Leyton Orient v Notts County fan's view (From This Is Local London)

Leyton Orient v Notts County fan's view

9:39am Monday 28th January 2013 in Latest Sport By Rowland Lyons

Arguably our finest win of the season so far! It’s certainly up there with the autumn successes against Preston and Yeovil.

But, the manner in which we rode a storm of heavy pressure – some might say with no little luck – then scoring, and hitting another within minutes was very impressive. Some might say – though – very un-Orient like.

After all, this was the 23rd away game County had gone into unbeaten and by the way they battered us early doors it was hard to see that their impressive run on the road would come to an end at close to 5pm after nearly 15 minutes total stoppage time.

Even without their first-choice keeper, who had sustained a head injury, the stand-in Fabian Speiss – who has apparently attracted the attention of a famous Premiership club – was mightily impressive. The Germans have a habit of producing good goalkeepers, none other than the likes of World Cup winners, Sepp Maier and Bodo Illgner; so who’s to say the young Speiss won’t go on and emulate them?

So, having kept the O’s out until well into the second-half, the sub keeper was perhaps a tad unlucky that another fine save should only fall as far as the hard-working David Mooney and our now top scorer buried his chance with aplomb. Then the second came soon after from Mathieu Baudry – who at the same time grabbed his first-ever home Orient goal – having netted at Charlton and Carlisle previously.

The games – however – don’t get any easier, with Swindon, Stevenage and Tranmere on the horizon. At least this latest – our 12th of the season – keeps us in touch with the chasing pack.

Certainly, if we hadn’t won today, I don’t think alarm bells would have been ringing just yet – but Colchester won – ending a long, winless run. Therefore, it’s still imperative we reach the psychological 50-points barrier, sooner rather than later, and then see where the season takes us from there.

At least the gaffer has a strong squad to pick from at the moment – especially with Elliot Omozusi back in contention. I thought with the players at his disposal, the boss got his selection spot on. Lee Cook and Martin Rowlands have been a revelation this season so undoubtedly with these two players’ futures sorted at E10, this could prove to be the best bit of business the gaffer has done this season.

Probably, it’s not quite like signing two ‘new’ players, but he might well have been forced into the loan market had our two veterans not extended their current deals. So surely, with the transfer window about to close, then anyone as a free agent or available for loan might not be much cop, anyway.

Finally, I would like to use this platform to wish our out-going Leyton Orient press officer Leo Tyrie the best of luck in his new job four miles down the road at Upton Park. Leo has always been very patient and very accommodating with the demands being a press officer entails.

It only seemed yesterday though, in October 2001, when he began his journalistic career at Swansea when Jeff Minton hit the winner in a 1-0 success. So, it was fitting that the O’s brought down the curtain on a distinguished career at the Matchroom Stadium with a win. All the best and thanks Leo.

Up the O’s

Keep the faith