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30.8.03
Darlington (1) Leyton Orient (1)
Darlington- F.Bossy 67
Orient- J.Torhallsson 9
MOM- Matthew Joseph, Leyton Orient

Orient and Darlington each struggled in the match and the 1-1 draw was a fair result for both sides' efforts. Johann Torhallsson notched the first goal of the match, after Nicky Hill intercepted a clearing kick and made a long header to unattended Gary Alexander. Alexander then whipped a cross into Torhallsson, who beat two defenders to the ball and though Andy Collett got a piece of the ball- he couldn't stop it from going past him into the net. Darlington evened the match in the 2nd half when Fabien Bossy converted a penalty kick past Lee Harrison, after Paul Moss was judged to have pushed Neil Maddison in the area. Neither side had really good chances following the penalty and both seemed lulled into the final result from there on.

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3.9.03
Leyton Orient (3) Cheltenham (1)
Orient- M.Ebdon 7 J.Torhallsson 31,52-P
Cheltenham- B.Cozic 90
MOM- Glenn Morris, Leyton Orient

Orient took advantage of a stellar performance from keeper Glenn Morris is his first start this season and despite being outshot by the visiting side handily won at Brisbane Road. Marcus Ebdon gave Orient the early lead as he headed a Scott Huckerby corner past Shane Higgs. It was a 2-0 halftime lead thanks to an excellent individual effort by Johann Torhallsson. John Brough made a poor free kick that Scott Huckerby headed back into the middle of the pitch, Torhallsson and Brough both contested the ball and Torhallsson came away with it. Shane Higgs made a brilliant parry of Torhallsson's 20 yard blast, but Johann was first to the loose ball and took it around the prone Higgs before slotting it home. Brough then was guilty of holding Torhallsson's shirt in the area and Torhallsson converted the ensuing penalty kick to make it 3-0. Cheltenham finally scored on Morris in 2nd half injury time when Bertrand Cozic headed a long Jamie Victory throw in- and though Morris stopped it- was able to half-volley the rebound past him to ruin his shot at a deserved clean sheet.

***

"Sorry, but I don't agree with this purchase. Look, Opara was here before and couldn't gain a starting position *then*- you really think he is going to help us now?" asked Field.

Drabek thought a moment and nodded, "I still think he will give us some cover that we are lacking now- he has at least a couple qualities that should make him acceptable on the wing- and he is cheap."

Field shook his head negatively, "I think you are wasting a roster spot and wages on him- even if cheap- but it's your call."

Orient Brings Back Opara
Leyton Orient boss Will Drabek today announced the transfer purchase of past Orient winger Kelechi Opara. The purchase price paid to Heybridge was reportedly at modest 4K.

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13.9.03
Mansfield (0) Leyton Orient (2)
Mansfield- None
Orient- J.Torhallsson 25 G.Alexander 80
MOM- Scott Huckerby, Leyton Orient

In another closely played road match, Orient stayed the course and through dogged midfield defense and a couple key plays were able to secure a worthy road victory. Scott Huckerby made a beautiful play to set up Johann Torhallsson for the lone goal in the first half. Huckerby beat Tony Vaughan on the dribble at the baseline before smartly crossing to a trailing Torhallsson- who deflected the ball past Scott Bevan into the near side of the net. Gary Alexander then capped off the win with a clinching goal as Nii Lamptey made a brilliant left side run down the length of the pitch before throwing a cross over everyone. Alexander used his quickness to arrive first and slid the ball under a diving Bevan to cap off a good 2-0 win.

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"Spencer take a look at this one and see what you think," asked Drabek as he tossed Spencer Field a scouting folder.

"Pretty young- has some good physical traits for how young he is. Hasn't yet played professional- where did we find him?"

"Youth search."

"Likely worth a minimal contract then- we aren't that deep on our backline."

Leyton Orient Signs Youngster
Orient today announced the signing of defender Curtis Davis. He is expected to go directly into the reserves lineup.

