Limp Hartlepool Go Down At Orient

Another game, another defeat as Hartlepool went down to a single goal at Leyton Orient.
Report from Brisbane Road
Ritchie Humphreys replaced the injured Evan Horwood as Neale Cooper largely kept faith with the team that held Doncaster on Saturday for the trip to Leyton Orient.

Perhaps that faith was misplaced as Orient dominated the opening stages of the game and could have been two or three goals ahead were it not for the quick hands of Pools goalkeeper Scott Flinders.

The visiting defence were treating the ball like a hot potato as they cleared the ball anywhere, Moses Odubajo could have easily opened the scoring when his powerful strike was turned over by Flinders.

The stopper had to be quick again to deny Odubajo moments later before pulling off a world class save to hit the floor and palm away Nathan Clarke’s point blank effort.

Despite their early dominance, Orient went into their shells during the remainder of the half but came out with renewed vigor at the start of the second period.

Ryan Brunt fired over the bar within seconds of the restart but made no mistake minutes later when he found himself in plenty of space in the box and easily headed home a right wing cross.

The home side again sat back, but were easily soaking up Pools’ aimless long balls, with Hartlepool’s only chances coming from set pieces.

The first was through substitute Jordan Richards who curled a free kick just wide of the mark.

Moments later striker Steve Howard, a nuisance to the O’s defence all evening and Pools’ best outfield player along with Jack Baldwin, rattled the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner.

But in open play Cooper’s side looked out of ideas and extended their winless run to 10 matches.

FT: Leyton Orient 1 Hartlepool 0
Hartlepool: Flinders, Austin, Baldwin, Hartley, Holden, Murray (Luscombe 77), Sweeney, Humphreys, Franks (Richards 66), Noble (Poole 55), Howard
Subs not used: McHugh, Collins, Rutherford, Walton

Leyton Orient: Allsop, McSweeney, Sawyer, Chorley, Cox, Smith, Clarke, Odubajo (Griffith 90+2), Rowlands, Brunt, Wagstaff
Subs not used: Baudry, Symes, Laird, Cook, James, Mooney