retired_destiny1124

26.12.03
Southend (0) Leyton Orient (1)
Southend- None
Orient- S.Huckerby 86
MOM- Scott Huckerby, Leyton Orient

It looked like Orient was well on its way to a frustrating scoreless draw against the determined squad from Southend. Orient had gained several good chances, only to see Ryan Robinson deny them. In the late stages it was Scott Huckerby who earned hero status when he took the ball past both Leon Cort and Andy Monkhouse before finding the far side of the net past Robinson for the match winning goal.

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"Do you think he can help us?" asked Drabek of Field.

"He has a lot of the qualities you told me we were seeking, but he wants a lot on the wage side..." offered Field.

Drabek nodded, "Yes, a bit higher than I had hoped- still I think he will be worth it."

Orient Lands Portugese Winger
Leyton Orient today completed the transfer purchase of Portugese winger Luis Dias from Universidad Lamas for a cost reportedly around 10K. The expectation is that Dias will fill in on both wings until his has spent more training time with the club. Orient also announced the sale of leftback Billy Jones to Billericay and midfielder Phil Holder to Lancaster.


Field nodded as they both went through sections of the scouting report. "He looks like a realy good up and coming keeper. Are you sure we can actually sign him, or is his agent just leading us on?"

Drabek glanced over, "I think he will sign with us. He might be the keeper to take us to the next level, though it is hard to argue with how well Lee Harrison has done for us."

Jowsey Comes to Orient
In a surprise transfer purchase, Leyton Orient is bringing highly regarded youngster James Jowsey from Manchester United. United, awash in veteran keepers at present, was willing to let the youngster move and Jowsey was happy to accept a contract that may allow him to move to more prominence as a starter.

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7.1.04
Leyton Orient (1) Kidderminster (0)
Orient- S.Huckerby 9
Kidderminster- None
MOM- Scott Huckerby, Leyton Orient

In a match thoroughly dominated by Orient, it was only their poor shooting that kept the match from being more lopsided. As it was, they had to be content for Scott Huckerby's swerving free kick past Ian Dunbavin as their lone score in the match. The stifling Orient defense allowed the visitors only one shot at Lee Harrison the entire match, while generating 16 shots of their own- only 4 actually on net though.7.1.04
Leyton Orient (1) Kidderminster (0)
Orient- S.Huckerby 9
Kidderminster- None
MOM- Scott Huckerby, Leyton Orient

In a match thoroughly dominated by Orient, it was only their poor shooting that kept the match from being more lopsided. As it was, they had to be content for Scott Huckerby's swerving free kick past Ian Dunbavin as their lone score in the match. The stifling Orient defense allowed the visitors only one shot at Lee Harrison the entire match, while generating 16 shots of their own- only 4 actually on net though.

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10.1.04
York (0) Leyton Orient (2)
York- None
Orient- J.Torhallsson 5 M.Lockwood 29
MOM- Scott Huckerby, Leyton Orient

It was another very good performance by Orient as they pressured York from the opening whistle. Johann Torhallsson passed up a good chance to cross to Nii Lamptey, but Mark Ovendale made an excellent parry of his shot- which bounced right to Torhallsson for an easy goal into the empty net. Matt Lockwood then scored one of the prettiest goals of the season for Orient. Scott Huckerby, who had an exceptional match, sidestepped two defenders and then crossed back to Lockwood- lurking at the top of the area. Lockwood hammered home a booming shot past Ovendale and Orient was well on its way to another win. With the 2-0 lead, Orient put the clamps on the midfield and only allowed the home side 3 shots the entire match.

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"Right this way guv'nor," menacingly stated the large man as he grabbed Will Drabek and hauled him into the shadows of the alley. He easily pinned Drabek against the rough stone of the building.

"Now, now- quit yer struggling," whispered the man. "I am only here to deliver a message."

"What would that be?" said Drabek, slightly gasping in the large man's hold.

"There's a little matter of your upcoming match against Swansea. Doesn't rightly matter if you win the match, but it had better be a close one."

Despite the hold and the tone of the man's voice, Drabek glared at him, "Forget it- the match will play out however it does- I will not hold my club back." Sensing a chance to launch a dagger at the initiator of the exchange Drabek stated, "And tell Hugo to do his own dirty work- if he has the balls."

The man slammed Drabek hard against the building, "Now why would ye be gettin ideas there Guv'nor- just take this pleasant advice and make sure the bl**dy match is close."

