O's return to winning ways after Boyd strikes against his former club (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

O's return to winning ways after Boyd strikes against his former club

4:56pm Saturday 1st November 2008 in

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Leyton Orient 1
Hartlepool United 0
(League One)

A VASTLY improved Orient ended their ten-game winless run after Adam Boyd came off the bench to shoot down his former club.

The Londoners belied their lowly league position to dominate large spells of this game against high-flying Hartlepool. And they had been extremely unlucky not to have gone in front twice in the first half, as both Sean Thornton and JJ Melligan saw efforts come crashing back off the visitors' crossbar.

The pair, who had been recalled by Martin Ling produced outstanding performances for the resurgent O's, although it was Boyd who stole the headlines with his winner nine minutes from time. The visitors had made the more promising start with Joel Porter bursting through on goal on six minutes, but Glenn Morris made a smart block before Danny Granville calmly chested the ball back to him.

Just 60 seconds later and Andy Monkhouse broke down the left and put over a cross that Porter met at the back post on the stretch, but the strikers' shot flashed over.

James Brown then broke down the hosts' left-hand side and fired over a cross that took a deflection off Granville before being headed just over at the back post by Kevin Kyle.

Orient created their first opening shortly after, but Dean Morgan dragged his shot well wide.

Tamika Mkandawire then head Stephen Purches' cross just over, but the O's defender had just strayed off-side none the less.

Ling's men really started to get into the game and Jason Demetriou's shot from the edge of the area deflected off defender Ritchie Humphrey and looped just over the bar.

Orient continued to press and Morgan would have been disappointed to drag another shot wide on 27 minutes after being played in on the right-hand side of the box by Melligan.

Demetriou then found Sam Parkin down the left, but his chipped effort was easily dealt with by visiting keeper Arran Lee-Barrett.

Melligan then made a useful break down the right and his cross was only just sent wide by Purches' diving header on 29 minutes.

Orient's continued pressure then saw Demetriou brought down by Brown as he looked to break down the left-hand channel. Thornton stepped up to take the resulting free-kick from 25 yards out, but his fierce strike on the half hour mark cannoned off the bar.

Monkhouse finally had the Monkey Hangers' next shot at goal on 34 minutes, but he fired over.

The O's went straight back on the attack, however, and Melligan made an excellent burst forward down the right, before cutting inside and unleashing a brilliant shot that crashed against the visitors bar for a second time. Dermetriou was on hand to drill the follow up towards goal, but his effort was knocked behind for a corner. Thornton's resulting flag kick was met by a thumping Mkandawire header that sailed agonisingly over.

Hartlepool made a swift break down the other end and Brown's cross from the right was narrowly headed over by Porter, for what proved the final chance of the half.

Both sides had a couple of half chances at the start of the second period, before Brown headed Ritchie Jones' free-kick just wide on 52 minutes.

Melligan had Orient's first real crack at goal of the second 45, but his shot from 20 yards was always rising and cleared the visitors' bar by some distance in the end.

Morgan then produced an excellent lay-off for Granville down the left on 59 minutes, but his shot was well blocked by Ben Clark.

The lively Melligan sent over another testing cross from the right on 65 minutes, that was met by a dipping volley on the turn by Chambers that flashed just over.

Thornton, who was also having an excellent game in the heart of the Londoners midfield produced an excellent bit of skill to beat two defenders down the right, before Demetriou took the ball from his feet and shot just wide.

Hartlepool came close to breaking the deadlock on 73 minutes, as Kyle's shot from distance only just went the wrong side of Morris' left-hand post.

Clearly looking for the win Ling then introduced Boyd against his former club with 14 minutes remaining.

And the former Hartlepool favourite first real bit of action five minutes later saw him latch on to a ball from Chambers on the edge of the visitors' area, before he unleashed a screamer that took a slight deflection before sailing past Lee-Barrett.

And the hosts could have made sure of the points a minute from time, but Morgan's cutback fell just behind Thornton who would have got a deserved goal had the ball landed at his feet.

But it proved irrelevant as the O's held out for a much deserved win.

Orient: Morris, Purches, Saah, Mkandawire, Granville; Melligan, Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou; Morgan, Parkin (Boyd 76). Subs: Jones (GK), Terry, Ashworth, Dawkins.