Orient express derailed by super Saints (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Orient express derailed by super Saints

12:17am Friday 31st July 2009

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Well executed first half goals by Gary Cohen and Jamie Lee O’Donoghue secured an excellent 2-0 victory for St Albans City at Clarence Park over a reasonably strong Leyton Orient side on Thursday evening.

City’s first ever win over the east London club was achieved on merit with assistant manager Mark Peters delighted with a number of aspects regarding the Saints play.

The opening 45 minutes were open with both sides creating chances although O’s keeper Glenn Morris had more direct shots to save than City custodian Paul Bastock.

Former Orient youngster Solomon Shields had a hand in the first threat on goal when he slipped the ball out to Adam Everitt whose penetrating cross from the City left was met by a clever looping header by O’Donoghue that the retreating Morris did well to tip over.

On 15 minutes Jason Demetriou got the better of Everitt only for the unmarked Adrian Patulea fail to make contact at the back post. Shortly after a second attempt by Demetriou to dart past Everitt led to an ugly challenge by the City left back.

That incident marred an otherwise excellent display by Everitt who defended well and sent a series of good crosses into the visitors penalty area. But Everitt was not the only one to shine. Ryan Frater led the side with great authority, James Fisher shone in midfield while newcomers Danny Green and Jason Mitchell both look likely to be good acquisitions.

St Albans took the lead on 23 minutes when Green cut in from the City right only to see his shot charged down, the ball ran kindly into the path of Cohen who maintained his good pre-season form with an exquisite curling right-footed effort from 18 yards that sailed inside Morris’s left hand upright.

And 12 minutes later the Saints moved into a commanding two-goal lead. Fisher swept a quick free kick from the middle of the pitch out to Everitt whose cross eluded the head of Cohen but was met on the full by O’Donoghue as the striker claimed his first goal in the City’s colours.

With the St Albans defence robustly keeping the Orient attack at bay a comeback was unlikely and prior to the interval both O’Donoghue and Everitt, whose header was cleared off the goalline by Scott McGleish, went close to increasing the lead.

Orient, with manager Geriant Williams, assistant manager Kevin Nugent and former City assistant manager Andy Edwards looking on from the dugout, made five changes during the interval and as a spectacle the second half failed to live up to the promise of the earlier 45 minutes.

Soon after the restart the tireless Shields fired into the side netting after breaking into the visitors penalty area and the lively Loick Pires did likewise for the O’s.

Bastock came to Everitt’s rescue by smothering the ball at Pires’ feet after the teenager looked set to break through once the City defender trod on the ball.

Clear chances faded as the game wore on and Orient squandered two good positions when Pires and Harry Baker both lifted free kicks over the home goal before Pires rattled the crossbar with a fine dead ball effort from 25 yards on 71 minutes.

Another chance went begging when Luke Ashworth’s effort from 18 yards was charged down by the eager Cohen, Orient appeals for handball went unanswered.

City made just three changes during the game as Peters replaced full backs Everitt and Alex Bailey with Jamie Thurlbourne and Hassan Sulaiman. Luke Thurlbourne was also substituted just moments after joining Everitt in referee Matt McLaughlin’s notebook.

St Albans City: P.Bastock, A.Bailey (H.Sulaiman 75), A.Everitt (J.Thurlbourne 75), L.Thurlbourne (D.Quinton 75), R.Frater, J.Mitchell, S.Shields, J.Fisher, G.Cohen, D.Green, JL O’Donoghue, subs; J.Knock, D.Chillingworth, D.Roberts, J.O’Donnell, M.Peters.

Leyton Orient: G.Morris, A.Cave-Brown, T.Mkandawire (L.Ashworth 46), E.Babbs, O.Bieudonne, JJ Melligan (H.Baker 46), M.Hall, H.Beautyman, J.Demetriou (L.Pires 46), S.McGleish (L.Crowther 46), A.Patulea (C.Benjemem 46), subs; D.Bygrave, D.Sydes, S.O’Hara, R.Nelson.

Goals: Cohen 23, O’Donoghue 35.

Booked: Everitt, L.Thurlbourne.

Referee: Matt McLaughlin (Luton).

Att: 250 (approx).

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