A new midfield of McDermott, Arter, MacDonald, Pugh to serve the nearly-a-million front pair of Thomas & Tubbs. Weather – dry, cool. Boscombe k.o. towards the South End; Orient sent a long shot over. Tubbs was felled on the right; the free went over everyone for a throw. First 120 minutes – Boscombe a little sharper and more mobile. Thomas blazed over from wide. Tubbs was free on the right & shot just past the far post with 3 almost able to toe-poke in. A 20-yard shot hit a Boscombe toe for a corner. Neat passes & dummies let Thomas in to shoot at the keeper.
Orient had a free; the ball went back across and journey-man Lisbie was able to retrieve on the by-line. Instead of sweeping it back to the area, he shot hard at the near post. Flahavan went down to gather – and the ball squeezed through his hands inside the post. Lack of concentration? Wrong presumption? 0-1, 17. In response, several really good home passes were made, too often just over-hit. Thomas hit a good cross, for a corner. But Orient put feet & bodies in where & when necessary, thus gaining confidence and winning 2 corners.
Pugh was trying too many tricks – rarely did they come off. And Tubbs & Thomas both dropped off markers; one has to be on the shoulder. Then the keeper, too casual, nearly lost it to Thomas - who then broke free at inside-right (the ref. waved play on after the foul, ignoring the lino’s flag) and the ball found its way over to an unmarked Pugh in the area. He passed across, and to the left of, the keeper, inside the far post. 1-1, 34. Francis put in a cross that went back out, and MacDonald sent a 30-yarder just over. McDermott came in from the right; the keeper pushed the attempt round at the near post. This seemed to wake up Arter who joined in the fun far more, moving forward & more effective. Pugh & McDermott showed off their skills; Pugh blazed at the keeper. Daniels sent a 25-yarder at the keeper also. H-T: 1-1
The Orient 18 – who’d scored against Boscombe for more than one club in the past – was a handful all game. From an Orient corner, a header down was grabbed by Flahavan on the line. Tubbs seemed to lack a little pace – unless defenders were speedier than usual – and Boscombe would too often play in front of the opponents’ back 4, giving them time to re-shape & close off. All 4 midfielders are capable of defence-splitting passes, but none of them ever made the run to make such a pass an option. Apart from out wide, no-one ever went in front of the strikers. Hence the overall turgidity.
At least Zubar & Cook were mainly comfortable. More Boscombe attacks: Pugh’s cross, Thomas header wide at the near post. Tubbs was allowed in & fell over. Penalty? Yes (North End); no (ref). Arter was penalised harshly twice, and was furious. A McDermott shot hit a hand. Penalty? Yes (North End); no (ref). “You don’t know what you’re doing” rang out. Tubbs hit a snap-shot from the D that was tipped round.
Then decent play by Orient in Francis’s area saw the 18 – crowded by defenders – allowed to cross to the far post. Out of nowhere, the 20 came in at the far post and headed in. 1-2, 75. Possibly Flahavan didn’t call, as Daniels seemed unaware. Hmm – what a waste of money? Pugh went wide with a 30-yard free. Malone replaced the tiring McDermott on 78, Pugh going wide right but then contributing little. Orient fouled more often. Pinball in the away area came to nothing. Arter was yellowed for another foul just outside the home area. Fletcher came on for Pugh on 85, countered by a big strapping centre-half sent on soon after; Slade using his nous and out-thinking Bradbury.
Zubar was strong in defence, shepherding the ball for a goal-kick. Boscombe passing was poor too often throughout the game – partly players not making the right runs. Malone had hardly a kick so far, but then made a trade-mark run – soon stymied. Francis crossed for Daniels to shoot; the keeper had to be good. Generally, the Orient defenders & keeper were too quick for Boscombe passing and movement. F-T: 1-2
Still 7 points needed to 51 & safety from 15 games, and still 8th. Have to say – having seen the defeat at Chesterfield & now this – I remain to be convinced that the money has been spent on sufficient quality. Top-third yes, but higher? Doubts remain for this observer. But let’s not detract from Orient – tidy and organised, willing to have a go.
Flahavan – Generally OK but seeming lack of concentration for the first goal & perhaps didn’t warn Daniels for the 2nd.
Francis – Steady; not at fault alone for the 2ndgoal – collective problem.
Zubar – mainly OK.
Cook – ditto.
Daniels – perhaps partly at fault for both goals else solid.
Pugh – took goal well but too often tried fancy stuff inappropriately.
Arter – picked up pace from McDermott after the equaliser & looked better for it.
MacDonald – laid base on which Arter could prosper, but needs to be more of an enforcer.
McDermott – offered different skills & angles, but the overall pattern needs to change for his abilities to flower.
Tubbs – not as good as McQuoid in his (brief) pomp or as good as Ings – lacks a half-yard in pace to thrive at the 3rdlevel.
Thomas – usual effort.
Fletcher – barely touched the ball in his cameo.
Malone – took a while to contribute but then a trade-mark run else little.
Bradbury – again out-thought by a cannier opponent.
Wes Thomas for effort; least disappointing of a moderate bunch.
AFCB: Flahavan, Cook, Francis, Zubar, Daniels, Pugh, Arter, MacDonald, McDermott, Thomas, Tubbs
Subs: Purches, Gregory, Stockley, Malone (for McDermott, 78 mins), Fletcher (for Pugh, 85 mins)