Orient grab a well-earned point at Oldham (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Orient grab a well-earned point at Oldham

5:22pm Saturday 20th December 2008 in

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Oldham Athletic 1
Leyton Orient 1
(League One)

ORIENT secured an excellent point at high flying Oldham in a game of two penalties at Boundary Park.

Andy Liddle's spot kick had given the hosts a deserved lead, before a relieved Jason Demetriou fired the O's level thanks to the quick actions of JJ Melligan after the wingers initial 71st minute penalty had been saved by Greg Fleming The hosts finally had the first shot of the game on ten minutes, but Danny Whitaker's effort from just outside the box flew wide of the left-hand upright.

Andy Liddell then failed to hit the target two minutes later as the Latics continued to press forward.

Melligan had the O's first effort of the game, but his right-footed shot on the quarter-hour mark from just outside the box flew wide of keeper Fleming's left-hand post.

Liddle was then unlucky to see a goalbound shot blocked at the other end, before Darren Byfield hooked an acrobatic effort just over.

It was then Orient's turn to go on the attack, but Sam Parkin saw his header well blocked, following Sean Thornton's corner.

But the Latics raced into the lead, when Liddle coolly finished from the penalty spot on 33 minutes, following a foul in the box on Byfield by Tamika Mkandawire.

Glenn Morris then saved two minutes later to deny Lee Hughes.

Melligan than brought a save from Fleming - before Oldham went straight back on the attack - only for Hughes to fire wide of the left-hand post.

The final chance of the half fell to Melligan, but once again he was denied by Fleming.

Chris Taylor fired over Morris' bar shortly after the restart, before a Thornton corner was then directed goalwards by Parkin, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Flemming.

Mkandawire was next to be denied by the home stopper, who saved the defenders shot on 58 minutes.

A foul on Parkin by Hazell then presented Thornton with a free-kick in a good position, but Fleming was once again there to save on 65 minutes.

O's boss Martin Ling decided to shuffle his pack a minute later, as he introduce Dean Morgan and Ryan Jarvis for front pairing Parkin and Boyd respectively.

And it seemed to do the trick after Fleming upended Jarvis in the box. But with regular penalty taker Boyd now off the pitch Demetriou stepped up to take the spot kick. His powerful effort was brilliantly saved by home keeper, but Melligan was on hand to hit the ball straight back to a relieved Demetriou to slot home.

The match petered out after that, with a tame effort at goal from Oldham sub Lewis Alessandra and a Thornton free kick that was easily saved by Fleming, as the east Londoners appeared content to hold out for a point.

Orient: Morris, Cave-Brown, Mkandawire, Thelwell, Granville, Melligan, Chambers, Thornton, Demetriou, Parkin (Morgan 66), Boyd (Jarvis 66). Unused: Saah, Terry, Spence.