***

20.9.03
Leyton Orient (1) Hull (2)
Orient- R.Thompson 8
Hull- M.Reddy 46 L.Johnson 70
MOM- Justin Whittle, Hull

Orient played a superb first half against the strong visiting side that Hull fielded and was rewarded by carrying a 1-0 lead to halftime. Things came apart in the 2nd half as skipper Lee Harrison wasn't sharp and the visitors made their chances count in coming from behind to beat Orient 2-1. It was a quick start for Orient as Ryan Thompson picked up a rebound and slotted it home for his 5th goal of the season after Johann Torhallsson's blast had been parried by Paul Musselwhite. Hull evened it at the start of the 2nd half when Thomas Pinault slid a ball across the top of the area and Michael Reddy escaped marking to drive it past Harrison. It was Pinault's corner that Lee Johnson dove and headed past Harrison for the match winning goal in the 70th minute. Justin Whittle did an excellent job in policing Johann Torhallsson in earning MOM honors.

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27.9.03
Yeovil (1) Leyton Orient (0)
Yeovil- K.Gall 3
Orient- None
MOM- Glenn Morris, Leyton Orient

It was a closely played match at Huish Park, but Yeovil took full advantage of Kevin Gall's rebound goal to edge visiting Orient. On Gall's goal, it was the Orient defense clearly to blame as Glenn Morris parried two close in shots by Darren Way and Winfield Steele, before Gall was finally able to beat him. Morris kept Orient in the match with some stellar work in the 2nd half, but it wasn't to be as sub Stephen Collis (who came on for injured starting keeper Chris Weale in the 23rd minute) also had a dazzling match in keeping a clean sheet for the home side.

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1.10.03
Huddersfield (O) Leyton Orient (2)
Huddersfield- None
Orient- J.Torhallsson 8 M.Joseph 58
MOM- Scott Huckerby, Leyton Orient

Orient remedied their poor offensive showing in their last match with a quick strike to tone down the Huddersfield crowd. Scott Huckerby put Ryan Thompson away cleanly and as the defense flowed to Thompson he sent the ball to a wide open Johann Torhallsson, who had an easy time chipping it into the open net. The home side surged to the attack, but Lee Harrison kept them off the scoreline as Orient led 1-0 at half. Huddersfield was again pressing at the start of the 2nd half and Lee Fowler clanged one off the post, but they lost a lot of heart when Matthew Joseph headed a Silvio Reinaldo Spann corner past Andy Jeffrey to boost Orient. Orient played staunch defense from that point and didn't allow Huddersfield another solid opportunity the remainder of the match in closing out the 2-0 road win.

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4.10.03
Leyton Orient (4) Bury (1)
Orient- R.Thompson 1,45 S.Huckerby 28 J.Torhallsson 58
Bury- D.Swailes 84-P
MOM- Ryan Thompson, Leyton Orient

In a midweek tilt, Orient quickly demoralized and dominated an obviously tired visiting Bury. Orient pumped 26 shots at Bury keeper Glyn Garner enroute to the convincing win. In the opening flurry Nii Lamptey beat Garner cleanly, only to see it bounce off the post- right back to Ryan Thompson who whistled it past Garner. Johann Torhallsson's great vision allowed him to find Scott Huckerby scooting in unattended to the far post- Garner made a good initial save- but Huckerby then rammed the rebound home for his 1st goal at Orient. It was 3-0 at half after Thompson's 2nd goal of the match as Matthew Joseph made a brilliant long pass to find him alone for an easy marker. Torhallsson's goal was close to a repeat of Thompson's 2nd as Matt Lockwood made a dazzling pass that Torhallsson half-volleyed past Garner. The lone Bury highlight was Danny Swailes ruining Lee Harrison's clean sheet as he converted a penalty kick after Greg Heald was whistled for holding Dave Nugent in the area.

***

"I don't know about this one Spencer. Do we really need to add him?" asked Drabek while reviewing a scouting folder.

"Blois is a good addition- since he is free. He is young enough to develop and help us at leftback," firmly stated Field.

