Leyton Orient 1 Grimsby 2

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 15/01/2005

THE Mariners recorded a deserved away victory at Leyton Orient this afternoon, but were made to sweat after an 81st minute goal by the O's led to a tense finale. To given the ending an added spice, a player from each side was sent off for "handbags", the second red card of the week for Town.

Russell Slade made just one change from the side that lost to Northampton in midweek, plumping for the stopping power of Stacy Coldicott in midfield to the guile of Town's mercurial Frenchman Thomas Pinault. It was a controversial decision, which was bound to lead to criticism should Town lose.

Town almost raced into a 1-0 lead. From the first corner after just five minutes a towering Rob Jones header clattered against the bar with the O's 'keeper nowhere.

Town took the lead thanks to Michael Reddy. The former Sunderland striker was put through by a pass from Gritton, and he found Andy Parkinson at the far post for a tap-in which even 'Parky' couldn't miss.

Reddy almost put Town 2-0 up just before the interval. Reddy finished off a superb run into the box with a powerful shot, which Lee Harrison did well to parry for a corner.

Leyton Orient had their chances in the first half, but Williams was equal to anything which the home side managed to get on target.

Town continued to create chances after the break, with Orient pressing for the equaliser and leaving themselves increasingly exposed to the counter-attack. Michael Reddy invariably was at the centre of everything in the final third of the pitch.

Reddy once again set up Parkinson. The Irishman embarked on a long run, skipping past a couple of defenders, and squared to the former Tranmere midfielder, who wasted the opportunity.

But Town finally got their second goal midway through the second half. Good work by Reddy resulted in a scramble in the Orient box, which Gritton finished off from close range.

It should have been three a couple of minutes later, when Parkinson completely beat the Orient offside trap and was put through with just the 'keeper to beat. But he could only manage a tame shot straight at Harrison.

The away contingent enjoyed a ten minute spell of a two goal cushion before Orient clawed their way back into the game. A dubious free kick was awarded to the Londoners, from which Efe Echanomi headed the ball home. There ensued an incident in the goal-mouth after the goal, which led to the sendings off of both Town's Ronnie Bull and Orient's Scott Fitzgerald.

A tense finish, with several late corners for Orient, and four minutes of injury time, failed to produce the feared equaliser. But any result other than a Grimsby victory would have been a travesty given the number of good chances Town created right through the game.

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