Flippin’ heck!
CONNOR TO RESCUE AFTER SMYTH STUNNER
CONNOR JENNINGS’ 81st-minute equaliser earned struggling Hartlepool a deserved point against the League One leaders.
The on-loan Stockport forward was about to be subbed when he met Josh Umerah’s pull-back with a smart finish into the far corner of the net.
And Pools could have snatched their first win in nine games as they laid siege to the O’s goal in the dying minutes.
Sub Wes Mcdonald saw his shot hit the far post and moments later Dan Kemp’s drive clipped the top of the bar.
The result maintained Pools’ unbeaten record since John Askey replaced Keith Curle last month.
But with rivals Crawley winning, their plight at the foot of the table worsened with Pools badly needing to turn their draws into wins. Askey said: “I’m disappointed that we did not get the three points.
“We finished the game really strongly and there was only one side that was going to win it in the end.
“We showed a lot of quality. You couldn’t tell which side was top of the table.”
Like their opponents, Leyton Orient have been involved in a spate of stalemates lately.
This was their fourth in a row but despite letting the lead slip, Richie Wellens’ side are still on course for automatic promotion.
Paul Smyth had ended an eightgame goal drought with a 48thminute opener. The Northern Irishman was prolific during the first half of the season but had been stuck on nine goals since mid-december. He finally reached double figures with a superb left-foot finish from the edge of the box just after the restart from George Moncur’s lay-off.
“Well done to Paul but he could have had a hat-trick,” said Wellens. “We should have been out of sight.
“We weren’t brave enough in the last 20 minutes and our game management were poor.”
Pools’ went close in the sixth minute when Umerah met David Ferguson’s cross with a near post flick which flashed across the face of goal.
The visitors weren’t much better as an attacking force. Smyth was a constant menace down the channels and created their best two opportunities.
But George Moncur’s close-range shot from his delivery was blocked then from a Smith free-kick, Aaron Drinan stabbed narrowly wide.