LEYTON ORIENT V IMPS REPORT
Saturday 16th October 1999 - Nationwide League Division 3
From Brisbone Road

Leyton Orient 2 - 3 Lincoln City

Written by James Prentice at Brisbone Road

The way a club is promoted up the league table is when winning and unbeaten runs are put together, which is what Lincoln City have to do now if they want to challenge for Division Two status.

Leyton Orient are, even in times of trouble, renowned for being difficult to break down at their home ground of Brisbane Road. This was evident yesterday when they clawed back two goals after the Imps were in the lead, as it was when John Beck took his City side to Orient in season 1996/97, winning, as today, 3-2.

The Imps got off to the perfect start. Paul Smith, who came in for Richard Peacock who has injured knee ligaments, scored after just five minutes. Midfielder cum left-back Mick Galloway sent a marvellous long-ball through into Orient's box which totally baffled the defence, allowing Smith to waltz round the opposing 'keeper and knock the ball into the net.

For the rest of the half, Orient piled the pressure on the Imps' defence and it looked, at several times during the match, as if they could have taken the lead. However, Steve Welsh and Grant Brown, in the team for out-of-form Dave Barnett held firm.

City were helped every step of the way by their large band of travelling faithful who chanted and roared them on throughout the match. The supporters must now, especially at home, be the noisiest and best in the Division.

All was going well for the Imps in the second half until right-back Terry Fleming held back Orient striker Iyseden Christie, the referee duly giving a penalty to the disgust of the visiting players. Justin Lockwood drove the penalty home past Barry Richardson, and everything suddenly looked gloomy for the Imps. But only for two minutes.

Lee Philpott and Terry Fleming sent a corner into the home side's box and ball was cleared,only for under-fire midfield man Paul Miller to smash a superb 20-yard volley into the top corner of the net.

The Orient players now had hell to pay, as their supporters once again showed their wrath with another defeat on the cards.

Twelve minutes from time, Lee Thorpe collected an intelligent pass from Paul Smith and began to sprint along the wing. He cut inside, shrugged off two Orient defenders that were on his tail, and drilled an unstoppable shot past Barrett.

As a torrent of abuse came the way of Orient's chairman in tandem with calls\par for boss Tommy Taylor's head, substitute Amara Simba grabbed a last-gasp goal to give the east-enders some hope, but that was academic as the Imps faithful strolled off into the Thames sunset with another three points in the bag.

A victory at Southend United's Roots Hall ground in midweek for the Imps would only confirm their place as promotion candidates, as would a victory at Sincil Bank against Chester City on Saturday.

The Imps have now won all of their games so far for October, and they only need six points from their next two games to possibly get into a play-off place. But one question remains unanswered ; should the Imps do just that, who would collect the October manager-of-the-month award, John Reames or Phil Stant?

Imps line-up against Orient : B Richardson ; T Fleming, M Galloway, G Brown, S Welsh ; P Smith (D Barnett), L Philpott, P Miller, J Finnigan ; L Thorpe (P Stant), G Gordon.

Subs not used: A Marriott ; P Gain, A Henry.