Despite my back injury confining me to barracks for the entire Easter weekend, Orient did their best to make sure it was an interesting one (to say the very least!), by coming from behind to win both matches they played. The 6 points secured and our superior goal difference to Reading’s served to put us in prime position in the race to clinch the final play-off spot. Although neither game was easy on O’s fans’ nerves.
Against Barnsley on Good Friday we certainly didn’t get off to the best of starts. Going 2-0 down in less than 20 minutes didn’t really bear the hallmark of a team that was doing its utmost to secure a top six finish. The first goal came when we failed to deal with a looping corner and Stephen Humprhys bundled home from virtually on the goal-line. The second carried with it a hint of offside, although the way our defence seemed to be caught flat-footed hardly inspired confidence, allowing Humprhys to fire home his second of the match.
The closest we came to scoring in the opening half came in added time when Charlie Kelman’s deft chip frustratingly came back off the upright. I remember saying to the missus at the break, that I hoped we weren’t going to rue that miss from the now normally so reliable striker.
Whether it was the result of Richie ripping into the players at the break or bringing on Sean Clare to replace skipper Darren Pratley in the middle of the park, we started the second half with a bit more impetus. In truth it would have been difficult to play with any less! Ethan Galbraith got us on the scoresheet just 6 minutes into the second half, firing a low shot through the legs of a defender and beyond the grasp of unsighted Barnsley keeper Kieran Flavell.
Having got ourselves a foothold in the game, the last thing we wanted to do was to concede a third, but just past the hour mark that is exactly what we did. Omar Beckles couldn’t deal with a long ball forward allowing Davis Keillor-Dunn to latch onto it and slot past Josh Keeley from close range. I won’t repeat the language with which I filled our living room at that precise moment but suffice it to say it was along the lines of: “for goodness sake Orient, we have a golden opportunity to get into the playoffs and you are only going and making a pig’s ear of it.”
From that point forward with just 25 minutes to go, the match just went completely bonkers, but in a really good way for Orient. First, after being sent free by a clever ball from Dan Agyei down the right flank, Jamie Donley picked out Charlie Kelman at the far post with a superb ball across the face of goal, allowing the division’s leading goal-scorer to thump home his 20th league goal of the season.
Then just 3 minutes later Kelman turned provider: holding the ball up well on the edge of the Barnsley penalty area and picking out the onrushing Sean Clare who, sliding in, managed to jab the ball into the far corner of the net for 3-3.
Just moments later, it was Barnsley’s turn to fail to deal with a corner and Omar Beckles’ scuffed effort towards goal benefited from two deflections before trundling into the net. That was the cue for pandemonium all around the ground, and also in our living room, although slightly more controlled given my ongoing injury status.
We managed to hold out for the victory and the news that Reading, Huddersfield and Bolton had all lost in their matches only added to the feeling of excitement and celebration, as we had moved into that all important sixth spot in the table.
Speaking after the match gaffer Richie Wellens suggested it was very much a game of two halves: “in the first half we were nowhere near it, and in the second half we were very, very good.” Difficult to do anything but agree with that!
If our start at home to Barnsley was lethargic, then the same could most definitely be said of Monday’s game at Cambridge. After a brief flurry of positivity in which we threatened without truly looking like making the breakthrough, the U’s goal in the 19th minute seemed to very much take the wind out of our sails. It was another scrappy goal from close range, the sort that we have seen a little too often in this campaign, and an area of our game that could most definitely do with a bit of tidying up for me.
This time Richie opted for two changes at the break with Dan Agyei and Diallang Jaiyesimi replacing Dilan Markanday and Randell Williams both of whom had struggled to make any impact. It took a little while but gradually we started to get more of a grip on the game, Agyei in particular showing some threat down the right flank. As we approached the final 20 minutes, it was he who picked out Charlie Kelman at the far post with a searching cross that the striker nodded home cooly.
10 minutes later Jamie Donley won it for us with another of his pieces of magic. This time he flicked the ball up before volleying left-footed low across goal and inside the upright. Logic of course dictates that there is no way we will be able to have him with us next season, but it has been an absolute pleasure watching him mature as a player and also to enjoy his plentiful moments of utter brilliance and sublime skill this season.
We have now come from behind to win in each of our last four matches. Obviously no side ever plans on going a goal, or worse a couple, down in order to get itself going, but it can be argued that it definitely shows the character of our players, their confidence, and their belief that they can turn things round. That can only be seen as a positive going forward and if we are to make it into the play-offs and progress, then that fighting spirit will almost certainly be an attribute that we will need to call upon.
After that run of five defeats on the spin in February and March, the capitulation at Burton, and the stalemate at home to Wigan, these last four wins in a row have seen ourselves and Reading emerge as the only contenders for that final play-off spot.
The picture is crystal clear for us: match or better the Royals’ results in the final two matches, for us at home to Wycombe tomorrow and away at Huddersfield on the final day, for them away at Bristol Rovers (come on Ruel and Shaq, do us a favour!) and at home to Barnsley, then we are in the end of season lottery.
That is unless there is somehow a 9 goal swing in goal difference, or the powers that be at the EFL make one of their stereotypically ludicrous decisions and expel Reading from the League and expunge all points gained against them, should the sale of the club not be sufficiently finalised by the 5th of May. Even the EFL couldn’t be that stupid…could they? On second thoughts, don’t answer that!
Up the O’s!
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