Vinnie White reports from Walthamstow as the Geeks get back on track...
Many thanks to Steve Ranger and the Orient lads for hosting us yesterday on a sunny morning in Walthamstow.After defeat last week to Barnet, it was important for us to bounce back with a win in a game which we had won 19-0 last season in a league record result.
West Ham took a strong squad into the game and started off like this:
Heywood S
Wells, Stafford, Gray ©, Nugent
North C, Coates, Wilder
Bush, Batterbee, Dilworth
Subs:
North K, Grimsey, Heywood R
From the very first kick of the game, West Ham were on top creating chance after chance that was either hit straight at the keeper, or miles over. Our front 3 were linking well and with support coming from Wilder and Chris North, we were completely on top. It was very much a matter of “when” rather than “if” we were going to score.
15 minutes into the game, West Ham had what seemed to be a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out by the ref who decided the ball hadn’t crossed the line, despite everyone else on the pitch seeing it go over before the Orient keeper smothered it.
Shortly after, our injury curse struck again with Will Bush limping off for the second time this season to be replaced like for like by Rich Heywood.
The half continued in the same fashion with West Ham creating chance after chance but not managing to take them. Orient very nearly snatched the lead with a half chance that was snatched at wildly. With 10 minutes to go in the half, a West Ham corner saw some slack defending from Orient leaving Andy Wilder alone to walk into the box with the ball and slot it calmly past the keeper for his 5th goal of the season.
Orient 0-1 West Ham (Wilder)
More contentious refereeing saw Chris Nugent loose his head ever so slightly as half time approached. It was agreed that substituting him was the best option rather than anything else. Chris was replaced by Barcelona resident Dan Grimsey who had returned for a cameo performance, only wanting 10 minutes. He got closer to 50!
Half Time.
The second half started off and West Ham were on top again from the off. 15 minutes into the half, Matt Dilworth, who had to leave early for a wedding was replaced by Kev North and our formation was altered to a more conventional 4-4-2 with Batters and Rich Heywood paired up front, and the North brothers wide in midfield.
Almost immediately, our second come from a corner with a great looping header from Chris North back across the keeper. A great finish for his 1st of the season.
Orient 0-2 West Ham (North C)
The third followed shortly with the excellent Luke Gray on a marauding run from the back. Luke must have beat 3 or 4 of their players before curling the ball past the keeper from the corner of the box. An excellent goal to cap an excellent performance from the captain and his 4th goal of the season.
Orient 0-3 West Ham (Gray)
With the game won, Batters, who had to leave for a meeting, was replaced by the now calm Nugent who filled in at left mid with Kev North joining Rich Heywood up front.
Orient scored with around ten minutes to go after some good work by their number 3. A slotted finish after a defensive mix-up robbed Stew Heywood of a clean sheet, but a goal was what Orient deserved for a much improved performance.
Orient 1-3 West Ham.
As the match finished, West Ham celebrated their 4th win in 5 games this season. We are up to 5th in the league now with a game in hand over the sides above us. We will need to continue this good form into next weeks home fixture with a Fulham side that defeated us last season.
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