Leyton Orient XI: Cisak, (Sargeant, 61) Clohessy, (Judd, 77) Parkes, (Brown ’61) Erichot, Kennedy, (Doherty, 80) Massey, (Koroma ’77) Weir, (Atangana ’61) Kelly, (Moore ’61) Semedo, (Cox ’45) Simpson, (Palmer ’72) Bowery, (McCallum ’66)
Charlton Athletic XI: Phillips, Konsa, Teixeira, (Thomas, 79) Johnson, Fox, (Holmes-Dennis, 72) Holmes, Jackson, Muldoon, Harriott, (Ceballos, 88) Novak, (Ba, 82) Hanlan (Aherane-Grant, 72)
An early season London derby – albeit a friendly between two clubs who haven’t had the best of fortunes in recent seasons as Orient welcomed recently relegated Charlton Athletic to Brisbane Road. The visitors are managed by former O’s duo Russell Slade and Kevin Nugent who received a rapturous reception from the home fans in appreciation of their 4 year partnership which bought 3 top half League 1 finishes and a visit to Wembley for the 2013/14 League 1 Play-off Final.
The game began with both sides looking up for it – the first chance fell to one of Orient’s new signings Jordan Bowery being fed by Gavin Massey before scuffing his shot wide of Dillon Phillips’ near post with barely five minutes on the clock. The game settled down and Callum Harriott blasted over not long after. This was quickly followed by a major chance for Orient with Sean Clohessy getting down and the right and surprisingly delivering an excellent ball which Jay Simpson headed just over from around 6 yards. The O’s looked stronger and not long after Robbie Weir and Sandro Semedo had chances the latter only being claimed by Phillips at the 2nd attempt.
However then came Charlton’s best chance of the half when Morgan Fox’s cross was nodded back across the O’s goal by Callum Harriott and needed Tom Parkes to smash it clear and away from danger. The next 15 minutes was one where the game was a little bogged down in midfield with Liam Kelly and Johnnie Jackson engaging in a duel that was enjoyable to watch as was the smart running of Orient’s Semedo and Massey, the latter stinging Phillips’ palms with a volley which he didn’t catch as well as he would have liked. Something that was punctuated with the screaming of Charlton’s Roger Johnson, at half time the sides went in level with Orient probably being the happier of the two having created more and controlled the midfield battle largely thanks to the efforts of Kelly and Weir.
At half time Orient made one change with Dean Cox making his first appearance at Brisbane Road since the 7th November after his ACL injury. The second half began with Charlton on top, Ollie Muldoon had a fantastic chance when he was set up by Lee Novak but the young midfielder fired just wide luckily for the O’s. Another chance followed quickly for Charlton with the lively Harriott trying his luck from 25 yards an effort which was matched by the superb save it bought out of O’s keeper Alex Cisak, then came a period of many substitutions. With mainly Orient and Charlton who only named 6 substitutes due to injury, international call ups and transfers both making changes.
The next big chance of game came after 75 minutes with Lee Novak breaking free in the Orient penalty area but only managing to fire straight at substitute keeper Sam Sargeant. Orient almost scored immediately after this, Ollie Palmer who looked lively throughout his appearance (Including a semi-scuffle with Roger Johnson, who for some reason didn’t fancy having a pop at Palmer) cutting in from the left beating a man and curling an excellent shot agonisingly wide of Dillon Phillips’ left hand post. There was one more chance of the note for the O’s when Dean Cox hit a sweet volley just wide of the Charlton goal, after which he had the look of a man who is obviously desperate to make up for the time he lost while injured last season.
Overall, not a bad workout for both sides and Orient will be very happy that they more than matched an albeit patchwork looking team from the league above. The progress of the new signings is also encouraging I was particularly impressed with Callum Kennedy who got up and down the left well and linked up well with Dean Cox. Liam Kelly is another who I feel will become a fans favourite with his all action style which for me drew comparisons with Romain Vincelot. It is also extremely pleasing to see Paul McCallum and Dean Cox fit again after their awful injuries last season, something which I think all Orient fans will agree on.