SLOPPY ORIENT BUSH-WHACKED!
JUSTIN EDINBURGH admitted Leyton Orient simply didn’t compete after the leaders suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season.
The O’s, stunned 3-0 at home by Salford two weeks ago, came off second-best against an Ebbsfleet side top of the form guide.
A lack of quality in both boxes cost Orient, who were fortunate that results elsewhere went their way.
Edinburgh said: “We knew it was going to be a tough game and Ebbsfleet didn’t disappoint. They’re a strong side in good form but at times we didn’t compete well enough.
“The first goal summed up our start to the game. We were on the back foot and everything we spoke about, we didn’t produce. We were hesitant and when you wait for something to happen, it more than likely goes against you.”
Orient’s defending for the opener certainly left a lot to be desired. They failed to clear a corner and when Chris Bush helped the ball back into the box, Jack King hooked into the top corner.
Fleet had already gone close through Michael Cheek and Bagasan Graham, while Macauley Bonne had a free-kick well saved by Nathan Ashmore at the other end.
The Fleet keeper, playing for the first time since being confronted by pitch invaders at Chesterfield, was to prove unbeatable.
Ashmore somehow clawed a Bonne shot out of the top corner after James Brophy had squared from the byline, although Orient should have been level by then. Jordan Maguire-Drew got the wrong side of Bush but dragged his shot across the face of goal.
The visitors upped the ante either side of half-time but Ebbsfleet held their shape well and threw bodies in front of shots while Ashmore tipped Josh Koroma’s piledriver over the bar.
Orient looked certain to equalise when MaguireDrew’s deep cross was nodded into the six-yard box by Joe Widdowson but Ashmore managed to deny Dan Happe from point-blank range.
The O’s were then rocked by a stunning free-kick from Bush, Fleet’s left-back finding the top corner from 25 yards with a strike worthy of winning any game.
A frustrated Bonne scooped the ball over from a great position and Ashmore saved again from Koroma late on as Fleet moved to within two points of the play-offs.
Manager Garry Hill said: “Our goalkeeper has gone through a fair bit but that’s the best performance I’ve seen from him.
“They pushed us to the end but I’ve seen another side to the players. They dug deep and showed great character.
“If you want to be in contention for a play-off spot, you’ve got to have a big heart and we’ve showed that.”
STAR MAN: Nathan Ashmore (Ebbsfleet) ATT: 3,020 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Gary Parsons 8/10