mavericktango

Saturday 7th November - League One
Oxford United v Leyton Orient

For the visit to 22nd placed Oxford I've decided to try out the 4-1-3-2 formation that served me well with Wuhan. Barry Fuller will come in as the defensive midfielder, the midfield will be Di Bonito, Gardner and new loanee Mantel and up front Bossekota will partner Donati. Henk Hoogenkamp will be between the sticks for this vital game.
Our traveling fans go wild after 10 minutes when Gillian's attempted cross is deflected to Fuller just outside the area and he fires a rocket into the net from 25-yards for his first of the season. On the half hour it's two as Mantel's curling cross evades the keeper and two defenders to leave Bossekota with a simple tap-in on his debut. Leyton's best half for quite a while.
The O's started the second half under a bit of pressure but they weathered that and on the hour, Walton replaced Donati and Samaras came on for Mantel as both players replaced were carrying knocks. With 18 minutes left Oxford pulled one back when Rodgers got half a yard on Sives and fired low into the opposite corner. Oxford were level two minutes later when they hit the O's on the counter with a two on nought break. Just as I was bemoaning the loss of two vital points Bossekota dribbled his way to the byline on 90 minutes and cut it back to Gardner on the penalty spot who sidefooted into the far corner.
Oxford 2-3 Leyton
Oxford scorers: Rodgers 73, Shaw 75
Leyton scorers: Fuller 10, Bossekota 31, Gardner 90
Att: 5,426

This long awaited win propels us back as high as 11th because it wasn't quite a full program today although one of the sides that had been just above us, Rotherham, lost 4-3 at MK Dons.

Wednesday 11th November - FA Cup 1st Round Replay
Cheltenham Town v Leyton Orient

Walton replaced Donati who was still feeling the effects of Saturday's knock and Richardson took his place on the bench.
The O's had perhaps the better chances of the first half including a goal by Walton ruled out for offside but they had to be on their toes to defend the multitude of left wing crosses coming in. Ahmed replaced the disappointing Mantel at halftime and Richardson came on for the injured Walton.
The home side started well in the second half but faded as the half wore on and were reduced to 10 men with seven minutes left when Watt picked up his second yellow.
Extra time failed to produce a winner although the O's had a few good chances in the last minutes so we headed into our second penalty shootout of the season.
Hoogenkamp saved Cheltenham's first penalty and that was all that was needed as Richardson, Chebana, Gardner, Di Bonito and Bossekota all scored with ease.
Cheltenham 0-0 Leyton AET
(Leyton win 5-4 on penalties)
Att: 7,434

Our reward for finally disposing with the Conference side is a home draw with Coventry who currently lie just one place above us in League One. I gave the whole squad two days off to recover from the exertions.

mavericktango

Saturday 14th November - League One
Rotherham United v Leyton Orient

Donati replaced the tired Bossekota in the starting line-up in the only change for the trip to the 14th placed side.
The O's were off to a flyer in the fifth minute when Mantel intercepted a poor goal kick and flicked it up to Walton. He laid it off straight away to Donati who fired home from 18 yards. It was level on the half hour when Wilson's long shot was deflected to De Gomar who was left a simple sidefoot in. Five minutes from the break Hibbert dribbled past three before putting it in the box, Chebana completely missed his clearance and De Gomar was waiting again to tuck it in. De Gomar then turned provider in the final minute nodding the ball down to an unmarked Wilson to volley home.
I try to gee up my tired troops at half time and switch to 4-3-3, replacing the ineffectual Fuller with Bossekota.
With 18 minutes left another poor clearance lead to Walton breaking through the defense and slipping it to Donati for his second goal. That was as close as it got though as the O's slump to another defeat.
Rotherham 3-2 Leyton
Rotherham scorers: De Gomar 31, 40, Wilson 45
Leyton scorers: Donati 5, 72
Att: 5,741

Rotherham replace us at 11th while we slip to 13th. Coventry remain 10th after a 0-0 draw at Lincoln and Notts County's 2-0 win at Northampton moves them above us to 12th.

Wednesday 18th November 2009

On the first anniversary of my taking over at Brisbane Road my assistant tells me that SIX of my reserve squad have picked up injuries in the reserves 3-0 defeat at QPR.

Saturday 21st November - League One
Leyton Orient v Chester City

For the visit of bottom club Chester Sedgwick takes over at right wing and Bossekota takes Walton's place.
The first half was absolutely dire, Chester had most of the possession but the O's had the only four shots of the half with only one of them on target.
Four minutes into the second half Di Bonito got across the face of the visitors defense and headed home Chebana's deep cross. The O's managed to create a few chances then but didn't finally wrap it up until the 89 minute when substitute Walton was sent sprawling in the box, my other substitute Autret stepped up to slot home the penalty.
Leyton 2-0 Chester
Leyton scorers: Di Bonito 49, Autret 89 pen
Chester scorers: none
Att: 5,149

Rotherham had an amazing 4-4 tie at Bristol City and Notts County drew 0-0 with Gillingham enabling us to go back to 11th, seven points above the drop zone and 11 points from the playoffs.

