Here's the report....
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The O's could feel slightly unlucky at not being able to grab a deserved three points at the Matchroom Stadium this afternoon.A stubborn Exeter City side withstood constant threats to their penalty box before Charlie Daniels' deflected free kick gave the O's a lead going into the break. However, a cross-shot from the Grecians' Craig Noone deep into the game provided the away side with a much-needed point on their travels.
The game started in a lively manner, with a succession of Orient corners from the right flank providing the Exeter defence with a real test. In the first quarter of an hour, three threatening balls gave the travellers a real wake-up call that Orient meant business. Both Scott Mcgleish and Adrian Patulea came close, with Patulea's second effort on the 12th minute coming closest to changing the scoreline as the ball ran just the wrong side of the right post. Play on both flanks ensured Orient wingers JJ Melligan and Jason Demetriou created a handful for the opposing full backs, whipping in cross after cross as the Orient pressure grew.
Exeter's first attack came in the 8th minute, with a deep cross by Liam Sercombe being gratefully plucked in the air by Glenn Morris. The consequent counter-attack then saw a sweetly struck volley by Jimmy Smith from the edge of the penalty area blast only feet wide of the far post as Oscar Jansson thankfully saw it drift wide.
The O's finally broke through with a somewhat gift of a goal. A direct free kick won by Adrian Patulea saw Charlie Daniels step up to rattle the ball straight through the four-man wall, taking a wicked deflection and causing the ball to leave Jansson rooted to the spot as the ball rolled into the goal. As Orient took the lead, Exeter began to find their fighting spirit as they replied with pressure of their own on the Orient box. After seeing a brief number of attacks by Orient fail to materialise, a training ground movement between Alex Russell, Ryan Harley and Marcus Stewart saw the Orient defence split open as Stewart's right footed 18 yard shot curled agonisingly wide for the visitors. Both teams failed to string together any threatening attacks as the game turned messy for a brief time, with a yellow for Exeter's Russell for a late tackle on Smith slowing the game down as both teams were allowed a breather.Exeter's best attack came in the 1st minute of stoppage time, as Noone's through ball was met by Stuart Fleetwood, who proceeded to run into the box from the left wing before squaring the ball to Harley who could only pass the ball into Morris' hands from 10 yards. The chance summed up a half of rued chances, as both teams went in for the break.
Two substitutions for Orient saw Andrew Cave-Brown replace captain Stephen Purches and Kristian O'Leary take Adam Chamber's place, both starters forced off with injuries. The south-coasters were the quickest out of the blocks, with winger Noone this time setting up centre back Troy Archibald-Henville, whos close range header from a set piece bounces mercifully into Morris' arms once more. On the 50th minute, Harley's 25 yard pile driver hit on the half-volley screams wide of the right post. With Morris at full stretch, the shot looked closer than it really was, but momentum was retained as Harley laid off Noone who's deflected shot from a similar area rolls out of play. A lively start from Exeter saw Orient relying on their defence to keep the home side in front with another shot created from a half-cleared corner, this time by Sercombe, is again shot straight into Morris' open arms.
On the 55th minute, a well-read interception by Smith provided McGleish with another chance to work Jansson. His early shot from 25 yards caught Jansson by surprise as the keeper did tremendously well to tip the ball onto the bar and out of play to deny the O's with a game-winning second goal. The game soon evened out, and although once more possession failed to create chances, the midfield battle between both teams was heating up. A yellow for Richard Duffy for a hard tackle on Demetriou enabled the Grecians to replace Sercombe with Adam Stansfield as the away side looked to become more attacking.
A counter attack on the 69th minute from Orient saw another pile driver, this time by Melligan, well stopped by third-choice keeper Jansson. Created originally by Demetriou, who was proving to be a real handful and eventual man of the match, he skipped past three defenders to tee up Melligan, yet once more the ex-Tottenham keeper was well positioned to prevent a two goal margin. Luke Ashworth then replaced Ben Chorley for Orient as Melligan's deep cross was met
by new signing Patulea, yet the ex-Lincoln man couldn't keep his header down.
Exeter's Barry Corr then took Fleetwood's place on the pitch as the striker took his place on the bench after an extremely quiet game by him.
On the 78th minute, Exeter grabbed an equaliser, albeit unintentionally. Star-man Noone took on Cave-Brown on the left flank, and after creating a yard of space, whipped in a cross-shot. With Morris well off his line, he managed to get a touch on the ball but this wasn't strong enough as the ball dropped mockingly into the bottom right corner as Noone reeled off the the away fans.Another corner by Demetriou - booked moments before for diving - was only half cleared and dropped to sub O'Leary, yet after a controlled chest down his perfectly-struck volley did nothing to trouble the Grecian keeper as the ball rifled straight into his arms.
With a large section of the 4,703 supporters still remaining, the whistle went on another tightly fought competition at the Matchroom Stadium. With the O's irritatingly close to getting their first home win this campaign, it's only a matter of time before they get off the mark and start heading up the table.