***

14.1.04
Leyton Orient (9) Swansea (0)
Orient- L.Dias 4 G.Alexander 34,56,57,63,73,82 J.Torhallsson 48 C.O'Brien 90
Swansea- None
MOM- Gary Alexander, Leyton Orient

It was a stunning match for Gary Alexander as he broke both the Orient and Divisional scoring records with 6 goals against a Swansea side that crumbled in the 2nd half against Orient pressure. Orient was off to a flyer when Luis Dias scored his 1st goal when he deflected a cross from Alexander past Roger Freestone. Chris O'Brien made a good pass to Johann Torhallsson, who headed it back into the center and Alexander promptly drilled it past Freestone for his first of many. It was Torhallsson's turn to start the 2nd half when Silvio Reinaldo Spann made a perfect through ball and he blasted it past Freestone. Alexander's 2nd half rampage started when he sent home a rebound after Freestone made a nice stop on Torhallsson. Less than a minute later he had his hat-trick when he headed a short cross from Torhallsson in for his 5th goal of the season. Simon Downer sent Alexander a sizzling pass for him to score his 4th, then Torhallsson again set him up for an easy header after Marcus Ebdon freed Torhallsson with his pass. Alexander then capped off his incredible match as he and Torhallsson played a give and go passing sequence and Alexander's shot trickled through Freestone into the net. Craig O'Brien finished off the huge Orient win as Ebdon found him unattended in front of Freestone and he whipped it past him.

***

Drabek felt, rather than heard the attack coming and ducked slightly as a huge fist only grazed his head, he tried to step away only to feel a kick catch him squarely in the back and knock him flat. Before he could move another foot caught him in the stomach causing him to gasp in pain. He laid there and absorbed several more kicks before the attackers heard someone coming and rushed away.

He felt himself rolled onto his back and the face of Spencer Field staring at him with concern. "Just lie there, I will call an ambulance." Doggedly, in spite of the pain, Drabek pushed himself into a sitting position against the wall. "No ambulance. No police." Field stared at him uncomprehendingly. "It's a personal matter Spencer. Help me get to my car."

Field half carried Drabek the short ways to his car and lowered him into the front seat, "Are you sure Will?"

Drabek, now recovering slightly from the beating, grimly remarked "I am sure Spencer- thanks for the help."

***

Drogo Drabek stared at flowers with complete surprise. "Who the hell brought these?"

The smaller major domo of the pub/office shrugged, "It was some florist- don't know which one- but we thought it was ok because we inspected it and there was a card from Will."

"From Will? What the hell- that isn't his style. Where is the card?"

Motioning to the far side of the desk, the major domo made his exit.

Drogo picked up the card, which hadn't been opened, and then took his letter opener and slit the top of the envelope. The card featured a sympathy greeting and inside was scrawled "Hope Hugo made up at the races what he lost- Will." Drogo stared at the far wall of the office, and then reached for the phone, "Get Hugo in here."

Several minutes later, a slightly less hulking, but obviously cut from the same family mold, younger man entered, "Yes, Father?"

Instead of inviting him to sit, Drogo stood up. "How does yesterday's take look?"

The younger man visibly figeted, "It was OK, we suffered a couple lucky bets that dragged it down a bit."

"Tell me about those *lucky* bets."

"One was on a no-hoper to place at Cheltenham, and the horse came up golden. Someone else bet against the heavy line in the Orient-Swansea match and pocketed a goodly amount when the match came out so lopsided."

"Why was the line that close, was there a lot of money on a close over-under?"

"Yes, that is where the smart money was being bet."

Drogo casually backhanded Hugo and he smashed into the far wall. "Hugo, you make a lousy liar. Tell me about what happened with Orient."

Forcing himself off the wall, "I thought we could make a boatload on the match, most books were showing Orient as a large favorite on recent form, but I thought it would be close."

"And why did you *think* it would be close?"

The younger man visibly paled, "I was just certain it would be."

Drogo backhanded him again and he hit the floor hard, "You are tactless and inept. That was a stupid play Hugo, you should know your brother has iron in him and would push back even harder. Why do I find myself thinking that I have the wrong brother running part of my organization? Your weekly allottment will go to make up the difference that the Orient match brought."

He waved the wincing younger man out of the office and picked up the phone, "Please send flowers back to Will, with this message- 'Thank you for the courtesy, it won't happen again.' " and slammed the phone back down.

