19th December 2015

Manager Darren Way was forced into making two changes from the previous week. Wes Fogden and Harry Cornick both missed the trip through injuries to be replaced by Nathan Smith and Iffy Allen.

Smith started the game on the left wing with Allen starting on the right. It was Allen who made the first impression after just 15 seconds when he latched onto a smart ball from Jeffers to cross into the area, only for the home side to clear away.

Both teams enjoyed short spells of possession but neither goalkeeper was tested in the first twenty five minutes.

Town were enjoying themselves down the left flank with both Dickson and Smith surging forward at every opportunity to whip crosses into the Orient area.

The first ‘chance’ came from a Dickson cross on the left after the former Crawley man beat his marker to cross. His cross was met by Allen at the back post, but his effort went over the bar.

With ten minutes of the first half remaining the Glovers caused some havoc in the Orient area when a Sheehan free kick wasn’t cleared. After a game of head tennis in the area the ball fell to Jeffers but his shot was well blocked by Cole Kpekawa.

Just moments later Allen robbed Simpson on the Town right to worm his way into the area, jinking past two Orient defenders. His lay-off set up Sheehan but the Swansea loanee’s shot went just over the bar.

At the other end Weale was being kept from making any saves because of the tight defence in front of him. The home side did force a corner with five minutes of the first half remaining when Blair Turgott turned in the area to shoot at goal, only for his effort to be deflected over.

Town took a deserved lead deep into injury time when Zoko rose highest at the back post to nod home a Sheehan cross past Cisak.

In the build up to the goal Allen again robbed left back Shaw to cross into the box. His cross was half cleared before Sheehan picked up the loose ball to cross to the back post for Zoko to nod home.

Just before the hour mark Town had to soak up a sustained spell of pressure from the home side with Simpson causing a mix up in the area, which resulted in a corner to the home side.

With twenty minutes remaining Town were pushing for a second goal and nearly got it when Jeffers found Allen in the Orient area, but his goal bound effort was bravely blocked by N’voto.

Two minutes later and from no where the home side drew level. With Town seemingly clearing any danger the ball fell to McAnuff who drilled the ball home from 35 plus yards, leaving Weale with no chance.

On 76 minutes Town were denied a very strong penalty claim when Allen pounced on a defensive mistake in the area, only be hauled down when he twisted away from marker. With nearly every player stopping for the referee to award a penalty Mr Swabey waved play on and awarded a goal kick to the home side.