Orient picked up a vital win on Tuesday night that lifts us out the relegation zone and ensured a winning start to 2010 thanks to a wonder goal by Tammy Mkandawire and Scott McGleish.
Both sides were a little rusty as the game started but Orient were the better team through the first half and had a number of chances on Yeovil’s goal. The deadlock was broken fourteen minutes into the game when Tammy Mkandawire picked up the ball on the left hand side, beat three men before firing a shot which hit both posts before Yeovil keeper McCarthy fumbled it into the net.
After the goal Yeovil got back into the game and tested Jamie Jones in the Orient goal but failed to grab an equaliser. At half-time the sinking feeling set in for me because we have seen Orient dominate the first half so many times this season and fall apart in the second half and I had a feeling it may happen again.
The game was heading for a Yeovil equaliser until Geraint made his second sub, bringing Tehoue on for Jarvis after 75 minutes. Yeovil had far more of the ball in the second half up to that point and had created better chances then Orient but just couldn’t push on to equalise.
The arrival of Tehoue, who looks like being a fans favourite with the O’s faithful, pushed us on to grab a second from Scott McGleish who got himself onto the end of a cross to put the game to bed.
Player Ratings
Jamie Jones 7
‘Scouse’ had a few shots to deal with as Yeovil piled some pressure on and Jones passed the test with flying colours. He commanded his box well and was vociferous in his cries to his defence.
Stephen Purches 6
We all know our captain isn’t the greatest player at the club but he had a job to do last night with relative youngsters around him and he managed his defence and team fairly well but is still a week link.
Charlie Daniels 6
There were calls by fans to push Charlie forward to left midfield and play the new boy Briggs at left back but last night emphasised my point that Daniels isn’t good enough for that role. Daniels has a bit of pace behind him but he isn’t the best at beating his man and I think he’s settling to the role of left-back so moving him could cause problems
Matthew Briggs 8
I was very impressed with the young man last night. I am not a big fan of Ben Chorley and I honestly can’t see Chorley getting back into the team if Briggs continues to play like that. For a young man on his debut for the club it would have been excusable if he made a couple of mistakes but he just seemed to take everything in his stride.
*Tamika Mkandawire 8* MOTM
I have said that Tammy & Chorley just doesn’t work and that point was proven by Tam’s performance last night. Defensively he was calm, composed and patient whilst attacking wise he scored so overall it was probably his best game this season.
Jason Demetriou 5
Jason has a long, long way to go before he is back in many fans good books and a few good balls isn’t going to change many opinions. As has become regularly with our International superstar he feels that tackling and winning the ball is below him and he stands still and sometimes sticks a leg out but not with any real effort.
To be fair though after the second goal he looked a better player but there’s a long road ahead for him.
Adam Chambers 5
I don’t know what it is but under Geraint, Chambers hasn’t been the same player. He has had a long lay-off through injuries but Superman looked rusty last night and had a poor first touch and his control was pretty shocking too.
Sean Thornton 5
Sean’s been injured and looked knackered towards the end of last night and was deservedly subbed to keep him fresh for Monday. It wasn’t Sean’s best game by any means but as he’s struggled with a knock we’ll let him off.
Scott McGleish 7
Scotty is Scotty. You know what your getting when he plays. He will chase everything, jump for every ball and will give 100%. This was how he was last night and fair play to him he grabbed a goal.
Ryan Jarvis 6
Ryan is a try-er. He will give 100% but is paid to put the ball in the net and he simply can’t do that at this level. He tried hard last night and even bled after getting a boot in the face.
Nicky Adams 6
I wasn’t totally convinced by the loanee on the wing. There were a few good runs from the young man but he, like the rest of our midfield, needs to try and win the ball back, there inability to do so could’ve cost us against a better team.
Jimmy Smith 6
Bought on late in the game just before our second goal and played fairly well.
Jonathan Tehoue 7
The man we all looked excited to see looked very good for us last night and has already been hailed as the man to keep us up, whether he does that is another argument but we will have fun watching the Frenchman.