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31.1.04
Cheltenham (0) Leyton Orient (4)
Cheltenham- None
Orient- J.Torhallsson 29,47,51 G.Alexander 74
MOM- Johann Torhallsson, Leyton Orient

Johann Torhallsson was a one man wrecking crew as Orient demolished hosts Cheltenham behind his work up front. The lone goal of the first half saw Matt Lockwood throwing the ball down the left side. When Anthony Loughran missed the header, Torhallsson was in alone on Shane Higgs and beat him cleanly with a shot to the far post. Ryan Thompson set up Torhallsson's 2nd goal when he raced down the left side (his off-side) and threw the ball back into the middle- Torhallsson hit a looping header that sailed over Higgs into the net. Scott Huckerby deserved a lot of credit for Torhallsson completing the hat-trick as he broke in from right wing and forced Higgs and the defenders to flow to him before a short cross back to Torhallsson for an easy header. Gary Alexander (subbed on for a tiring Thompson) finished out the scoring for the match when Huckerby's touch pass allowed him plenty of room to beat Higgs with a long shot to the near side of the net. Cheltenham's fans were headed for the exit after that and missed the home side's best chance to break Lee Harrison's clean sheet when Bob Taylor missed over the net from Harrison's doorstep late in the half.

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7.2.04
Leyton Orient (4) Mansfield (0)
Orient- R.Thompson 12,37 J.Torhallsson 56 M.Joseph 75
Mansfield- None
MOM- Matthew Joseph, Leyton Orient

The Orient backline and midfield throttled Mansfield's feeble attempts to generate offense as the home side rolled to an easy 4-0 win. A measure of Orient's control was that they outshot the visitors by a 24-2 margin. Orient struck first when Michael Sisson sent Ryan Thompson in free and though Kevin Pilkington parried his shot- Thompson was first to the rebound and slid it into the net. Thompson scored his 2nd goal of the match when he redirected a chipped pass from Byron Glasgow to earn a 2-0 halftime lead. It was Johann Torhallsson scoring early in the 2nd half as Nii Lamptey threaded a pass through to find him alone on the corner of the net. Matthew Joseph capped the Orient scoring as he deflected a curling Lamptey corner past Pilkington into the near side of the net.

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14.2.04
Leyton Orient (4) Huddersfield (0)
Orient- R.Thompson 35 J.Torhallsson 49,63,90
Huddersfield- None
MOM- Johann Torhallsson, Leyton Orient

Huddersfield stayed with Orient in the early stages of the match and had the better of the chances until midway through the first half. Then the Orient swirling attack took hold of the midfield as they finished out strongly for another 4-0 win. The lone goal of the first half came when Matthew Joseph launched a long pass down the right side of the pitch. Ryan Thompson outraced both a defender and keeper Ian Gray and slid the ball by the onrushing Gray into the far corner of the net. Johann Torhallsson started his sensational 2nd half by breaking the Huddersfield offside trap on a long pass from Justin Miller and taking the ball around Gray for the score. Ryan Thompson was the architect of Torhallsson's 2nd goal as he beat his marker cleanly and crossed to Torhallsson, who headed it past Gray. They repeated that sequence as Torhallsson completed his hat-trick after Byron Glasgow made a nice through ball to Thompson.

retired_quechulapr

The reds are going up!
The reds are going up!
And now you've gotta believe us, and now you've gotta believe us
And now you've got to believe us!
The reds are going up!

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Thank LO212- we have some nice momentum building up...

***

18.2.04
Bury (1) Leyton Orient (2)
Bury- S.Bradley 31
Orient- G.Alexander 46 J.Torhallsson 56
MOM- Scott Huckerby, Leyton Orient

It was a match of halves as Bury staked themselves to a 1-0 halftime lead only to see Orient roar back in the second half to edge them in a close 2-1 contest. Chris Wilkins' long free kick set up Shayne Bradley to rifle a shot past Lee Harrison into the far corner of the net. Orient struck back in the 2nd half as Johann Torhallsson sent a ball into the middle and Gary Alexander beat Lee Unsworth to it and knocked it past Glyn Garner for his 10th goal of the season to even the match. The match winning goal came from Torhallsson as he outleaped Unsworth and headed a Scott Huckerby corner just inside the near post. Garner made a couple brilliant saves on Torhallsson to keep the score from being worse for Bury.

***

"Of course he is worth it- grab him if they are willing to let him go," commented Spencer Field.

Drabek nodded, "I thought you would say that. I still have some worries because he doesn't fit the profile of what I look for, but I agree he would be a worthy addition here."


19.2.04
Orient Lands Tate
Leyton Orient today completed the transfer signing of promising defender Alan Tate from Manchester United. The reported transfer purchase was a modest 5K- with a large additional sell-on amount.