It’s going to be a quick blog for you this week, as due to yet another international break interruption to the important business of the club season, there really isn’t a lot going on with regard to our beloved O’s.

It was a pleasing surprise that Richie Wellens went with, what for me at least is, his strongest side against Harborough Town in the FA Cup first round, as I am sure I wasn’t alone in having some Maldon & Tiptree-inspired pre-match jitters.

As is so often the case in matches against underdog opposition, an early goal proved vital. Armando Dobra stooping(!) to nod home Fin Stevens’ excellent cross just 5 minutes in. Midway through the first half we doubled our advantage, a training ground free kick routine saw Alex Gilbert tee up Aaron Connolly to smash home from the edge of the area.

If the game wasn’t completely over as a contest at half-time, it most certainly was 5 minutes into the second period when Idris El Mizouni was all alone in the penalty area to slot home Somto Boniface’s low cross.

The visitors got the goal their spirited efforts merited with 20 minutes to go when Paul Malone turned home a corner (surprise, surprise), but we sealed the professional victory with an effort from Tony Springett and then a second from El Miz in injury time. Job very much done.

Our reward for getting past Harborough is a trip to Port Vale, which feels somewhat underwhelming. Although the Valiants haven’t lost at home so far this season and of course made it all the way through to the Quarter Finals last year, beating Bristol City and Sunderland along the way, before succumbing 7-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

We got some bad news ahead of the game against Harborough when Richie Wellens revealed in his pre-match interview that Ollie O’Neill, who had only just returned from injury at Burton a fortnight previously, had undergone surgery and would be out for up to four months. It was later revealed that it was a recurrence of the knee injury that had kept him out for so long.

First and foremost, I have to say how gutted I am for Ollie. He is a hugely talented player, and it looked very much as if he was in Richie’s plans to operate as our first-choice Number 10, so this injury feels especially cruel.

It remains to be seen how the gaffer rejigs his lineup, but not having O’Neill as an option might cause something of a rethink. The obvious choices would either be Armando Dobra, although he looks comfortable on the left flank, or Charlie Wellens, who doesn’t quite offer the dynamism that we need in that position. Of course, we saw Aaron Connolly operate behind Dom Ballard as a secondary striker last season, so that may be another option. Thankfully the international break gives us some time on the training ground to endeavour to work it out.

Probably the least said about the “performance” at Barnet in the EFL Trophy, the better. While I know we made a large number of changes with only Dobra and Wellens junior backing up, there was still a number of supposed senior first team players involved, not that you would have known it from what they served up! I get that not many of us will lose a lot of sleep over exiting that particular competition (although our chairman may have a different view, given his involvement with the sponsors!), but the display did little to convince anyone that many (any?) of those players merit a start any time soon.

After this enforced break we have a home game against Wimbledon, before we travel to high-flying Stockport, so it will be vital that we hit the ground running and continue to build momentum upon our return to league action.

Up the O’s!