Leyton Orient missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the National League with a 0-0 draw against Aldershot Town at the Breyer Group Stadium.
Head Coach Justin Edinburgh opted for the same 11 who began the 2-0 victory over Wrexham in North Wales on Saturday.
Orient got the game underway on a drizzly evening in E10 and were immediately forced into a brief stoppage as James Dayton received a hefty knock in the opening exchanges.
With quarter of an hour played, Josh Koroma was hauled down on the edge of the box by Dominic Bernard. From the resulting free-kick, captain Jobi McAnuff curled the ball over the wall, only to see it crash back off the crossbar.
The O’s were enjoying most of the possession with some slick and intricate football. Dale Gorman weaved his way into the penalty area and forced Aldershot goalkeeper Will Mannion into a smart stop, before seeing his rebound cleared to safety.
Shots Stopped
However, Aldershot could have taken a shock lead with an audacious attempt against the run of play. Matt McClure saw O’s goalkeeper Dean Brill off his line and fizzed a hopeful effort narrowly over the crossbar from distance.
With half an hour played, the Shots had made two of their available substitutions with McClure and Adam May being forced off through injury. The O’s were in need of a goal to settle the crowd and ease the jitters ahead of the half-time interval.
Aldershot were making a nuisance of themselves occasionally. Craig Clay was cautioned for a foul on Shamir Fenelon before Adam McDonnell drilled the resulting free-kick across the damp turf and into the grateful arms of Brill.
The visitors had found some momentum as substitute Josh Barrett turned Myles Judd on the right side before firing a low drive that was well held by Brill once again. Swiftly, the O’s countered but Koroma’s purposeful run was halted by a well-timed recovery challenge.
After three minutes of additional time, the teams went into the break on level terms. Orient had seen plenty of possession and played some eye-catching football in spells, with a much-needed breakthrough evading them so far.
Close Calls
Aldershot got the second half underway after Orient made a half-time switch with James Brophy replacing Clay in the midfield.
The O’s came out of the blocks quickly, Dayton fed Gorman who watched his shot from the edge of the box deflected behind. From the resulting corner, Josh Coulson hashed a half-volley harmlessly over the crossbar.
Shortly after, McAnuff’s floated free-kick from the right was met by Joe Widdowson who guided his header over the top. At the other end, McDonnell whipped a dangerous looking ball into the box forcing Brill into a smart finger-tip save.
Then, Orient carved out their best chance of the match. Brophy deceived his marker with an intelligent dummy on the left, driving into the box and picking out Dayton, who set the ball for Gorman whose low strike was brilliantly palmed away by Mannion.
Missed Opportunity
Orient’s second change arrived on 65 minutes with James Alabi replacing Dayton. Moments later, the ball dropped kindly for Brophy who had time and space in the box but dragged his effort into the side netting.
After a steady spell of possession, the O’s were pegging Aldershot back inside their own half but still searching for that allusive opening goal. Macauley Bonne had seen a free-kick blocked by the wall before Alabi was denied one-on-one by the feet of Mannion.
However, Aldershot came agonisingly close to snatching the lead when McDonnell attacked a cross from the left and watched his header heroically blocked off the goal-line by Widdowson.
With four minutes of additional time announced, Marvin Ekpiteta nodded wide from McAnuff’s corner. Despite a late wave of Orient pressure, the hosts were unable to find a breakthrough seeing them drop two valuable points.
What’s Next?
The O’s are back at The Breyer Group Stadium this Saturday 1st December with Gateshead the visitors in the National League for a 3pm kick-off.
Match Stats
ORIENT: Brill, Widdowson, Coulson, McAnuff (C), Clay (Brophy 45’), Bonne, Dayton (Alabi 65’), Judd, Gorman, Koroma, Ekpiteta.
SUBS: Janata, Happe, Harrold.
ALDERSHOT TOWN: Mannion, Kinsella, McDonnell, Howell, McClure (Barrett 29’), Bernard, Gallagher (C), McCoy, May (Fenelon 14’), Osho, Grant (Berkeley-Agyepong 68’)
SUBS: Cole, Wanadio.
