Matt Harrold came off the bench to score a stoppage time equaliser helping the O’s to snatch a 2-2 draw against Halifax Town at the Breyer Group Stadium.
Head Coach Justin Edinburgh made one change to the side who started the 2-1 defeat at Bromley on Tuesday night.
Josh Koroma came in to the side in place of Marvin Ekpiteta, who was serving a one-match suspension after his dismissal in midweek.
Orient got the game underway on a chilly afternoon in E10, kicking from right to left in their traditional red home strip.
Early Stumble
On Grand National Day, Orient flew out of the traps and could have opened the scoring inside two minutes. Josh Koroma faced up to his man in the penalty area before toe-poking an effort goalward that was kicked away by Halifax goalkeeper Sam Johnson.
Despite the O’s dominance, Halifax drew first blood with nine minutes played. Matty Kosylo cut inside from the left and struck the post, the ball rolled out to Manny Duku whose first effort was blocked on the goal-line before he bundled home at the second time of asking.
As Orient committed bodies forward in search of a response, Halifax looked to utilise the counter. Cameron King played Duku through, but he blazed the ball high into the Tommy Johnston Stand under pressure from the recovering Dan Happe.
At the other end, Orient were a lick of paint away from an equalising goal. Macauley Bonne received the ball on the edge of the box, shifting onto his right foot before unleashing a powerful strike which cannoned off the near post.
Trading Blows
With half an hour played, the O’s were seeing plenty of possession but hadn’t managed to carve out a break though. Koroma was next to try and force the issue, drawing a save from Johnson after a wonderful solo run.
Charlie Lee captained the side in the absence of Jobi McAnuff and could have given his team a timely boost only for his curling effort to be parried away by Johnson who was equal to Orient’s advances once more.
Sadly, things went from bad to worse for the O’s in first-half stoppage time. Devante Rodney collected the ball on the right, shifting onto his left foot before picking out the top corner with a bending strike to double the Shaymen’s advantage.
Although, Orient refused to lie down and replied instantly through Koroma. The forward drifted inside from the left, before rifling the ball into the top corner reducing the O’s deficit to one goal going in to the break.
Relentless Efforts
Piling on the pressure early in the second half, the O’s should have equalised when Brophy’s cross picked out Jay Simpson, he flicked the ball on to an unmarked Happe who nodded over the crossbar from six-yards out.
Edinburgh’s first change saw Alex Lawless replaced by James Dayton as the gaffer looked to add pace in the final twenty minutes. Shortly after, Harrold came on for Lee meaning the hosts had three strikers on the pitch.
It was all Orient as the clock ticked nearer to ninety minutes. Brophy’s fierce strike was bravely blocked before Koroma’s shot stung the palms of Johnson. The O’s added Jordan Maguire-Drew to the equation in place of Widdowson in their last throw of the dice.
In their push for a second goal, Orient could have conceded a third when Rodney latched onto a bouncing ball before turning in the area and seeing his effort crucially deflected behind for a corner.
Magic Moment
When all seemed lost, Orient forced a corner in the fourth minute of added time. Maguire-Drew’s delivery dropped just outside the six-yard box where Harrold was waiting to scramble the ball home sparking jubilant celebrations amongst fans, players and the coaching staff.
The O’s now sit second in the National League, just one point behind leaders Salford City but with a game in-hand. Edinburgh’s men welcome Eastleigh to E10 on Tuesday night knowing a victory will see them reclaim top spot with four games to play.
Match Stats
ORIENT: Brill, Widdowson (Maguire-Drew 85’), Lawless (Dayton 69’), Coulson, Clay, Bonne, Happe, Brophy, Koroma, Lee (Harrold 76’), Simpson.
SUBS: Sargeant, Ling.
BOOKED: Coulson (35’), Lawless (59’), Widdowson (68’)
GOALS: Koroma (45 + 2), Harrold (90+4)
HALIFAX TOWN: Johnson, Clarke, Brown, Staunton, Kosylo, King, Berrett, Duku (Quigley 82’), Rodney, Skarz, Hanson.
SUBS: Edwards, Preston, Rowley, Gondoh.
BOOKED: Berrett (11’), Skarz (15’), Staunton (42’), King (64’), Rodney (85’)
GOALS: Duku (9’), Rodney (45 + 1)
REFEREE: Peter Gibbons.
ATTENDANCE: 5458 (184 away)
