-hand upright.

Leicester continued to keep up the pressure and Fryatt fired over in the 20th minute after being picked out again by Gradel. The home side started to come back into the game, but Boyd's looping header from JJ Melligan's 29th minute cross lacked the power to cause keeper David Martin any real problems.

Scorer Dyer then found some space on the right in the 35th minute before unleashing a fine curling shot that led to an excellent save from Morris at full stretch.

But it was the O's who finished the half the stronger with Chambers unlucky to see his powerful 42nd minute header tipped over by Martin, following an excellent cross from Demetriou.

Chambers then had a shot deflected behind on the left as the Londoners really started to pile on the pressure. And from the resulting corner from Demetriou the home side were level as Melligan brilliantly knocked the ball pack across the goal from the far post and Chambers smashed it home.

Foxes skipper Matt Oakley had the final chance of the opening 45 with a run and shot, but his effort easily cleared the home bar.

Orient had the first real opening of the second half after Chambers picked out Boyd on the edge of the area on 54 minutes, but he fired wide.

Leicester went straight on the attack and Fryatt's shot from 20 yards out unluckily crashed against the bar after he had got in behind the home defence.

The impressive looking hosts then saw Aiden Plamer' low shot from the left just fail to hit the target after he had been picked out by Ryan Jarvis in the 59th minute.

Boyd then fired in a shot from the edge of the area, but Martin was down to comfortably save.

O's manager Martin Ling clearly looking for the win then replaced Melligan with on-loan Luton winger Dean Morgan for his first action with 15 minutes remaining.

But it was the visitors, who had e next chance at goal as Morris had to get down well to keep out Fryatt's deflected shot.

Back at the other end and Brian Saah threaded the ball through to Jarvis, but Martin raced off is line to bravely block the strikers effort.

Leicester, however broke home hearts after Fryatt tapped in from close range three minutes from time, following a scramble in the area.

And the striker then played in Andy King, who curled in a somewhat flattering third in stoppage time.

ORIENT: Morris, Purchase, Saah, Thelwell, Palmer; Melligan (Morgan 75), Chambers, Terry, Demetriou; Jarvis, Boyd. Subs: Jones (GK), Cave-Brown, Ashworth, Jeffery.