Leyton Orient Women were defeated 3-2 to Charlton Athletic Women in the Capital Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
Captain Danielle Griffins however knows that she and The O’s need to stay focus for the rest of the season, “The aim will to be to win every game.”
Georgia Griffin gave Charlton the lead on 13 minutes when she slotted home after rounding Orient goalkeeper Naomi Ogunde. Eight minutes later, Orient were level when Belen Ripoll-Douton bundled home from Hayley Barton’s cross.
The O’s were ahead moments after the restart thanks to Lisa Holmback’s sensational long-range strike, before Kit Graham’s brace booked Charlton a place in April’s final.
Still Positive
Despite the defeat, Orient produced a performance to be proud of and showed they are capable of competing with teams in higher divisions. Speaking to Rising East after the match, Griffiths was still positive about the team’s performance:
“We should take confidence from the way that we played, the way that we battled and the way we matched a team who are probably going to be two leagues ahead of us next season. I think we should take that confidence and those levels of performance into the league because if we can do that we’ll beat any team in our league.”
The O’s vs The Addicts
Orient began the game with purpose, and set up with the intention of making themselves hard to beat. They refused to sit back, showing a positive mentality as they tried to take the game to Charlton.
The O’s were boosted by the return of the reliable Leyre Bastyr at left-back, while Holmback showed her versatility by thriving in a more advanced midfield role.
The level of talent in Charlton’s squad was clear from the first whistle as the home side kept possession with confidence. However, Orient deployed a high press and were physical in their approach.
Charlton’s opener could have easily knocked the O’s confidence levels, instead it encouraged the visitors who gradually grew into the match and were dually rewarded.
21 minutes in to the game, Lisa Holmback collected the ball in her own half and drove forward with pace before feeding Hayley Barton whose cross went into the path of Ripoll-Douton who poked the ball home to level the match at half-time.
Griffiths revealed the message that manager Chris Brayford gave the players at the break:
“To be confident. We were on top at the end of the first half, and the message was to take that confidence into the second half. We did so straight away with a goal in the first five minutes which was an amazing goal, so it really helped to put us on the front foot.”
Orient came into the match as underdogs but had proven to be a tricky test for Charlton to pass in the first half. At the break, they were left to reflect on an extremely positive display where they had caused problems for the hosts’ backline.
It was clear the O’s would have plenty of work to do without the ball as the game went on. Undoubtedly, the commitment and work rate were second to none from everybody in an Orient shirt as they looked to continue this positive approach in the second half.
One Team One Dream
Orient were in dreamland shortly after the restart when they took the lead courtesy of the impressive Holmback. She lifted her head before letting fly from range and watching the ball dip into the back of the net to give the O’s a 2-1 advantage. Griffiths described the impact this goal had on their confidence:
“It was really important, you can feel like you are constantly defending or under the coche in games like this so to be on top, to score a goal like that, to be ahead and put the other side under pressure is very important.”
This swung the pendulum of momentum firmly in Orient’s favour, as the pressure fell at the feet of Charlton who needed to find an answer to this setback. However, it was always going to be difficult to resist the quality and ability the hosts possess in their ranks.
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With fitness a factor, and Charlton increasing the tempo, they succeeded in turning the tie on its head after Graham bagged a brace with two left-footed strikes in the space of ten minutes. The hosts could have increased their lead but for Ogunde in the Orient goal, while the O’s might have forced penalties with chances of their own before the full-time whistle.
This match was a brilliant advert for the women’s game with goals, excitement, and two teams who performed to a high standard ensuring this London derby lived up to its billing. With only the league left to focus on, Griffiths considered Orient’s ambitions for their remaining fixtures:
“We’re still second at the moment, I know a few teams around us have got games in hand. It’ll be to continue to put pressure on Wimbledon who are at the top, and try to consolidate that second place to put us in a strong position for next season. The aim will be to win every game from now until the end of the season.”
Orient are without a game for the next fortnight, however they will use that time to prepare for some important league matches coming up as they look to finish their debut season in the Women’s Premier League on a high. The next game takes place on 18th March against Cambridge United.
