The County v Orient Report

Stockport County lost 1-0 to Leyton Orient. A flat statement for a flat match.

On the way to EP yesterday there was a touch of spring in the air, a bit nippy and breezy but bright enough to put a spring in the step.

All this disappeared just before kick off. Long faces all around. Prophecies of doom. No money. Administration looming. What’s the point in buying the half time draw tickets. Look at the state of the pitch. Isn’t that wind cold.

County’s starting XI:

Fon Williams, McSweeney, Rose, Raynes, Blizzard, McNeil, Tansey, Mainwaring, Vincent , O’Grady, Rowe



The first 45 minutes were contested at low intensity and, never a great match reporter (a big shout out to anyone who wants to submit their own view of the game by the way) my mind began to wander. Conversations around turned to non-football matters. Always a bad sign.

County played neatly across the back four (Raynes and McNeil again as centre backs), then forward with neat passing and then back before the odd long through pass got gobbled up by the red shirted Orient defence. Orient were no better and seemed to boast even less of a cutting edge up front. Zzzzzzzzz…

It felt like an end of season mid table clash. The Cheadle end did its impression of the Stretford End and remained quiet. Even the officials contributed nothing. They were, in my opinion average. Which makes them the best we’ve seen so far this season. So, no shocking decisions to howl at, no obvious hate figures in the Orient team and no passion from fans or players. In fact the only thing I can remember of note came during injury time in the first half when an Orient free kick on the right was headed back across the goal and the Orient player steered wide from two yards.

Half time break. More glum faces. More biting wind.

The second half started with a bit more urgency from County and mid-way through the half a series of corners were forced but with no end product. Not enough elevation on many of the Tommy Rowe corners. Oli Johnson had replaced a disappointing James Vincent just after half time and County looked to be a bit sharper up front.

Orient threatened too, and a Matty McNeil’s error let Church but the oh so dependable Fon Williams pulled off a great save.

Johnson shot just wide soon after and at last a game of competitive football broke out. Sadly the competitiveness gave Orient the lead on 53 minutes when Church raced down the right (Michael Rose trailing behind), and crossed to McGleish. It looked like McSweeney had saved the day intercepting the cross but the ball broke to Church who poked it past Fon Williams.

County had a few half chances during the rest of the game but you just knew that we were not destined to score. A bit of time wasting by the O’s keeper saw the Cheadle end go apoplectic and the referee bowed to the crowed pressure and got his yellow card out. An Orient player copped a well hit drive in the face. The visitors ‘Oh East London is wonderful’ flag nearly blew away and that are my second half memories.

The ref blew but half the Cheadle End had already left.

Not a terrible performance and on another day it may have been 0-0 or 1-1 but to be honest many of us have our minds elsewhere, worrying about what is to become an eventful week off the pitch. Even the pubs on Edgeley seemed flat afterwards.

So there you have it. If there is anyone who wants to send a better match report in then please do otherwise you will have to put up with my ramblings. stockport @ vitalfootball.co.uk for your match reports, news pieces and just good honest opinion and I will publish as long as there is nothing libelous!

Ol’ Pop