Report by SJG

LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

LEYTON ORIENT vs WIGAN ATHLETIC

25^th November 2023

A HARD-EARNED POINT.

Wigan started well and Lang, after neat control, played Sean Clare in on the edge of the area, the keeper rushed out to meet the wing-back and in diving at his feet he missed the ball and upended the ex-Charlton man. The referee, after consulting with his assistant pointed to the spot. Humphrys, who missed a penalty at Cheltenham decided to go for power but he lost accuracy and the effort struck the outside of the post and was cleared.

The home side looked to respond and would have taken the lead if not for an excellent save from Tickle. Stiriou sprinted past the Wigan defenders but Tickle was quick to sprint off his line and close down the striker superbly before grabbing the loose ball.

Tickle was needed again on nine minutes when Pigott got his head to an Archibald cross. Four minutes later and Archibald had a chance of his own, the winger was cleverly found by Brown inside the Wigan area but his snap shot was too high.

Wigan began to settle into the game and a well worked move between Jones and McManaman on the left wing saw a cross create chaos in the home box. Humphrys pounced on the loose ball and fired at goal but his effort was blocked. Two minutes later Orient took the lead, a long ball from defence was flicked on by Sotiriou to find the nippy winger FORDE, who checked inside before curling a delightful shot into the top corner.

Orient should have doubled their lead on 20 minutes when they won the ball off the Wigan defence deep in Wigan territory and Forde was presented with time and space but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. On the half hour Tickle was called upon again when a 40-yard blockbuster by Archibald had to be palmed behind for a corner.

Wigan found a leveller right on half time when Jones and HUMPHRYS worked a short free kick before the latter drove across the box and produced a stunning drive into the bottom corner.

Half Time; Leyton Orient 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

The second half saw both sides competing well in midfield, but chances were at a premium as both defences looked solid.

The first half chance of the second period arrived when the impressive Forde broke at pace down the flank before whipping a great cross into the box that Pigott looked favourite to reach until Clare produced a last-minute interception. Nine minutes later and Wigan nearly scored from a similar opportunity of their own, Hughes found Jones with an incisive pass and the wing man raced to the by-line before pulling the cross back for the waiting Lang, only for Happe to produce a timely intervention.

There was plenty endeavour from both sides as they both searched for the vital goal but the defences remained solid and resolute and a point each was probably the right result.

Full Time; Leyton Orient 1-1 Wigan Athletic.

Scorers; Forde (18); Humphrys (45 + 1);

Attendance; 8,517

Team; WIGAN---(3-4-3); Tickle; Hughes, Rekik, Watts; Clare, Adeeko, Shaw, Jones; Humphrys, Lang, McManaman; Subs; Godo, Sze, Magennis, Pearce;

ORIENT---(3-4-3); Brynn; Turns, Happe, Cooper; James, Brown, El Mizouni, Archibald; Sotiriou, Forde, Pigott; Subs; Drinan, Hunt, Agyei, Moncur;

Referee. S. Purkiss.