Abubacarr Kamara reports as Leyton Orient women’s claim the spoils against rivals…
Leyton Orient women’s overcame Herne Bay FC 3-1 at the Mile End Stadium to move up to 3rd in the table and go level on points with their opponents.
Belen Ripoll Douton opened the scoring in the first half, only for the sides to go into the break even. Ripoll Douton then bagged a second half brace to complete her hat trick and hand the O’s all three points.
With O’s captain Danielle Griffiths calling this game a must win, Leyton Orient started exactly in that fashion. Within one minute of the game starting Naomi Stirling found herself through on goal one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but could not convert to give her team an early lead.
The hosts continued controlling the game and creating chances as the first half went on and it was not too long before they created another clear-cut chance that fell to the feet of Sterling, who again could not find the back of the net, but forced a solid save from the keeper. Belen Ripoll Douton tried to score from the rebound but could only find the post.
O’s in control
15 minutes in Lydia Cooper found space on the right hand side of the pitch and she managed to put a great cross in that matched the run of Sterling who tried to convert, but was caught by the keeper’s follow-through and suffered a twisted ankle. Unfortunately it was the end of Sterling’s contribution to the game as she limped off the pitch in pain, and was substituted by Jasmine Campbell.
Leyton Orient were controlling the first half with still no goal to show for it, but another great ball over the top of the Herne Bay defence by Campbell to find Cooper on the right hand side of the box opened things up. Cooper crossed the ball to find Ripoll Douton who did not disappoint with the finish to make it 1-0 on the 17th minute.
Coming to the end of the first half the O’s still had control of the game, but that did not stop Herne Bay from grabbing a goal of their own to make it 1-1. The O’s had a chance to take the lead again just before the half ended, but Ripoll Douton’s shot was fired straight at the keeper who parried it behind for a corner.
Ten minutes into the second half Orient took the lead again courtesy of another Ripoll Douton goal. Campbell played a tempting ball over the top that bounced right in front the striker who spotted the keeper off her line and managed a cheeky little chip over the keeper to make it 2-1.
Sophie Le Marchand had a chance to put the O’s two in front on the 58th minute, but could not convert when the ball landed at her feet in the box.
Two minutes later Ripoll Douton completed her hat trick with a calm finish to make it 3-1 and secure a classy victory.
The win moves the O’s above their league rivals and into 3rd place, though Herne Bay have two games in hand.