Orient Signs Blois
Leftback Lewis Blois, released earlier this season by Norwich, was signed by Leyton Orient today. Manager Drabek expressed confidence that Blois will develop into a promising fullback.

***

"Look, Will. I don't agree with this purchase. I don't think he is going to help us in the long run and it sure looks to me like you are making a reaction purchase," stated Field.

Drabek shrugged, "Maybe so Spencer. I like some aspects of his game- and I think he will provide cover for Johann at least in the future. For now- with all the injuries we are seeing up front, I think he can provide some short-term production."

Orient Lands Kimmins
Leyton Orient, struggling with injuries in the frontline, today purchased forward Ged Kimmins from Salford for a reported paltry amount of 2K.

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18.10.03
Leyton Orient (3) Cambridge (1)
Orient- S.Huckerby 5 J.Torhallsson 12 M.Sisson 34
Cambridge- D.Chillingworth 56
MOM- Scott Huckerby, Leyton Orient

Orient jumped on visiting Cambridge early as a long Stephen Clegg pass up the right wing found Ryan Thompson. Thompson touch passed the ball to a moving Scott Huckerby and he blasted the ball past Shaun Marshall. Clegg also helped set the stage for the 2nd goal with a long cross field cross to Matt Lockwood. Lockwood then sent a looping pass into the area and Johann Torhallsson was able to deflect it past Marshall. Orient moved up 3-0 at haltime when Michael Sisson headed a Huckerby corner home for his 1st Orient goal. The lone highlight for the visitors was when Daniel Chillingworth took a loose ball and wheeled to fire it past Lee Harrison to ruin the keeper's clean sheet.

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22.10.03
Peterborough (3) Leyton Orient (1) Vans Trophy South 1st Round
Peterborough- A.Fotiadis 72,87 D.Farrell 76
Orient- G.Alexander 88
MOM- Andrew Fotiadis, Peterborough

Following the loss, Manager Drabek owned up to what many in the press saw as a mistake, when he acknowledged the decision to shift to a more offensive attacking approach halfway through the 2nd half cost Orient the match. The match had been a very taut affair, with Glenn Morris and Mark Tyler staging a worthy duel in net. Peterborough finally moved on top when Matt Nolan moved past Stephen Clegg down the right wing and then crossed to Andrew Fotiadis for an easy header after Justin Miller had lost track of Fotiadis. David Farrell made it 2-0 when he capped a pretty passing series by banking Leon McKenzie's cross in off the post. Nolan made another superb cross and Fotiadis again banked it home to make it 3-0 before Gary Alexander scored a consolation goal when put free by Nii Lamptey.

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25.10.03
Oxford (1) Leyton Orient (4)
Oxford- P.Wanless 48
Orient- R.Thomspon 58,66 S.Huckerby 67 J.Torhallsson 81
MOM- Ryan Thompson, Leyton Orient

Following a scoreless first half that featured plenty of chances for both clubs- but no goals- it was Paul Wanless who put the home side up in the opening moments of the 2nd half. Wanless drilled a 30 yard shot that Silvio Reinaldo Spann deflected. All of Orient was left watching frustrated as the ball trickled into the net, while Lee Harrison- put off by the deflection- was unable to change course and snare the slow moving ball. Orient evened the match when Andy Crosby's backpass to keeper Lee Camp instead wound up going directly to Ryan Thompson as Johann Torhallsson harried Crosby. Thompson had an easy time slotting the ball past Camp to even the match. Thompson struck again for his 2nd goal of the match after a poor Camp goal kick turned into an excellent Orient counter-attack as Torhallsson made a perfect through ball to Thompson. With their morale crumbling, the death blow to Oxford came less than two minutes later as Scott Huckerby made a right side run and beat two defenders before scorching a low shot at a sharp angle past the onrushing Camp. The final blow came when Torhallsson banged home his own rebound after a superb pass from Chris O'Brien had put him free behind the Oxford backline.