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Justin’s boys still unbeaten
Leyton Orient held on to their unbeaten league record as substitute James Alabi slotted home in added time to deny the home side victory.
Despite the lateness of Alabi’s goal, O’s gaffer Justin Edinburgh was quick to point out that his side were worthy of at least a share of the spoils.
“We have been playing well lately, but today we were excellent and the way we dominated the game it does feel a little bit like two points dropped rather than one point gained,” he said.
The home side had managed to go in at the break on level terms after a first half totally dominated by the visitors, albeit for all their first half dominance Sam Johnson in the home team’s goal had nothing of consequence to deal with other than to collect a couple of crosses and make several routine saves.
Visiting striker Josh Koroma had caused most of the problems for the Shaymen’s defence, with Johnson making two comfortable saves from the lively forward.
The O’s talisman striker MacAuley Bonne had missed the visitors two best chances, firstly heading over after neat interplay between Craig Clay and Myles Judd had given him a chance that he would normally taken.
The next big chance of the half also came Bonne’s way, a clever Crossfield ball from ever influential skipper Jobi McAnuff to James Dayton again resulted in the type of cross that would normally be dispatched with ease, but again the striker – the O’s top scorer last season – headed over from in front of goal.
As the half closed, with the home side offering very little other than a couple of breakaways that were comfortably dealt with, Joe Widdowson played a quick one-two with McAnuff before delivering a sweet cross in from the left, which the sliding Koroma just failed to connect with.
Home manager Jamie Fullarton used the break to reiterate his pre-match plans to great effect as his charges looked a different team in the second half and in Matty Kosylo, they had the player that was looking to make the difference.
His work-rate gave the visiting defence no time to rest and after seeing an effort blocked in the 65th minute, he was first to the loose ball, only to be brought down in the box by Marvin Ekpiteta, and Dayle Southwell slotted home the resulting spot-kick.
Edinburgh threw on all his attacking options as he went in search of the leveller.
Matt Harrold headed over with his first touch before fellow sub Alabi had the last word, slotting home his first goal for the club after Charlie Lee’s long throw caused havoc in the home box.
Despite the share of the points on home turf, Fullarton was in a philosophical mood after the O’s last-gasp comeback, pointing to the talent his side faced in the shape of Edinburgh’s titlechasing squad.
“We were so close to claiming all three points when leading in injury-time, but in reality, we have played the joint leaders who have celebrated a late leveller to keep their own unbeaten run going,” he said. “On reflection, was it a fair result? In all honesty I would have to say yes.”