Leyton Orient 0 Stockport County 1 ( Football League 1 ) Saturday 1 February 2025

 

 

County stunned East London and sent a clear warning to all their promotion rivals with a superb win over Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road  today.

Orient had thoroughly thrashed Exeter City away from home in the week ,but they had absolutely no answer to a County performance right out of football`s top drawer.

The blues were irresistible in attack , particularly in the first half where Tanto Olaofe tormented them constantly – his pace and guile continually reducing Orient to resorting to fouls to keep him at bay.

County played some terrific football , the speed of which had their opponents floundering in their wake.

The winning goal came early , scored by Kyle Wootton who again worked his socks up and back down again today, but he was not on his own in that respect the whole team was magnificent.

The County defence was particularly so especially in the second half - fantastically solid faced with wave after wave of high balls into the box , and much more attacking from our hosts than they had managed before half-time.

In this regard , against the backdrop of the local specs  baying for a penalty routinely and often, it was good to see the Referee Mr Russell stand firm, do the right thing and ignore the locals.

So, all things taken into account, I would rate this as County`s finest and possibly most important win of the season !

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Bate for Camps was the only change as County opened the game on the front foot against high flying, free scoring Orient.

Tanto was to the fore – twice tearing through down the left feeding on some excellent football from Bates, Collar and Wootton behind him- Galbraith tugging despairingly at Tanto`s shirt to stop him as he ran onto the first of a few incisive balls sent his way by Hinchliffe.

A free kick, then a corner the only reward from this action as Norwood lifted his shot over the bar from Touray`s corner.

The attacking continued from County- Southam -Hales twice pushing Orient back down the right.

That caused some alarm in home ranks- prompt work by Pye ( the hallmark of his day at the office today) snuffing out a quick break by Orient immediately after.

That was 12 minutes in, just 2 minutes later County had their lead and their large following were roaring loudly!

Tanto started it , his surging pace taking him beyond a couple of challenges but not the clattering that came his way as he cut inside.

We like a bit of karma on this blog and that`s what followed – the free kick putting massive pressure on Orient  who could not clear their lines.

The whole County front line wanted the ball, but Wootton was first to the ball for County making no mistake from in front of goal- hopefully silencing some of his critics in the process!

It was clear now that County had a clear edge over their opponents,  Tanto and Bate running Orient ragged with sumptuous skills that had the Blue Army roaring approval!

They were less approving next as Mr Russell gave Orient some relief from Tanto, Bate and others with a dubious free kick .

The football from County was breathtaking at times- highly controlled yet delivered at pace ,putting maximum strain on the home side!

Orient did look to reply, mainly via free kicks but there was no sign of Hinchliffe being disturbed at all as his defence cocooned him with excellence!

Tanto and Bates still looked prime movers for County- the latest break by the former seeing a defender head the ball behind as Bate looked on to score. The corner saw a Southam -Hales shot blocked thus Orient survived.

But not with any great look of solidity about them, as they were under fire from Kyle Knoyle who again looked `on fire` down our right – twice deserving better with runs deep into home territory.

Some excellent football lit up Brisbane Road next – a fantastic flowing move, but I groaned as we played the ball back to Hinchliffe from this.

I need not have, as Ben sent a brilliant long ball up the park where Tanto`s  instant control came into play allied to his fiendish pace that took him beyond his marker – the angle was perhaps against him as he cut inside from the by-line- his shot hitting the side netting disappointingly, but the County crowd were singing his praises none the less!

Another 5 minutes…another flowing County move went through Wootton to Tanto  -his shot deserving better, coming out off keeper Josh Keeley`s leg.

On it went Woots to Tanto….as panic set in in the Orient ranks and a smidgeon of relief as Brown managed to concede a corner when worse threatened from County.

Ethan Pye `e header from Norwood`s corner was saved by the keeper , but County continued to pile it on with Bates, Woots and Tanto in irresistible concert down the left   - Keeley punching clear under pressure – the move ending with Knoyle`s shot carrying the bar.

Collar and Southam- Hales should not be forgotten as far as County attacking was concerned- both contributed fully , combining particularly well with half time nearing.

The last five minutes of the half saw Orient`s first shot of any note- from Dillon Markanday, he cut inside nicely, got his shot off, but failed to trouble Hinchliffe in his latest quest for a clean sheet.

The rest was just County attacking, seeking a second goal- Wootton coming closest in the minutes that remained , his header saved by Keeley from Collar`s cross.

County went in at half time to loud cheers from their supporters all of whom were well pleased with the 1-0 lead!

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Richie Wellens had obviously `had a word` during the half-time break as Orient opened the second half very much on the front foot but they did not seem to unduly stress County, who mounted the best of the attacking moves in the half`s first quarter of an hour- home keeper Keeley doing well to deny Collar – saving his header created for him by the excellent Macauley Southam- Hales .

Bates added more to the mix with a highly skilful break just before the hour mark- testing the home team`s resolution to the full- they survived.

For Orient, survival included pumping a succession of high balls into the County box but with a defensive unit as uniquely skilled as County`s  this limp tactic was never going to be successful- Pye in especially fine form today dealing with anything coming his way ( usually above shoulder height) Connolly, Southam- Hales, Knoyle and Touray not missing a trick at any point!

 

I was not pleased to see Tanto substituted around this time, replaced by Jack Diamond, Odin Bailey coming on for Bate.

The changes took the edge off County attacking capability with plenty of time for Orient to save their game, but I can see there would be arguments( Tanto booked/ tiring maybe) Bate first game back and again probably feeling the pace, and ultimately the Manager got the result he wanted at the end so I should probably `cork it`.

Orient were certainly trying now , egged on by fervent support from most of the 8000+ crowd- Cooper feasting on his apparent good fortune , having headed wide in a raid only for the Referee to award a corner.

But no amount of `egging on` butters any parsnips as Orient found again as County`s superb defence saw the danger off from the corner with minimum of fuss!

Hamilton was on for Collar , with 15 minutes left, but County`s focus  was on defending and they had quality to spare in that department – looking to have dealt with a fierce  Orient raid only to be put under pressure via a free kick in a very scoreable position.

It was a chance, but have I said that County were a superb defensive unit?  …..maybe I have, and they proved it again their wall organised to perfection seeing the kick off before , probably in despair, Tom James lifted his shot into the crowd.

It was not 100 % defending from County- they did look to get up the park ,but Diamond was unlucky not to beat the keeper on the end of Wootton`s flick on with 10 minutes left.

Then Jack stole a loose ball only to be unable to retain his footing at the vital moment- the notional chance gone….

Play swung again though ,but I relaxed as Jamie Donley`s volley came back to safety off County`s impenetrable defence on 86 minutes.

Orient kept pressing….their supporters ever more excited in their efforts to will their team to safety- but instead they looked on as a neat through ball from Galbraith  sent Pratley into the box  only for Ethan Pye to rain on Orient`s parade and stop the rot by conceding a corner, which saw Wootton back helping with the firmest of defensive headers to clear the incoming corner- Hinchliffe rounding a long period of concerted attacking by Orient with a confidence inducing catch under pressure, with just one minute of normal time remaining to play.

Orient continued to press in the remaining minute…..hoping…willing a penalty but they did not get one and rightly so!

Three added minutes signalled mayhem perhaps- County did open the period by trying to get forward ,but Orient came back at us bringing a neat defensive reaction from Southam- Hales to thwart their first attack.

On it went….the ball lifted high into the County box by Orient- Knoyle heading out…..ditto half a minute later….Southam- Hales headed out , the final cloud hugger ending in Hinchliffe`s arms- game over…match won …cue huge celebrations on the East Stand  as getting on for 1000 County supporters justifiably went AS.

That was a massively good win, probably their best and most important of the season, thanks County I and 852 others salute you!

 

Leyton Orient line up :-

Keeley , Happe , Cooper , Brown ( Jaiyesimi 75) , Currie , Donley , Pratley , Galbraith , Kelman , Makanday , Aboulai( Perkins 61).

Subs not used : Phillips , James , Sweeney , Simpson , Obiero.

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe ,Knoyle, Connolly , Pye , Southam- Hales , Touray , Bates ( Bailey 64), Norwood , Collar ( Hamilton 75) , Wootton , Olaofe ( Diamond 64).

Subs not used : Addai , Andersson , Rydel , Gardner.

 

Attendance : 8485 ( 853)

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