Leyton Orient vs Cambridge United

United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Rees, Kyd, Butler, Taylor (Preece 88)
Subs Not Used: Williamson, Matt Joseph.

[Fred Berry's match report] [Terry Wilby's match report] [Ben Mynott's match report]

Fred Berry's match report:
We go to the top of the league in this truly superb display. If we can play as well as this home and away we will take the division by storm. Orient looked very poor and were content with playing a hit and hope long ball game which, compared to our smooth passing game dictated by Jason Rees who was outstanding, made them look like a Sunday league pub team.

In defence we had the height and power of Colin Foster who, along with Marc Joseph snuffed out most of the O's chances. Wilson Campbell and Chenery look good on the wings with Wanless having more of a quiet game. We should have been 1-0 up after about 10 mins when a cross led to Butler having a diving header from 3 yrds well saved by Orient keeper Paul Hyde.

In attack we always looked threatening, Kyd was running rings around Orient and Shaggy was winning balls. Butler showed some good glimpses too. Kyd had fired wide twice from good positions by the 30th min. He finally got it right after 35 mins although it was more of a cross then a shot. He cut inside the penalty area and delivered what was meant to be a cross. The ball took a slight deflection and looped over stranded Hyde's head before striking the foot of the post and rolling in. The goal sent the 500 U's supporters ecstatic who supported the team extremely well. The chants that rang out over Brisbane were'we are top of the league' and 'It's like watching Brazil' to name a few. Everyone was great in barricking McGleish, Richards and Taylor. I think we really put Richards off, he had a terrible game and made us look like rip-off merchants recieving 15k for him.

The one attack Orient did have was superbly saved by Scott Barrett. McGleish's header looked destined for the back of the net until Scotty pulled off a great reflex save managing to tip the ball over. It was only Paul Hyde again who prevented us from adding to our half time tally. He made a great save when Kyd found himself 10 yrds out with no-one around him, Hyde tipped over Kyd's powerfull drive.

In the second half it was the same story, United passing around smoothly and creating the most chances. Butler and Taylor had long range shots off target and Kyd burst through the Orient defence at will. The was a moment of comedy when Barrett collected a back pass. Carl Griffiths came surging after the ball looking to tackle Scotty who cooly sidestepped out of the way of the oncoming Griffiths sending him flying!

The final goal came in the 80th(?) min when a corner from Paul Wilson found Foster who rose unchallenged to nod home. The final whistle came and the team got a great applause from the travelling U's contingent who were sent home happy (and still singing).

Performance rating 8.5/10.

RATINGS

Preece for Taylor 90th min (not on long enough to rate).

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Terry Wilby's match report:
I do like these local away games, left Melbourn at 6:00pm, in the pub near the ground just after 7:00 with loads of other U's fans (nice to see you Dave). I inadvertently got a seat, which is a better place to see more of the game, as long as nothing happened behind the enormous pillars. There were around 500 United fans in a crowd of around 4,500.

As usual lately we started off well, Kyd nearly scoring after 6 minutes but the 'keeper made a good save. Kyd also shot just wide after good work from Butler in the 31st minute. We scored after 35 minutes following a good period of passing football from one side of the pitch to the other, Campbell passing to Kyd who half beat his marker before putting in a chipped cross, which just caught the back of a defender which took it over the 'keeper and in off the far post. Whether it was a deliberate goal attempt or a miss-hit shot I don't know, but it counted.

Barrett's only real work was to tip the ball over from a long range shot, the save looked spectacular but was really quite ordinary. Kyd had another chance well saved just before half time. The second half was much as the first, Butler had a good shot on the turn which went just wide, Barrett had a couple of ordinary saves to make. After half an hour of the second half we scored with a Foster header from a corner, the Orient announcer gave it to Campbell though! Mark Joseph looks more confident coming forward, he even took the ball forward from the half way line and had a shot as the Orient defence went missing, unfortunately the shot was well wide. David Preece came on for the last 5 minutes for Shaggy.

We were on top for long periods, a mixture of short passing moves interspersed with some long balls for Kyd to run on to. Foster was a rock in the heart of the defence, McGleish and Richards did very little though. (Richards got a bit annoyed when someone in the United tapped him on the shoulder as he was leaning back into the crowd to take a long throw which he cocked up by throwing it straight to a United player!). Our weakest area seemed to be at right full back where Chenery seemed a bit slow closing down their winger.

It was a super performance to put us top of the division, even if only for a day. It must have finally silenced the last few Tommy Taylor supporters at United. It is slightly worrying that we are so high so soon after the start of the season though, but compared to last year we are playing well and deserve the points, whereas last year I thought we were lucky on a number of occasions.

My Man of the Match is Michael Kyd, every time he got the ball he frightened their defence with what he may do. Rees had a very good game, probably his best for the club so far.

Ratings: Barrett 6, Chenery 6, Wilson 7, Marc Joseph 7, Colin Foster 8, Campbell 7, Wanless 7, Rees 8, Kyd 9, Butler 8, Taylor 7 (Preece 6).
Subs not used: Matt Joseph, David Williamson.

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Ben Mynott's match report:
A superb Friday evening! If 4-1 was the right result on Tuesday, then 10-0 wouldn't have been unjust at Brisbane Road. Leyton Orient were truly dire; only some resolute defending kept the scoreline respectable.

Now, I know we see things through rose-tinted glasses, but did we really play that much long ball stuff under TT? A big hoof into the corner was the only "tactic" on show from the O's - it made me even happier about TT's departure. Cambridge were the complete opposite, playing some great flowing passing football. Kyd was on fire again, and again Foster was outstanding at the back.

The first goal came after Kyd had jinked his way past two defenders, looked up and either saw the 'keeper off the line, tried a chip which caught a defender very slightly only helping the ball into the net or saw Butler and Shaggy in the area, tried to cross to them but the ball deflected off a defender, over the stranded keeper and into the net. Take your pick! At the time I didn;t see the deflection and thought it was a wondergoal, but the TV shows a definite deflection.

We had to wait til the second half for the second; Foster rose ahead the defence at the farpost to nod home from a right sided corner. We had several other chances, with the 'keeper making particularly good saves from Rees and Kyd. Barrett's goal was rarely threatened (McGleish had very few touches all game), but he did pull off one outstanding save after a corner was headed goalwards.

The fans got a bit carried away with the songs; at one point we were singing "It's just like watching Brazil"! We were very good, but not quite Brazil standard! But who cares; we rightfully finished the night with a rendition on "We are top o'league!".

Performances: