Leyton Orient 0
Att. 8,782
The Tigers were the more impressive for the opening 25 minutes or so. The closest they came to scoring was Kevin Francis' header wide from a pin-point Lee Philpott corner. Francis should have scored and he knew it. Ian Goodison also headed wide minutes later.
Orient dominated from 25 minutes onwards, but never created any clear cut chances which cost them dearly.
David Brightwell replaced Steve Swales at half time.
The second half continued as the first ended, with Orient on top. But they still could not create chances and City made them pay as the game progressed. At about 60 minutes, the Tigers started to play better, and the tide of the game agin turned. But this time, the advantage was turned in to a goal.
Rodney Rowe latched on to an instinctive header by Justin Whittle, shrugged off Simon Downer, and smashed the ball in to the bottom corner past Ashley Bayes.
Rowe had another good chance minutes later, but after bringing the ball down well, he shot too close to Bayes and he managed to save low down.
The O's had an appeal for a penalty turned down as the game reached the end: David Brightwell ran back and made a good tackle on Wim Walschaeerts, winning the ball. However, the Orient players and supporters were furious, claiming Walschaeerts was fouled. The referee made the right decision and played on. It was not a foul, it was a good clean tackle.
Late on, Neil Mann replaced Kevin Francis, and in the last minute of normal time, David Brown replaced Rodney Rowe. Brown had a very good chance to make it 2-0, but volleyed wide from inside the area.
But the Tigers held on to take a very impressive win. they stay in 10th place, 8 poins off the play-offs.
Swales Whittle Goodison Edwards
Greaves Brabin Philpott Harper
Rowe Francis
Lee Bracey
David Brightwell (Swales 46)
Neil Mann (Francis 82)
David Brown (Rowe 89)
Clint Marcelle
