A first senior goal from Ed Turns and a second-half goal from Theo Archibald saw league leaders Leyton Orient defeat Crewe Alexandra last night at the Alexandra Stadium
Manager Lee Bell made three changes from Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat against Grimsby Town with defenders Sean Robertson and Rod McDonald as well as midfielders Ryan Finnigan, Tariq Uwakwe and Charlie Colkett all coming into the team. Out went Conor Thomas, Callum Ainley, Regan Griffiths and Connor O’Riordan, who all dropped down to the bench, while Billy Sass-Davies missing from the matchday squad with former Alex defender Omar Beckles captaining the visitors.
The opening chance fell to the hosts in the 2nd minute with Elliott Nevitt almost finding Dan Agyei with a cross from the left before Archibald would have an effort that would go well wide on 27 minutes. The opening goal came just after the half-hour mark as a corner was cleared to the edge of the area with Charlie Kelman laying the ball off for Turns to score from 12 yards out before the half finished with Nevitt forcing Lawrence Vigouroux into a save from outside the area from a nod-down from Bassala Sambou, himself on as a substitute for David Amoo moments prior.
The second half would see the Alex forward hit the base of the post, getting on the end of McDonald’s pass that was dummied by Sambou, from outside the area before the leaders doubled their lead just before the hour as a nice footballing move saw Kieran Sadlier find Archibald who finished from 8 yards out.
The next games for the Alex travel to Crawley Town on Saturday before hosting Hartlepool United next Tuesday.
What can we take out of this game?
Results against those at the top of our league won’t define our season and, in isolation, getting something out of games like these is always a bonus.
However, that means that games against those around us (like the above 2 and Harrogate who follow Hartlepool a week on Saturday), are the most important games that the club are going to play for the rest of the season – results and performances like those we’ve seen in recent weeks could see us relegated out of the Football League three months today.