1 min
Leyton Orient had to settle for a point with a 2-2 draw at Harrogate Town in what really was a game of two halves.
Orient struggled to generate any real opportunities in the opening period as the hosts raked up the shot count.
Jon Stead and Jack Muldoon, supported by the creative Josh McPake on the left, saw Harrogate press hard but fail to convert a hatful of chances.
At the other end, Orient’s forwards were starved of chances with the isolated Conor Wilkinson reduced to a speculative lob from range before half-time.
However, the second-half saw Orient on the front foot with Wilkinson opening the scoring in the first minute, firing in from range.
Harrogate’s Dan Jones then headed them level in the 58th minute with a close-range header that Lawrence Vigouroux should have saved.
Danny Johnson nipped in to put Orient back in front after poor Harrogate defending on 63 before Jack Muldoon’s 73rd minute penalty was saved brilliantly by Vigouroux.
But just a minute later Harrogate were level though when McPake struck low across the goal to make it 2-2.
A frantic finish saw Johnson almost nick it at the death with the draw leaving Orient four points off the Play-Off places.
Key Points
Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…
Key Moment
Half-time. The opening 45 minutes was all Harrogate with Leyton Orient barely having a sniff, but the second period saw the O’s spring into life and capitalise on Harrogate’s errors.
Moan of the Match
Harrogate ripped up their 4G pitch to install a grass playing surface in September and it’s poor condition showed, hindering the passing abilities of both sides.
Talking Point
Orient persisted with the tactic of goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux looking to find Conor Wilkinson all game, despite Harrogate’s full-back winning the majority of the headers. Why persist with it when it clearly wasn’t working?
Man of the Match
Danny Johnson – an attack-led second-half saw the O’s forward come to life, grab an equaliser and almost claim a winner at the end as well.
Tweet of the Match
Referee Watch
Anthony Backhouse (Cumbria) – lots of niggly fouls to contend with players very vocal throughout but the official kept calm and wasn’t rash with his cards.
Atmosphere
Being the smallest ground in the league gave this a bit of a non-league feel with the home directors acting like fans and duly donning club shop merch!
Verdict
Following this performance against a team in the bottom half of the table and on a poor run of form, it’s hard to see Leyton Orient making a successful Play-Off push.
