Ross Embleton’s stint as Interim Head Coach of Leyton Orient Came to an end in fairytale fashion, beating Grimsby Town 4-0 at Blundell Park.
Centre-back Dan Happe opened the scoring, before Josh Coulson, James Alabi and Josh Wright completed the demolition, securing a third straight victory in League Two for the O’s.
The game started slowly, but the O’s bagged the opening goal with their first clear-cut opportunity of the game.
Perfect Start
Dale Gorman found Marvin Ekpiteta in a good position in the area, with the latter finding Happe in the middle of the box, who hammered the ball home after his original effort had been well blocked by Grimsby ‘keeper James McKeown.
Another opportunity to get the ball in the area was rewarded as Captain Josh Coulson fired his side into a 2-0 lead after 21 minutes.
Josh Wright’s low free-kick into the box caused all kinds of problems for the defence, who failed to clear, and Coulson capitalised – finding the net with a first-time effort with a right-footed volley.
Michael Jolley’s team looked to pull a goal back immediately but were denied by Dean Brill who got down well to cover his near post, as Jake Hessenthaler looked to sneak the ball past the Orient ‘keeper from just inside the area.
A fiery end to the first phase of play was well managed by Leyton Orient, who ensured they kept a firm hold on the game and took a 2-0 lead into half-time.
Gritty Grimsby
Grimsby made a much better start to the second half and it wasn’t long before Brill was forced into another save.
Substitute Matt Green volleyed the ball goal-bound, but Brill made an instinctive block to deny the hosts a goal.
An electric run from James Brophy down the left channel exposed the Grimsby defence, and the Orient man found substitute Louis Dennis in the middle, but the forward couldn’t steer his strike on target.
The final half-hour was tense with both sides attacking in hope of grabbing the next goal. Right-back Luke Hendrie picked out teammate James Hanson with a perfect cross, but the striker’s finish didn’t match the ball, and he headed wide from 10 yards.
Another header inside the area was wasted by Grimsby, this time Elliott Whitehouse failed to hit the target with the goal beckoning.
Super Sub
James Alabi and George Marsh were brought on, with Matt Harrold and Dale Gorman coming off, with the two goal lead still intact with 15 minutes remaining.
Coulson was denied a second goal by Ahkeem Rose who cleared the ball off the line after the Orient centre-back volleyed towards the bottom corner.
With 10 minutes to go, the victory was wrapped up by sub James Alabi, who scored a third Orient goal. The striker intercepted possession on the half-way line and had the whole of the opposition half to run into. Alabi covered 40 yards before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom corner. A superb goal at a vital time in the game.
The same man was at the centre of attention again, winning his side a penalty as he beat his marker to the ball just inside the area. Midfielder Josh Wright placed the ball on the spot, before firing into the same corner Alabi had found before him, as Orient claimed a four goal lead, four minutes from time.
Grimsby fans poured out of the ground with the tie out of reach, as all 383 Orient supporters bellowed out chants right to the final whistle. An away day to remember, as the game finished 4-0 to Leyton Orient.
LEYTON ORIENT: Brill, Ekpiteta, Coulson, Happe, Widdowson, Clay, Gorman (Marsh 73’’), Wright, Dayton (Dennis 56’’), Brophy, Harrold (Alabi 68’’)
SUBS: Sargeant, Ogie, Judd, Maguire-Drew
GOALS: Happe 11’’ Coulson 21’’ Alabi 80’’ Wright 86”
BOOKED: Harrold 28’’ Dayton 37’’
GRIMSBY TOWN: McKeown, Hendrie, Gibson, Öhman, Waterfall, Hessenthaler, Hanson, Rose, Clifton (Ogbu 46’’), Vernam (Green 46’’), Hewitt (Whitehouse 59’’)
SUBS: Davis, Cook, Russell, Pollock
GOALS:
BOOKED: Hendrie 25’’ Hewitt 56’’
REF: Nick Kinseley ATT: 4,132 (383 travelling supporters)
