Orient take the points at Walsall thanks to Terry and Boyd (From This Is Local London)

Orient take the points at Walsall thanks to Terry and Boyd

4:57pm Saturday 6th September 2008 in Orient Match Previews

Walsall 0
Leyton Orient 2
(League One)

PAUL Terry's first Orient goal and Adam Boyd's second penalty in a week gave Orient their first league win since the opening day of the season.

In an entertaining encounter that only just escaped a couple of pitch inspections because of heavy rain in the Midlands, the travelling O's fans would certainly have been pleased ref Dean Whitestone gave the proceedings the go ahead.

Terry smashed home his maiden goal in the 73rd minute to finally open his O's scoring account after 46 previous league appearance in the red shirt. And just six minutes later Boyd lashed home from the spot to send the travelling 376 away fans home happy.

The hosts were presented with the first chance of the afternoon on four minutes, when Alton Thelwell fouled former team-mate Jabo Ibehre.

Marco Reich stepped up to take the resulting kick from 25-yards out on the left, but his shot lacked any real power and Glenn Morris was able to make an easy save.

With the ball zipping around well on the wet surfaces the O's went on the attack, and in the tenth minute Boyd tried a chip from the edge of the area, but it sailed just wide of Clayton Ince's goal.

Ibehre clearly keen to prove a point against his former employees then broke down the right on 17 minutes, and his cross deflected off Aiden Palmer and Morris had to tip around his left-hand upright.

Morris again had to get down low to smother another Saddlers free-kick on 19 minutes, although it proved a routine stop this time from Chris Palmer.

The Londoners were next to go close on 28 minutes, after skipper Stephen Purchase knocked the ball down to Adam Chambers and his first time effort from range just flashed over.

Then 60 seconds later and Adam Boyd threaded the ball through to Ryan Jarvis, who cut inside his man but his right foot shot was straight at Ince, although the keeper had to smother it at the second attempt.

Orient continued to attack and Jason Demetriou chipped a nice ball into the box two minutes before the break, but Boyd's header lacked the power to really trouble Ince.

The visitors had the first opening of the second period on 51 minutes, when a flowing move involving Boyd, Jarvis and Chambers, finally resulted in the ball working its way to JJ Melligan on the right but his shot was deflected over the bar.

The next chance didn't arrive until the 69th minute. This time it was the host, who saw Anthony Gerrard somehow head Palmer's corner wide of the mark despite the O's defence giving him a free run at the ball.

A minute later Walsall's Ishmel Demontagnac then flashed one just over Morris' bar from the right-hand side.

And the game certainly sprung into life in the 73rd minute, with the east Londoners racing into the lead. Boyd showed great intelligence in the box to hold the ball up, before turning his man and laying it off to Terry who smashed it into the net from eight-yards out.

Ibehre attempted to get Walsall back on level terms straight away, but his shot sailed over the O's bar.

And on 79 minutes Martin Ling's men were handed a penalty after Melligan knocked the ball past Paul Boertien in the box, and the full-back somewhat clumsily tripped the winger. Boyd stepped up and smashed the ball straight down the middle of the goal to lash home his second spot kick in a week after successfully converting at Southend on Tuesday night.

The home side attempted to get themselves back in the game, but once more Demontagnac fired over from the right with five minutes remaining, before Ibehre headed moments later.

And that proved the last real action of the game, as the visitors secured a win that allows them to get back into contention in the league.

Orient: Morris, Purchase, Saah, Thelwell, Palmer; Melligan, Chambers, Terry, Demetriou; Jarvis, Boyd. Subs: Jones (GK), Cave-Brown, Pires, B.Gray, Ashworth.