***having probs uploading photos
‘Do you make a carafe snake?’
It’s amazing what can happen when Luca Connell isn’t anchoring our midfield (‘anchoring’ as in ‘holding it back’? Making sure it goes nowhere?). 2 wins in 2 games, 6 goals scored. Numerous attacks. Camped in their half. Yeah, yeah, there’s a limited statistical spread to come to conclusions, but why spoil my fun? Satdy was tip-top. We bossed it from start to finish. Orient were reliant on the odd counter attack and giving the ball to Corey O’Keeffe (more later).
New signing O’Riordan (from Blackburn) slotted in nicely at centre half beside Gale but left me wondering whyever Blackpool would sign Josh Earl. Doesn’t their scouting system extend to East Lancashire? This bloke looks great. (Early days, etc). So Kay’s position this week was left back, with Noslin on the opposite flank. Otherwise, same as it’s been, which can only help understanding.
Early entertainment came from the ref, who thought Gale was injured so waved on the physio despite Gale telling him he didn’t need him. So the ref made Gale go off for a minute, as per these new rules. That is INSANE. Why can’t the ref just change his mind? If he gives a penalty, then realises he was wrong, he can reverse his decision. This makes no sense to me. ‘Yer clueless ref’ I shout…’already’ adds A. Reed, perhaps thinking I hadn’t finished my sentence.
Still, those there may forget that the Orient fans had already given him a round of ‘you’re not fit to referee’ and while his decisions continued to be...errr...inconsistent, he did manage to give us a penalty…before a blatant elbow to the head of one of our ethnically diverse players (I forget which) didn’t even bring a free kick. (I guess if he gave the free kick, he’d have to send their bloke off). All in all, standard 3rd division refereeing.
Still, we escaped an early scare, as Ravenhill gave the ball straight to them, 30 yards out, and he DIDN’T just lob it back over the keeper’s head. Within minutes we are ahead, as Kay plays a sublime ball down the left* for Cleary to run onto before crossing low for Kirk to slide into an empty net. Honestly, even Kirk looked like a footballer today, putting in a shift, scoring, and challenging for every ball. Doesn’t make my top 3 though. And we really should have nailed Orient to the cross that half. I don’t know how many times Cleary had the chance to destroy their right back, but he has to know when to part with the ball and when to shoot.
*after taking their player on. Lose it and they’re 2 on 1. Welcome to Stendelball! High risk football bringing high rewards...or losses.
Half-time, and Stendel sends on Richards for Alker. Now, Richards didn’t impress on debut (Wigan?) but between him and Noslin, they make mincemeat of the Orient left. When was the last time you saw one of our players kick a ball past an opponent and then go round him the other way? Well, you’d still be waiting, cos Richards has his ankle clipped as he does this. Penalty. (I’ve since watched it a dozen times and I couldn’t tell you if the contact is actually inside the box, but the player certainly lands in it.) McGeehan sends the keeper the wrong way in convincing fashion. This is more like it!
0-2 is still not a fair reflection, however, but the Super Reds aren’t finished yet. Richards and Nozzer (is Nozzer’s favourite player Tyrese ‘Nozzer’ Noslin, I wonder?) combine again and the ball drops loose to Cleary, who takes a touch and rockets it in from just inside the box. This is more like it, part II. The obligatory fire drill starts in the home end and we’re left to play the last 15 at a canter.
Farrell and O’Keeffe come on for Kirk and Cleary. I kid you not, I was thinking earlier, the only chance Orient have is if we send Shepherd on (which would have been difficult, as he wasn’t even on the bench) but surely the next best is Corey O’Keeffe. What did I say the other nite? ‘He could be an asset as long as he has no defensive responsibility.’ He isn’t and did, a header towards Ravenhill latched upon by their centre forward to bury. Momentum switched in the snap of fingers. (And I don’t know why I’m coming to the defence of a defender who can’t defend, but maybe this goal doesn’t happen if Ravenhill isn’t so far back. But I’m not paid to defend, O’Keeffe is.) A clean sheet ruined. (Like at Rovrum last season when we sent Shepherd on to concede a penalty.)
Onwards and upwards!
*** Noslin. Excellent again. Looks a threat, but also passes a ball to his teammates.
** Richards. BFC need to be proscribed as a terrorist organisation the way this bloke came on and frightened them to death. Set up 2 goals, and a great partnership with Nozzer.
* O’Riordan. Commanding. How have Blackburn let him go?
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Noslin 2. Cleary 3. O’Riordan
Despatches:
In a change to previous visits, it was the turn of the post-match to go wrong. It was bad enough that we were making our way to a back street boozer near neither Leyton nor Kings X (Reedy and I getting a train back)…but then a jumper on the line near Leyton downs the tube. Central Line out, that was 25 mins walk (and the rest) to Stratford, before 5 minutes’ walk from Liverpool Street becomes 15. I calculate we spent longer walking to our pint (singular) than the time we spent drinking said pint.
Pre-match was spent under the arches at Leyton Midland Station at Gravity Well. I’m sold on this place. Excellent range of beers and I can get away with drinking strong ale in two-thirds measures. My kind of drinking.
It was also great to see Waddinho come in from the cold (East Anglia, somewhere). We complimented each other on the nice food we’ve both obviously eaten since we last saw each other. It was nice to meet junior too…so junior he’s just completed his GCSEs!
The players? They were excellent, though looking thru the list, I can’t remember Alkerpops making a contribution. Perhaps that’s why he was hauled at HT? And Bland played well, though his highlight was running 20 yards to join in a row. It’s not a game of football if he doesn’t get booked. It’s in his contract. And in one game, we’ve jumped from 21st to 9th. By my reckoning, we’ll be top of the table in a fortnight. Nice also to hear the latest chance, summat about Stendel taking us up ‘again’. It’s the ‘again’ I like. (Brought to youse from the same yoof who brought us Hourihane taking us to the promised land, but still.)
Oh, and while not strictly matchday, I’ll share this from the previous day down in Camberwell, Sarf Landan. Starving, and craving a bacon sandwich, I walked into a café on the way to my house. The Gods were truly looking down on me. There, before my very eyes, was a beautiful tray of bacon, sizzling away, ready to put between two slices of Mother’s Pride. ‘Can I have a bacon sandwich, please?’ ‘No. I know it says we’re a café outside, but this is actually a New York-style deli.’ Eh? So I look at the board, 7 items I don’t even know what they are…’what’s the….?’ ‘Oh, we’re not serving yet, but you’ll be able to see what we’ve got when I put the menus out.’ I stagger out in shellshock. Thank goodness The Pelican (a student gaff over the road from my old house) could manage to do me a salmon and cream cheese bagel without the cream cheese! What is happening in this world!? If I was a hospitality business, I’d be trying to attract customers, not dissuading them from ever going to my business again.
Drink du jour: The Casimir Effect NEIPA at Gravity Well.
Away: 636 (8,642).
The Damage:
£30 ent
£60.10 train
= £90.10
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