Leyton Orient 1-0 AFC Bournemouth - Orient win game of two halves

Orient: Nelson, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Melligan (Demetriou 75), Chambers, Gray, Thornton, Corden (Oji 88), Terry, Boyd, Palmer.
Subs: Morris, Daniels, Echanomi.

Cherries: Begovic, Young, Garry, Perrett, Gowling, Telfer, Anderton, Gradel, Cummings (Christophe 69), Bradbury, Kuffour (Pitman 61).
Subs: Moss, Pearce, Hollands.

Cherries started the brighter side and controlled much of the possession and winning a couple of corners, but it was the home side who created a couple of chances on the break in the first ten minutes.

Firstly former Cherries loanee JJ Melligan fired wide and then Neil Young had to turn a dangerous cross behind with Boyd waiting to pounce in the penalty area.

Warren Cummings was pushed forward into midfield to fill the void left by Garreth O'Connor. He enjoyed a fruitful first half and shot over the top on a counter attack started by another strong challenge by Josh Gowling.

Cherries were now creating chances and midway through the half a free kick from Paul Telfer was met by a Jo Kuffour shot turned behind by Thelwell. Darren Anderton then thundered a low shot that Nelson saved superbly with his legs.

Thornton wasted an opportunity for Orient before a great cross from Gradel was again met by Jo Kuffour. Thelwell was on hand to block the attempt off the line and force Cherries another corner.

On thirty-seven minutes Leyton Orient nearly took the lead against the run of play with their first real chance. Thornton was the architect and Gray unmarked in the box was stunned to see Asmir Begovic somehow reach the attempt at goal and limit losses to an Orient corner.

Half time: Leyton Orient 0-0 AFC Bournemouth

Orient Manager Martin Ling sent his team out with a higher tempo at the start of the second half and Thornton broke through the middle and sent a vicious shot not too far wide.

JJ Melligan then skipped round a Cherries defender before shooting straight at Begovic when presented with a clear chance on goal. Cordon then smacked the post from Gray's delivery as Orient continued set the pace at the start of the second half.

Thornton's deliveries were giving the Cherries defence a lot to think about and both Garry and Gowling made important blocks in successive minutes.

Cherries weathered the early storm and started to come back into the game after the hour mark. Brett Pitman replaced Jo Kuffour to give a different option to the Cherries attack for the final half hour.

Pitman nearly got on the end of yet another cross from Gradel before Bradbury sent a header towards goal that Nelson just managed to clutch. Ryan Garry then became the first player booked with a hard challenge on an Orient player.

Jean Christophe then came on to replace Warren Cummings with Gradel moving flanks and Telfer taking up a left sided position.

Adam Boyd gave Orient the lead with nineteen minutes remaining having had a quiet match to that point. His shot on the turn was too much for Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic and he registered his fourth of the season to break the deadlock.

Cherries responded with a Neil Young cross that Bradbury narrowly missed with a flying header. The visiting side ten earned a corner as Bond's men started to raise the tempo for the closing stages.

Paul Terry was booked for clattering Brett Pitman giving Anderton a chance with a free kick. Unfortunately Dazza got underneath the ball and set it high above goal.

Cherries forced a couple of corners before throwing Josh Gowling up front in a final bid to claim something from the match. As Cherries attacked Boyd nearly capitalised with the extra space by firing wide in the final minute.

Final Score: Leyton Orient 1-0 AFC Bournemouth