Wednesday 25th November - Carling Cup 4th Round
Luton Town v Leyton Orient

Having not got past the second round for over five years we face high flying Championship side Luton. Autret replaced Sedgwick and Walton came in for Bossekota.
Luton got the best start when after a goalmouth scramble Sives managed to deflect the ball into his own net. The O's created a few chances but found the Hatters keeper, Jamie Ashdown, in sublime form and the home side stole another in first half stoppage time. Scott Agnew's swirling cross fell perfectly for Scott Sinclair to head home his tenth of the season.
The defense failed to spot Sinclair on 50 minutes and he comfortably hit number three. It went from bad to worse when Fuller was dismissed on the hour for hauling down the Luton player when last man. Donati went off injured on 65 minutes and Beattie wrapped up an easy win by heading home Sharbel Touma's cross. The O's had the last word when Samara who had earlier sliced two good chances wide finally headed home his first hour for the club moments before Guemache was dismissed for his second yellow leaving us with nine.
Luton 4-1 Leyton
Luton scorers: Sives OG 3, Sinclair 45, 51, Beattie 85
Leyton scorers: Samaras 90
Att: 5,023

Two shocks in the round as Aldershot and Hull knocked out Everton and Chelsea both on penalties.

Chester got only their second win of the season when they won 1-0 at MK Dons while Coventry made it seven league games without a win, losing 3-1 at home to Bradford.

mavericktango

Saturday 28th November - FA Cup 2nd round
Leyton Orient v Coventry City

With Fuller suspended I had to resort to 4-4-2 with wholesale changes to replace the latest injuries and suspensions.
A 20-yard free kick from Di Bonito gave the O's the lead after 18 minutes and with four minutes left in the half Low's ball put Bossekota away. His neat cross found Walton who was able to sidefoot home.
Ten minutes into the second half the O's went further ahead when Samaras bent his cross past the defender and Bossekota stuck it away. A rare comfortable win for the O's, the only downside was Paul Robinson's fifth booking and impending suspension.
Leyton 3-0 Coventry
Leyton scorers: Di Bonito, Walton 42, Bossekota 54
Att: 3,454

Monday 30th November 2009

My secretary has reminded me that nearly all the current squad is out of contract at the end of the season; if they continue to play as they are not many of them will be getting new ones.

Tuesday 1st December - League One
Milton Keynes Dons v Leyton Orient

For the visit to 5th placed MK the only changes are enforced as Sives replaced the suspended Robinson.
Quite how we got anything out of this I don't know! The Dons cut through us like water and within 20 minutes we were two down and sinking like a stone. Only the home side's waywardness kept it at two at halftime.
I didn't even want to talk to them during the break, I just made do with a "You lot are absolutely CLUELESS." Somehow that seemed to work for a while as Walton got onto a long ball and crossed it for Richardson to fire home his first goal since being injured at the start of the season. MK Dons were back to two in front on 67 minutes and cruising home. With eight minutes left a pass back from 15 yards inside our half led to the Dons keeper colliding with Walton 40 yards from goal and the ball broke to Richardson who fired into the empty net from 35 yards. A minute later with the home players in shock, Autret robbed their midfielder, slipped it to Richardson whose pass let Walton blast home the equaliser. MK Dons just couldn't believe it and I still can't
MK Dons 3-3 Leyton
MK scorers: Kouman 2, 67, Gray 20
Leyton scorers: Richardson 51, 82, Walton 83
Att: 17,714

Rustyman

I've only started reading this tale today but what a ride! Good going!!

mavericktango

Thanks for the encouragement Rustyman

Saturday 5th December - League One
Walsall v Leyton Orient

Donati returned to the side in place of Bossekota for the visit to the 7th placed West Midlanders. Paul Robinson also replaced Sives at the heart of the defense.
A magnificent reverse ball down the line by Samaras put Donati away in the seventh minute and he cut into the box to curl it past the keeper into the far corner. Leyton were looking very sharp and creative up front while Hoogenkamp showed some impressive blocks at the other end. Walsall still came back to equalise though on 32 minutes when a one-two unlocked the defense leaving Knights to blast home. Walsall pressed for the last quarter of an hour but it remained all squared at the break.
A bright srart to the second half by the O's was undone on 54 minutes when a long clearance from a corner left Peralta one on one with Chebana and once he outpaced the defender he coolly dummied the keeper and slotted home. The O's responded well and were able to level the scores with 15 minutes left, substitute Sedgwick got down the flank and Gardner glanced home his cross. Walsall should have won it in the 92nd minute when Colin Healy headed a simple chance wide and from the goal kick Orient swept forward. Donati's flick sent substitute Richardson away and he drew the keeper before releasing the ball to Autret who slotted home. A deserved win for one of our better recent preformances.
Walsall 2-3 Leyton
Walsall scorers: Knights 36, Peralta 54
Leyton scorers: Donati 8, Gardner 76, Autret 93
Att: 10,313

The win lifts us back to 11th over Coventry who could only draw 2-2 with Northampton. Nine points now separate us from the relegation zone although our goal difference is still only -4.

Spav

I've just caught up with your whole story and it makes for fine reading. :thup:

I'm one of those people who tends to play a game with the starting team and then finish when it goes sour or gets boring. I'm always amazed at people who manage these career games where they move around. I really must try it for myself someday - your adventures are a great advertisement for the career style of game.

mavericktango

I must admit Spav I'm normally one of those one club gamers, I might try two but usually find the second club's a disaster and give up. But writing a story as I go along it seems to take a life of it's own

mavericktango

Wednesday 9th December 2009

The third round of the FA Cup will now see us travel to Lincoln after their penalty shootout win over Rotherham. Not the big moneyspinner but a chance to make the fourth round.

Saturday 12th December - League One
Leyton Orient v Queens Park Rangers

Injuries to Chebana (arthritis) and Di Bonito (bruised shin) plus Flu for Samaras really stretches our squad for the visit of 5th placed QPR. In comes Fuller, Calabria and Sedgwick as Mantel, Sives and Ahmed sit on the bench.
The game starts badly for the O's when the visitors get down the wing and James Graham's cross is knocked in by Stefan Moore after only seven minutes. The O's are really up against it when Paul Robinson is dismissed on the half hour following an altercation was Graham. We swapped to three at the back and held QPR off the scoresheet again.
We might have been holding the visitors but we weren't creating anything and indeed only managed one shot all game. The Rangers finally wrapped it ip in the 92nd minute when in a goalmouth scramble Gillian managed to knock it into his own net.
Leyton 0-2 QPR
Leyton scorers: none
QPR scorers: Moore 8, Gillian OG 92
Att: 7,859

A disappointing derby result in front of a huge crowd (just 7 shy of our record attendance) drops us to 12th. Tranmere sneak in front of us with a 5-3 win over Bradford. Gillingham's 2-1 win over Coventry pulls them level on 30 points as does Notts Countys 2-2 draw at Hull. All three of us have a -6 g.d. But we head the group having scored more goals (37 to 30 and 27).

mavericktango

Saturday 19th December - League One
Bristol City v Leyton Orient

Sives replaced Robinson who's had an extra game suspension added, Di Bonito returns to the side for the visit to 19th placed City. Maxime Mantel has had his loan terminated after failing to show anything in four outings.
HoogenKamp made a great stop on fifteen minutes to keep the O's in it but he could do nothing in the 27th minute when crisp one touch football opened up the defense and Labros Choutos netted his 20th of the season. The defense went to sleep and Choutos added his 21st a minute later. City wrapped up a poor half for the O's when Marlon Harewood scored their third on 41 minutes.
On the hour Thompson added a 30 yard free kick to make it four and Wood headed the fifth on 73 minutes.
I didn't even bother to speak to the players after the game.
Bristol C 5-0 Leyton
Bristol scorers: Choutos 28,29, Harewood 41, Thompson 61, Wood 74
Leyton scorers: none
Att: 13,457

The thrashing drops us to 15th as Coventry beat Brentford 1-0 while Tranmere get a point from a 1-1 tie at Southend.

mavericktango

Saturday 26th December - League One
Rochdale v Leyton Orient

Not much of a Christmas for us, a long trip up north for the visit to 21st placed Rochdale. The only change I make is Richardson for Walton.
We get the breakthrough we want on the half hour when Di Bonito skins the full back and finds Richardson in space; he drives in his fifth goal of the season. Rochdale pinch an equaliser deep into first half stoppage when Low fails to go with Holt leaving him a free header.
Two minutes into the second half the O's retake the lead when Donati catches the Rochdale keeper dwelling on a backpass and slams into goal bound. The shot bounces back off the post but Donati is first to the rebound and tucks in his 20th of the season. Just after the hour a fantastic six pass move by the O's cumulated to Calabria's cross being powered home by Richardson. Rochdale pulled one back in the last minute after a mazy dribble by Luke Boden was finished with a 25 yard curler which left Hoogenkamp motionless as it bulged the net.
Rochdale 2-3 Leyton
Rochdale scorers: Holt 45, Boden 90
Leyton scorers: Richardson 31, 63, Donati 48
Att: 1,470

A nice late Christmas present of three points kept us 15th at the bottom of five clubs on 33 points.